How to Unlock Marv and Drive Him Out of the Garage
By Walter Mitchell
Just four weeks ago, Marvin Harrison Jr. was the toast of the Cardinals' pre-season.
First came this gem of a redzone TD pass from Jacoby Brissett to MHJ on a back-of-the-endzone dig route during the pre-season game at home versus the Raiders:
https://x.com/UnderdogNFL/status/2088059491040276559?s=20
Second came this textbook back shoulder fade with patented toe taps thrown on a dime by Jacoby Brissett that was a slam-dunk, hugely victorious ending to the Cardinals' controlled practice with the Packers.
https://x.com/UnderdogNFL/status/2092686963551633572?s=20
Marv was smiling and feeling oh so good. All was well in Glendale.
Now after two games and only one 33-yard catch on 4 targets, the smiling emojis 😃 for MHJ have turned to frowns 😦.
Even worse, in a way, is that now there are videos of Marv's poor effort running some of his routes at half speed and making weak, uninspired attempts to block on running plays.
To say that it looks as if Marv is currently discouraged and unengaged, is an understatement.
https://x.com/esidery/status/2102378645784252478?s=20
At the source of Marv's frustration is that when he customarily lines up as the X wide receiver, he's being routinely bracketed by a CB and a FS.
This is a situation that by now Marv knows very well that the numbers favor heavily against him for winning his routes.
In Marv's career thus far, here are his route win percentages:
* Horizontal route separation: 21%
* Vertical route separation: 10.6%.
* Catch percentage for career is 54.5 % (83 catches on 152 targets --- which during the 2024 season ranked 126th for WRs.
* In 2025, his 56.5% catch percentage ranked 135th of all WRs.
By contrast:
Puka Nacua's career catch percentage is 72.1%.
Amon-Ra St. Brown's is 73.6%.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba's is 72.0%.
Number 1 WRs reward their teams for high numbers of targets.
Fact is, Marv does not get open as often and he's not as versatile, the way #1 guys are these days.
But Hold On!
I am here today to say, that it's ok --- because the Cardinals can still turn Marv into a major asset and a sure cause for insomnia among NFL defensive coordinators.
How to Unlock Marv
In the Redzone --- he's already locked in on these routes:
* Back shoulder fade
* Slot fade
* Slot corner
*Slot crosser
* Quick Slant
* Back of goal line crossers and digs
When Bracketed ---
First off, Marv being bracketed is of great benefit to the entire offense because he occupies the safety to his side.
But here are his three best chances to win:
* Twelve-yard dig routes between the safeties and the linebackers.
* Deep Posts --- the key here is having Trey McBride, Michael Wilson or Jeremiyah Love attract the attention of the FS to Marv's side by running curls and crossers in the intermediate area in front of the FS in order to draw him in.
* Mesh routes --- made to order to shake the bracket and threaten the intermediate areas of the field.
But Here's the Key: MOTION
Because Marv is a receiver who gathers speed the longer he runs, MOTION him TO THE SLOT or ACROSS THE FORMATION!
It takes away press coverage and the CB/FS bracket while allowing him to build momentum.
Marv Could Learn from Michael Wilson --- Run Every Route--- Like it Could Be the Game Winner
Great, compelling interview here with T.J. Houshmandzadeh --- MUST SEE:
https://x.com/WBJMItch/status/2102881498424545579?s=20
Red Rain Question:
Do you think the Cardinals should work with Marv the way I am suggesting? Or do you think, like Hosh does, it is best at this point for Marv and the team for the Cardinals to trade him?
Trade Marv, Paris and Sweat. Fire Monti. This offense has a #1 in their TE. A good #2 in Wilson and a potential Mccaffrey like pass catcher in Love, no room for another 1 or 2 in Marv, but could upgrade for a 3 WR. His dad will make sure he won’t be here long term. Trade Marv to Buffalo for Coleman and a 3 rd pick. By time of trade deadline this team will be looking at next years draft, including a QB and possibly a LT not to mention many positions on Defense.
ReplyDeleteAlso been saying to trade those 3–MHJ since post rookie season, about 8 games into his Cards career and PJJ once I heard he was seeking 40M. And obviously fire Monti, worst GM in football, not a chance in hell anyone in the organization has any respect for him. The guy is a total putz, biggest one I’ve seen since Todd Graham, can’t put together a sentence without 2 or 3 um um um. Bidwill is a total dipshit for hiring the guy in the first place.
