The Arizona Cardinals‘ wide receiver room has a slightly different look this year with the addition of Kendrick Bourne. And after Michael Wilson’s career year, some have wondered if he would take over as the team’s No. 1 option.
Head coach Mike LaFleur explained how things might look, detailing his three top receivers’ expected roles.
“His profile would be that of a typical ‘X’ receiver,” he told reporters this week. “What does that mean? They come in all shapes and sizes, but that lengthier body can play on the outside.”
That doesn’t mean Harrison will always be lined up at the left boundary.
“What’s unique about this system is you can move them inside and outside on a whim, just in terms of our formations, our motions and all that kind of stuff.
LaFleur said that Harrison will be the ‘X’ receiver. He compared Harrison to guys like Julio Jones and the Rams‘ Davante Adams, “they’re not necessarily next to the core very often in terms of playing in between the tight ends, in between the tackles.”
Wilson is “a little more compact guy” and will be the ‘Z’ receiver. “Those guys are a little bit more comfortable playing in the C, in the B, in the D areas, right there where you can insert for safeties.”
He compared Wilson’s role to what Puka Nacua does for the Rams.
“All the cool stuff Puka does with the ball in the air, but it’s really all the cool stuff he does without the ball, and so that’s where you see some of that same stuff from a guy like Michael Wilson.”
“Then you think of a guy like Kendrick Bourne, who’s kind of in between there,” LaFleur said. “We’re asking Kendrick probably to play closer to the score than we did from 2017-2020 (with the San Francisco 49ers), but he’s comfortable.
He will be more the nickel/slot receiver.
LaFleur wasn’t saying that Harrison is like Adams or that Wilson is like Nacua. They will have similar roles in the offense, and both can be productive.
Adams led the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns last season.
Nacua led the NFL in receptions.
Harrison and Wilson don’t need to match those accomplishments, but it would appear that their primary roles of Harrison being the ‘X’ and Wilson being the ‘Z’ is no different than the last two seasons.
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.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Mike LaFleur details roles for Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson
