Nobody said it was going to be easy.
That doesn’t mean the Arizona Cardinals can’t find a way to rebound from their disappointing 31-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks during their Week 3 visit to the San Francisco 49ers.
And no, it won’t be easy. There, someone said it.
But if the 1-1 Cardinals hope to make it close or — dare we say, upset a 2-0 49ers team with the NFL’s best point differential (plus-42) — then a handful of things need to change. We need to see more of and more from some specific players.
For this Cardinals’ season to carry any sort of clout, we’re calling on these four players:
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
It’s no secret the third-year pro is on the verge of being labeled a bust, and many of his critics have already started calling him that. To shake that perception,
Harrison needs a big performance and a consistent string of strong showings.
Considering how little coach Mike LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathan Hackett have used him through two games, that might be a tough ask. Harrison has been targeted just four times, and he has just one catch. Jacoby Brissett threw his way only once against Seattle and it was purposely driven into the grass under duress.
It’s still too early to suggest Harrison is being phased out of the Cardinals’ offensive game plan because that plan is going to change from week to week. But it is starting to feel a little like LaFleur isn’t about to order a reset and slow things down just so Harrison can catch up.
I’m not so sure that targeting Harrison early in games or having him run shorter routes is the answer. LaFleur said he may consider it but noted that’s where pass catchers such as tight end Trey McBride, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and rookie running back Jeremiyah Love shine.
Besides, the former No. 4 overall draft pick just looks disengaged at times. He’s been seen jogging on some of his routes and hasn’t put full effort into many of his blocking assignments. That’s a bad look that can translate to fewer snaps.
That’s no way to help your cause.
Outside linebacker Josh Sweat
Something is wrong with Arizona’s best pass rusher, who set a career-high with 12 sacks last season. Sweat underwent a “procedure” on his knee during the offseason, according to general manager Monti Ossenfort, who didn’t elaborate.
Whatever was ailing him is clearly still bothering Sweat, as he has been seen sort of dragging his leg during efforts to seal the edge and pursue opposing quarterbacks. He doesn’t have the same burst off the ball, and he isn’t winning his one-on-one battles.
He has just three total tackles, one for loss, and no sacks. He'll need to ramp up the next few weeks because the Cardinals are heavily relying on him, having signed him to a four-year, $76.4 million contract last offseason.
Running back Jeremiyah Love
There’s still plenty of time for the No. 3 overall pick to become the Cardinals’ featured running back and lethal pass catcher out of the backfield, but when is that moment coming? Is it going to happen this year or is LaFleur going to keep rotating Love with Tyler Allgeier?
It’s been mostly an even split, with Allgeier getting 22 carries (for 71 yards) and Love 20 carries (70 yards). Love has one more catch (five) than Allgeier, seven more receiving yards (25-18) and only two more targets (7-5).
Love isn’t getting the type of workload to make a strong case for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and LaFleur seems hesitant to even consider naming him the No. 1 back. Love’s high ankle sprain, though, is now behind him, and even if Allgeier gets the bulk of the carries near the goal line, Cardinals fans want — and deserve — to see more from Love.
Take off the training wheels and feed him the football.
Defensive back Garrett Williams
He’s been working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon and there were indications he could be ready to return after being limited in practice each of the first two weeks. It might be too much to expect Williams to deliver any real heroics if he’s cleared to play against the 49ers, but perhaps he’ll have knocked off the rust by Week 4 at the New York Giants.
Arizona is in dire need of some help after losing starting cornerback Will Johnson to a neck injury that could force him to miss the rest of the season. When healthy, Williams has been a plus player whether the Cardinals deploy him inside at the nickel spot, his best position, or use him on the outside as a cover corner.
If Williams isn’t ready for any type of extensive workload, the pressure will be on cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Max Melton to limit the 49ers’ passing game. Melton injured his toe during the game against the Seahawks, which might limit his availability. After placing Johnson on IR, however, the team promoted cornerback Star Thomas V from the practice squad to the active roster, so expect him to see some time.
Somebody from this position group needs to step up — and so do Harrison, Sweat and Love.
Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic .Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. on Roc and Manuch with Jimmy B on ESPN 620 (KTAR-AM) and every Thursday on the Doug Franz Unplugged podcast via Apple or Spotify.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Marvin Harrison Jr. and 3 others must step up for Cardinals | Opinion