DeleteSweat trade is definitely coming at the Deadline
DeleteExcellent ideas Walt, on the way this team needs to be utilizing MHJ. He was an elite WR at Ohio fricken State and set the Buckeyes all-time record for career 100-yard receiving games with 15. That's not a fluke. That's talent. IMO, this is not a Marv problem, this is an AZ Card problem. This team hasn't turned one of their drafted WR's into an elite WR since they drafted Fitz 22 years ago.
ReplyDeleteMHJ's on the field body language is "I want the heck off this shit show of a team". My question is....is it too late to salvage his career in AZ? My opinion is that there is already too much bad blood between Marv and the team and trying to implement him into the system in a more productive way will only delay the inevitable. It would not surprise me if MH-SR is talking to his connections within the Colts organization, telling them that Marv's half ass effort is because he's not happy with the coaching staff and if the Colts can work a trade with AZ, Marv will ball out in Indy.
I can't believe they dont motion him out of the slot and drag him back across the formation. Defenses can't keep up with his stride. I would have 3 or 4 of those installed per game.. He made a living out of those at OSU. Once defenses start biting on those haveJeremiah Love back across formation in soace. I guarantee when he catches while in motion defenses will ve on their heels.
ReplyDeleteLike!
DeleteLIKE!!!
DeleteTrading Marv now is selling at the bottom. Two games in, bracketed every snap, effort clips everywhere, his value will never be lower. You don't move a No. 4 overall pick for a Day 2 pick
ReplyDeleteIf Marv needs motion to beat press and the bracket, he's not an X. With Bourne in the slot, the answer isn't moving Marv inside full time. Line him up off the ball at Z, stack him with Bourne for free releases, and motion him across the formation so he builds speed. Stop asking him to be a No. 1.
Puzzling: LaFleur comes from the Shanahan/McVay tree. Motion, stacks, crossers and boots are his playbook. So why is Marv still parked at X eating doubles? Is that on Hackett who's an idiot.
Hosh is right about one thing-No scheme fixes half-speed routes. We saw it at Ohio State.
My take: run the motion package through the trade deadline. No effort, take calls. Effort back, decide in the spring when the fifth-year option forces it. Worst case is dumping him and watching someone else unlock him and we've seen too much of that. Haven't we.
Like!!
DeleteWant to know what’s funny Walt? He doesn’t even look like he’s running half speed in all but one of two of those routes to me. I’ve been saying since I was screaming not to draft the guy he had zero suddenness to his game, complete lack of burst and he’s soft. Your suggestions for using what abilities he does have sound keen to me. It’s too bad we hired one half of the dink and dunk bros. Apparently no play callers in the league dial up more dink and dunk than Mike and Matt Lafleur.
ReplyDeleteI saw that TJ Housh clip and it mirrored my thoughts on the situation exactly.. No more valuable to get involved than Kendrick Bourne, MLF words not mine for anyone who can read between the lines. Lafleur acted like the notion he’d get some underneath stuff to MHJ to get him going was absurd because that’d eat into McBride and Bourne targets, two guys he insinuated (albeit like accurately) are better working the short stuff than Marv. His entire career he’s not shown any qb that he’s a fitz/hop type of guy where you throw it to them even if they don’t appear open and they’re either going to come down with it or make sure the defender doesn’t. You make a great point he needs to be in motion as he’s definitely a long strider and can get going fast (clocked at 20+ on one of those TD catches he had in the only quarter of his entire career he got me excited), but there’s no burst. As Housh said, Marv is the runt of the litter, he’s going to get the scraps. He’s become a distraction and needs to be moved. I said during the draft if we could get a pick 25-60 for him to make it happen and then go get Anthony Hill Jr or Jacob Rodroguez. Of course Monti didn’t have his finger on the pulse of the situation, likely got caught up in the echo chamber of hype that was brewing, ppl talking about having 3 1k pass catchers and talking about them like they were Fitz/Boldin/Breaston reincarnated. So disrespectful. Now he’s got a problem on his hands and since he’s fighting for his job, and not wanting to be the fastest GM in league history to lose 50 games, draft picks for the first time likely don’t seem all that appealing to Monti. I’m praying he’s let go after 1-5 or 2-6 and Monti gets to 40 losses before he gets to 20 wins. He’s the inverse of the Phil Jackson rule haha.
Like!
DeleteDraft a player, use him wrong, stunt his development, move on. This is the Cardinals mantra.
ReplyDeleteFar too often.
DeleteBingo! That sums it up in a nutshell.
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