When Marvin Harrison Jr. headed for the goal line and scored an electrifying 60-yard touchdown against the Rams in Week 2 of this season, the crowd at State Farm Stadium roared as the crowning glory of their new pass-catching star had arrived.

Harrison had 130 yards on four catches that day. As a rookie, Harrison would certainly have days where he wouldn’t be as good, but the big year many had predicted for the No. 4 overall pick seemed inevitable.

As the Cardinals prepare for their second meeting with the Rams this season on Saturday, a season-long trip between the two meetings, Harrison’s first year has been more about a rookie trying to find his way.

Understandable and yet frustrating.

“We have to get better,” quarterback Kyler Murray said. “It’s not where he wants it, it’s not where I want it. It’s not where the team needs it to be.”

“Again, I haven’t lost any trust (in Harrison). I’m looking forward to the next two weeks.”

Harrison didn’t have a bad year. He has 51 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. His touchdowns lead the team (and with one more he would tie the franchise rookie record held by Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin) and he is second in catches and yards behind star tight end Trey McBride.

For a team that runs first, it fits. The expectations were different. But wide receivers coach Drew Terrell emphasized that Harrison “handled it all with grace.”

“The hardest thing is being judged and perceived based on other people’s opinions of success,” Terrell said. “Most of the time it’s statistical. That is the nature of our position. But as long as you turn on the tape and there’s a product that you’re proud of, when people see it, they know they have to keep up with you and defend you.” And when you fire the ball and make contested plays, that’s Seeing success on tape.

Harrison did that most of the time, Terrell said. When asked about increasing his production, Harrison maintained the same mindset throughout the season.

“Make the plays when the ball comes to you,” he said. “That’s all you can do.”

Unsurprisingly, the soft-spoken Harrison notes all the factors that go into catching a lot of passes – the play call, the defense, the choice of quarterback, the performance of the defensive player.

“Ultimately it comes down to executing, making plays and doing what’s best for the team to win the game,” he said. “It’s not about one person needing so many yards, or that we have to throw the ball so many times, or run the ball so many times. The end goal is victory.”