After all the hype and all the words written and spoken, it wasn’t supposed to go like this.
Yes, it would have been too much to expect Marvin Harrison Jr. to go off and have a boatload of receptions and yards.
But, one catch for four yards on three targets? Seriously?
That included one apparent miscommunication on the first target where quarterback Kyler Murray clearly was expecting Harrison to do something different than what he did on a back-shoulder attempt.
“It was our first time playing together,” Murray said. “No confidence lost in Marv.”
Then, there was a drop on the second target that would have been good for 10-plus yards. And then the one reception on the next play. That came in the second quarter on a play that began with 8:19 remaining in the half.
After that? Nada. Not another target.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon said, “I saw a lot of cloud (coverage) to him. So they obviously were trying to take him away. But we had a bunch of guys catch balls, so that’s how our offense is gonna be built. The ball should go where it should go depending on the coverage.”
Murray mirrored that explanation after first claiming, “I wouldn’t say they were taking him away.”
He then said, “I think as a quarterback, you’re going through your reads and sometimes the ball goes elsewhere. It’s not my job. Obviously, I have a sensitive feel for guys when they don’t get the ball, when they are getting the ball, but I’ll leave that up to (offensive coordinator) Drew (Petzing). He always tells me don’t worry about that stuff. Just keep playing your game and get the ball where the ball’s supposed to go.”
Where the ball went Sunday was 13 targets to wide receivers (8-56), 11 to tight ends (7-42) and seven to running backs (6-64).
The four longest receptions were 24 yards to running back Emari Demercado, 22 to running back James Conner and 14 and 12 to Dortch. That’s 72 yards. Murray’s other 17 completions totaled 90 yards (5.3 yards per play).
But, back to the Murray-Harris connection, or lack thereof. That was the case on what appeared to be an obvious miss of a wide-open Harrison downfield on a second-and-6 play with 1:10 remaining in the game from the Buffalo 39-yard line. The play did result in a first down on a 7-yard completion to wide receiver Greg Dortch.
Reality is that a freeze-frame in a moment in time doesn’t provide perspective. We don’t know when Harrison came free or where exactly a scrambling Murray was when that happened.
Acknowledging that he didn’t see Harrison, Murray said, “When you play football, there is a lot of stuff moving around, moving fast. You don’t see everything.”
What Murray did see was what he thought should have been penalties on two passes to Dortch in the final possession. One was a second-and-10 quick pass to Dortch going left to right where he was clearly contacted and then on the final play on fourth-and-7 that was a deep throw to Dortch at the 2-yard line where he looked to be hit and his left arm held.
Asked about the final attempt, Murray said, “I feel like the play before it could’ve been flagged. Didn’t get it. Next play, obviously 50-50. I understand how the game goes. They’re probably not going to give us the benefit of the doubt on that, so it is what it is.”
What it is another loss, albeit against one of the league’s top teams, but making them 8-27 in the last 35 games.
How did other rookie receivers do in Week 1?
Week 1 had other high-drafted receivers from this year make an impact and others not so much. Here are players that were first- or second-round picks with round and overall selection in parentheses:
Malik Nabers, Giants (1/6): 6 gargets, 5-66; 25 long
Rome Odunze, Bears (1/9): 4 targets, 1-11
Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (1/23): 4 targets, 4-47; 18 long, 14-yard touchdown
Xavier Worthy, Chiefs (1/28): 3 targets, 2-47; 35-yard touchdown and 21-yard rushing play for a touchdown
Ricky Pearsall, 49ers (1/31): On reserve/non-football injury list
Xavier Legette, Panthers (1/32): 7 targets, 4-35; 18 long
Keon Coleman, Bills (2/33): 5 targets, 4-51; 28 long
Ladd McConkey, Chargers (2/34): 7 targets, 5-39; 11 long , 10-yard touchdown
Ja’Lynn Polk, Patriots (2-37): 1 target, 1-6
Adonai Mitchell, Colts (2/52): 5 targets, 1-2
All told, those nine receivers combined for 42 targets, 27 receptions and 304 yards.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.