You are currently viewing I played against Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson – here’s how to slow down Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers

I played against Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson – here’s how to slow down Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers

  • Post category:Sports News
Share this

Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers broke out in a huge way in Week 2.

The rookie receivers arrived in the NFL amid a hype storm after both players were picked inside the top 10 of the 2024 Draft.

Harrison Jr. tore apart the Rams secondary

In just his second game in the league, Arizona Cardinals speedster Harrison Jr torched the Los Angeles Rams for 130 yards and two touchdowns on just four catches.

And the New York Giants fed Nabers – last year’s sixth overall pick – 10 times against the Washington Commanders, who allowed him to rack up 127 yards and a score. He now has 15 receptions and 193 yards from a huge 25 targets.

Defensive coordinators will be having sleepless nights about how to stop the superstar rookies.

Former NFL cornerback Jason Bell is a huge fan of both and admits he has no idea which one he would least like to face.

“Oh, man, this is tough, because their skill set is what gives me the most problems,” he told talkSPORT.

“It’s the guys that when you have them covered, they can out compete you for the ball.

“That is difficult and as fast as Nabers is, he can still go up and dominate you at at at the high point. He’s so big and physical, it’s hard to get around him and tackle him in open space.

“For Marvin Harrison Jr., same thing man. You can be all over him, but he uses his size to his advantage and that’s always what gave me a difficult time.

“I used to have to go against Andre Johnson in practice all the time – the Hall of Famer for the Houston Texans – and that’s how it was.

“It didn’t matter if he was covered. He was open because he was just bigger and stronger.”

Nabers played brilliantly in a loss to the Commanders

Johnson was a dominant force on the field

Bell played against some of the game’s best receivers in Johnson and Harrison Sr.

Bell did offer some hope for slowing down Nabers and Harrison Jr. early in their pro careers.

And this weekend’s opponents – the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions – should listen closely.

“It would be disguising coverages,” he explained when asked how to limit their impact.

“Trying to make them think when they release if they’re trying to read what the secondary is doing.

“Trying to make that really hard on them and then, as the game progresses, just being as physical as possible.

“Really trying to test their conditioning because there’s so much going on mentally and physically, you kind of just want to wear them out.

“But these two guys can really play and you can see they’ve been coached up.”

Harrison Jr. – the fourth overall pick in April – learned from possibly the greatest to ever do it in his Hall of Fame dad, and has already broken two of his records.

And just the thought of facing Harrison Sr. saw Bell break out in a cold sweat.

“He used to give me the business,” he joked when asked if the Indianapolis Colts legend would want his son to eclipse his own career one day.

“He’s the best receiver I ever covered.

“Sorry, you gave me a flashback and it wasn’t good.

“He hopes so, I guarantee you, that’s what he hopes. He hopes that Jr. will be the best.

“That would be the best outcome possible for him as a father to look at his son and think, ‘Man, I’ve given you everything. You’ve taken it and you’re better.’”

Watch Episode 2 of our brand new show ‘Run Down’ on talkSPORT’s NFL channel

Share this