The younger Harrison just gets it though, a “ready-made pro” as coach Jonathan Gannon called him during a recent interview on Sirius XM radio.
During exit interviews, Gannon said Harrison showed up with his own plan of what and how he wanted to get better.
“All his numbers, his metrics are all better than when we got him,” Gannon said. “I’m not gonna speak truth into the universe but just wait until this guy plays this year.”
The plan Harrison took to Gannon was nothing out of the ordinary. He said he is constantly evaluating himself, every season, every month, every week, every practice. There was a learning curve last season – 62 catches, 885 yards, eight touchdowns – and while the curve should be flattened now, the learning doesn’t stop.
“I heard him say he could have done better, but I think he had a really productive first year and he’s well on his way to a 1,000-yard season this year,” Fitzgerald said. “I talk to guys (around the team) and they say he works his tail off. Tirelessly working on catching the ball, route running, and the things that can help. When you have that kind of work ethic and determination, with a quarterback as talented as K1, good things will happen.”
Harrison hopes all that can happen naturally in Year Two, in the course of his most tangible goal – more victories for the Cardinals, and a playoff berth.
“That’s why they brought me here, to help this team win games,” Harrison said. “Improvement for me is winning more games than last year.
“I want to get a home playoff game for Arizona. I actually went to the (Rams-Vikings) game, and it was like, ‘There is a team playing the playoffs in our building.’ It just didn’t feel right.”