How the Cardinals Can Get Their Star Wide Receiver Involved Next Season
To say that this season has been a disappointment for the Cardinals would be an understatement. The Cardinals were last in the NFC West Division and were eliminated from the playoffs a long time ago. They finished the season with a record of 3-14. One of the many reasons why this season was so disappointing was that Marvin Harrison Jr. was not very involved with the offense. A wide receiver as talented as Harrison Jr. should be thriving wherever he is. The Cardinal’s offense will need to adapt if they want Harrison Jr. to grow as a wide receiver.
Quarterback Issues
A wide receiver is only as good as his quarterback. Harrison Jr. has found this out the hard way. Throughout this season, the 23-year-old has recorded 41 receptions, 608 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns. He has dealt with injuries on and off the entire season. However, switching quarterbacks midseason has also contributed to Harrison Jr.’s lack of production. Building chemistry with quarterbacks is hard for wide receivers if the quarterback changes, especially midseason. In Week Five, Kyler Murray went down with a foot injury. For the rest of the season, the two-time Unanimous All-American took passes from Jacoby Brissett as he filled in for the injured Murray. For the first five weeks with Murray starting at quarterback, Harrison Jr. had 306 receiving yards and two touchdowns. After Brissett took over as the starter, Harrison Jr. had 300 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Murray and Harrison Jr. seemed to have built chemistry before Murray got injured. Then the 23-year-old wide receiver had to start building chemistry with Brissett in the middle of the season. There are now questions about who will be Arizona’s quarterback next season. The Cardinals need a quarterback that Marvin Harrison Jr. can rely on so that he can develop. That is the only way he can grow.
This season was extremely disappointing for several reasons. However, that does not mean that there is no hope for the future. If the Cardinals can get Harrison Jr. a quarterback who can help him grow, he and the Cardinals as a whole will be unstoppable. The 23-year-old wide receiver needs consistency, and the Cardinals do too.
