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Josh Weinfuss
TEMPE, Ariz. — With one season of NFL expertise behind him, Arizona Cardinals vast receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. spent the offseason persevering with his development on slowing down the sport.
And with that, the 22-year-old has discovered a brand new sense of consolation on the skilled degree.
“That simply occurs with any sort of time,” Harrison stated. “You simply really feel extra comfy naturally.”
His improvement was apparent to his teammates in OTAs and minicamp, particularly to quarterback Kyler Murray. Harrison moved sooner, and second-long selections had been minimize down to separate seconds, Murray stated.
“I am not in his head, we’re not in his head,” Murray stated. “Everyone watching the sport from the TV or on the sofa, they do not know what he is considering. So solely he understood how briskly the sport was shifting, and every week, clearly, I hoped it slowed down for him. However now he is on the level the place he is undoubtedly extra comfy, and I can see it on the market on the sector, and I feel that’ll solely permit him to play sooner, be the man that everyone knows he might be.”
In 17 video games, Harrison had 62 catches for 885 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season. Heading into Yr 2, he has unlocked new sides of his recreation, focusing past simply the routes he is purported to run. He is considering forward, studying defenses within the second and past, and visualizing the place he’ll catch the ball.
It is all the following step, Harrison stated.
“There’s sure issues now that you simply get to concentrate to that’ll can help you be more practical,” offensive coordinator Drew Petzing stated. “Possibly the way you come off the road of scrimmage, perhaps there’s rather less thought course of going into the road of scrimmage earlier than the ball is snapped and I feel it simply permits guys to play a little bit bit sooner and have a little bit bit extra success.”
Harrison and vast receivers coach Drew Terrell have had “fixed conversations” about areas to enhance in his second season and started engaged on adjustments. They talked about progressions, routes and methods.
After his rookie marketing campaign, Harrison and coach Jonathan Gannon reviewed the season. Harrison took the initiative and gave Gannon a listing of issues that he wished to work on. And with ample suggestions, Harrison went into the offseason decided to handle all of it.
“I am consistently evaluating,” Harrison stated. “After each apply, I am evaluating myself. I feel that is simply the factor that you can do constantly to be the perfect model of your self that you simply probably might be.
“So, I am at all times evaluating myself and clearly I take the coach’s enter as nicely and we type of come along with a plan on what we could agree on, what I want to enhance on. However yeah, undoubtedly simply at all times evaluating myself, and I simply need to be the perfect participant I might be.”
The Cardinals set expectations for all their gamers heading into the offseason, and including weight was one thing Gannon wished for Harrison so he might “do a few issues higher.”
Marvin Harrison Jr. is bulking up for a large second season 💪 pic.twitter.com/jaLwGrcFDK
— ESPN Fantasy Sports activities (@ESPNFantasy) Might 20, 2025
Petzing stated Harrison did precisely that, as was evident by his media day look, which accentuated Harrison’s added muscle. Murray initially could not imagine that Harrison placed on “some kilos.”
“I believed it was AI, the image was faux,” Murray stated jokingly.
Petzing stated he plans on utilizing Harrison as a downfield risk once more this season, amongst different roles, and that there aren’t many limits to what Harrison can do.
“I feel if you happen to take a look at his skillset, there’s not a number of issues I will inform you he cannot do,” Petzing stated. “So, stretch the sector, play beneath, taking part in the slot, transfer across the formation, play exterior — I feel that is what makes him so dynamic.”
