How Marvin Harrison Jr. Flipped the Script After Viral Cardinals Camp Drop

GLENDALE — The beginning of Arizona Cardinals training camp got off to a rocky start for star wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., as a string of early drops went viral for the third-year wideout.

Clips infested the internet, and it felt like everywhere you turned, you found videos or memes on Harrison.

Harrison, who had a roller-coaster start to his NFL career, is hoping to see a resurgence under new head coach and offensive play-caller Mike LaFleur.

Training camp is all about progression and improvement, and after Harrison's shaky start, LaFleur says the former No. 4 overall pick has bounced back quite nicely.

"Steady improvement," LaFleur said of Harrison's overall camp before diving into the prior drops.

"You could go very elementary, and it's like 'catch the football, never drop a ball.' Well, if you drop enough balls in this league, I don't care who you are, you're just not going to be in the league. So it's like, 'no kidding, put that away. Okay, why'd you drop it? Was it focus? What exactly was it?' All right, then you put that away, and then you really look at the process of everything. Are we creating separation? Are we coming off the ball? Like, are we in our right split? Are we are we loaded? Getting every inch of grass off the ball.

"That's one of the big things that Marv and I talk about every day. I just kind of give him one of these [leans], and what does that mean? Body lean, come off the rock, because once he gets going, he's a big dude, right? And if I'm a DB standing there, knowing I got a big dude that could run by me or can stop on a dime, that's tough.

"... Yes, he had a drop back in whatever it was, practice five, where he was wide open. Hasn't had one of those since. Great. Is he going to have probably another one at some point over his career? Yes, he is. Just like all these guys are. Then I'll flip it to the other side. What does it look like when he doesn't have the ball? What does it look like when he's getting connected? And [when] I say he, I mean all these guys. If you don't block, if you don't get sticky on DB's in this offense, you're just not going to be out there. Like, point blank period. I've been pleased with his progression and the receivers' progression in that facet of what we're trying to get done in the run game."

Harrison was open nearly as much as anybody after that point. That was never the problem, though from that moment forward, Harrison flipped a switch and made plays when called upon.

The Cardinals will need every bit of strong play possible from Harrison if they'll get things back on track. Harrison possesses all the tools needed out of a primary NFL receiving option — he's just got to go and do it.

Perhaps another year with quarterback Jacoby Brissett tossing him the ball will help.

"I think he's taken tremendous steps as far as understanding this is a long process," Brissett told reporters.

"The end result is not going to be tomorrow, and that's a battle. That's a battle for him, me, everybody on the team. The hard part is you want the results now. You want to go out there and do everything the right way, but that's why we're in the room that we're in, and and we have the opportunity to go out there and play in the National Football League because we know we can. It's just a matter of, now you got to sustain that competitive edge on a day in and day out process."

The good news? Harrison is in an advanced offense that won't solely rely on him to make plays. We've seen LaFleur consistently scheme receivers open and between the likes of Michael Wilson, Trey McBride and Jeremiyah Love among others, there's plenty of help around him.

This doesn't have to be a one-man band with Harrison — nor will it. It was encouraging to see Harrison bounce back after such a rocky start to camp.

Perhaps this is a springboard to something bigger.

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