The focus on MHJ is not what’s best for the team right now
The best thing the Cardinals can do at the WR position is “hit the open man.”
The team has 5 very talented pass catchers: (by order of time in Arizona seniority)
- Greg Dortch
- Michael Wilson
- Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Xavier Weaver
- Zay Jones
Reminder: the Cardinals’ offense under Drew Petzing is a run-heavy wide-zone blocking scheme out of 12 and 13 personnel, designed to draw linebackers and safeties toward the line of scrimmage so as to best defend the run, which often leaves open areas of the field to exploit in play action.
Reminder: the alpha receiver who deserves the most passing targets per game in the Cardinals offense is TE Trey McBride. Plus, the team should never sleep on the easy, wide-open catches they get from Elijah Higgins and Tip Reiman. Nor should the team ignore the passing options they have with James Conner, Emari Demercado and Trey Benson, particularly for this reason:
Reminder: As avidly as Cardinals’ fans believe that MHJ is a “can’t miss” future HOF superstar and generational talent at WR, the reality is —-> MHJ is a struggling rookie who is experiencing an enormous learning curve, while trying to manage the concussion he suffered in Green Bay, and while having to cope with the “put on a pedestal too soon” pressure (let alone the pressure of being the legacy of Marvin Harrison Sr.).
In my opinion, the best thing the fans and media and the Cardinals themselves can do right now —-> is take the attention away from MHJ. Give the young man some breathing room. literally and figuratively.
Jonathan Gannon and Drew Petzing have been telling the media how MHJ’s getting “clouded” (bracketed by the CB and post safety) which, for example is why Kyler Murray was able to throw a dime quick-out pass TD to Greg Dortch to the side of the field opposite MHJ.
The coaches are correct.
Yet, because of the attention that MHJ has been getting from opposing defenses, it should behoove the coaches more often to utilize the playmaking albitites of Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson.
This would be straight out of Kurt Warner’s passing game mantra of “hit the open man.” In 2008, Cardinals’ fans were treated to a rare 1,000-yard season trifecta at WR:
- Larry Fitzgerald —- 96 catches for 1,421 yds, 13.1 ave, 12 TDs
- Anquan Boldin —- 89 catches for 1,038 yds, 11.7 ave, 11 TDs
- Steve Breaston —- 77 catches, 1,006 yds, 13.1 ave, 3 TDs
And get this —-on the occasions when Fitz, Q and Stevie were covered, Warner made a household name in Arizona out of Jerheme Urban to the tune of 34 catches for 448 yds. 13.2 ave., 4 TDs. Warner’s message to CB4s —-> “you can’t cover Jerheme.”
Obviously, in Drew Petzing’s style of offense, Cardinals fans are going to be impressed and relieved to see one of the receivers turn in a 1,000-yard season.
But this season —- if that 1,000-yard receiver turned out to be Trey McBride, Greg Dortch or Michael Wilson —-> should it matter at all if it wasn’t from MHJ?
Cardinals’ Current Receiving Stats:
- Trey McBride —- 33 catches on 45 targets for 322 yds, 9.8, 0 TD
- Marvin Harrison Jr. —- 20 catches on 43 targets for 300 yds, 15.0 ave, 4 TDs
- Michael Wilson —- 22 catches on 33 targets for 252 yds, 11.5 ave, 2 TDs
- Greg Dortch —- 20 catches on 29 targets for 179 yds, 9.0 ave, 1 TD
What the stats suggest is that passing away from MHJ has resulted in a much higher completion percentage —- and, as importantly —- forcing the football to MHJ is not a wise tactic at this point.
- Completion percentage to McBride, Wilson and Dortch combined: 64.1 %
- Completion percentage to Marvin Harrison Jr.: 46.5%
The Solution?
The more that the Cardinals make a point of hooking up with Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch, the higher the odds are that MHJ will find himself more often in single coverage. When teams keep clouding him, Drew Petzing and Company need to make those defenses pay. Then, by the 4th quarter, there’s a better chance to see MHJ’s “Prime Time.”
In the meantime, it is imperative that all game long, regardless of whether MHJ is in double or single coverage, he has to bust his butt on every route and blocking assignment. Brian Baldinger made a great point last week when he noticed that Marvin was just kind of going through the motions on plays where he was not the #1 option. If MHJ wants to get open as much as possible, he cannot afford to take his pedal off of the metal on any play.
2004 Cardinals —-> Take a page out of Kurt Warner’s playbook —->“Hit the open man.”
