Cardinals OC: Getting Marvin Harrison Jr. the Ball Is ‘on the Forefront of Our Minds’

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 11, 2024

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Expectations were sky-high for Marvin Harrison Jr. after the Arizona Cardinals selected him with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, but the wide receiver did not start his career in ideal fashion.

He finished with just one catch for four yards on three targets in a 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is looking to change that moving forward.

“Certainly he is on the forefront of our minds in terms of getting him the ball,” Petzing said Tuesday, per Darren Urban of the team’s official website. “I think (the Bills) did some things to take him away and certainly I could’ve called some plays to get him more involved early but I thought it was a good start. We have some work to do.”

Tight end Trey McBride led the team with nine targets, while Greg Dortch spearheaded the efforts in both catches (six) and receiving yards (47).

One moment stood out involving Harrison, though, when the Cardinals had the ball in the final two minutes. Quarterback Kyler Murray appeared to miss the Ohio State product breaking free downfield on a play that could have been the go-ahead touchdown:

Theo Mackie @theo_mackieOn 2nd and 6 with 1:10 to play, Kyler Murray did not throw to Marvin Harrison Jr. He was wide open at the bottom of the screen here. pic.twitter.com/eWqA4Al7EP

Had Murray seen him and made the throw, the narrative would likely be different surrounding Harrison and the Cardinals as a whole after just one game.

Arizona still has an opportunity to quickly turn things around with three straight home games against the Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders after the season-opening loss.

If Harrison and Murray find their footing with more experience together and win some of those games, the Cardinals can still compete for a playoff spot.