The Lions will not be better without Calvin Johnson

Recently, there has been a rash bit of thinking going around that the Lions as an offense, and at the wide receiver position, are somehow better off without Calvin Johnson. While that may take awhile to settle in, here are some articles from around the World Wide Web to help affirm that I am not going mad. Pride of Detroit’s WR Poll. Detroit Jock City’s recent article. Another Pride think piece awhile back. Now, this is not to disparage any of the authors of said articles or voters of said fan polls. Differing, well-researched opinions are always welcomed. But take a look at what Marvin Jones is replacing:

All time NFL reception yards in a single season. (2012)
2nd all time receiving yards per game average. (86.1)
All time, yards in a single regulation (4 quarters) game. (329)
5-time Pro Bowler, 3 1st team All Pro’s
Led league in receiving yards and yards per game 2 straight years (2011,2012)
2011/2012: 3,645 yards, 218 catches, 21 TD’s. 16.8 YPC.
7/9 years over 1,000 yards receiving, 6 in a row until retirement. (All stats via Pro Football Reference)

That is quite a resume.

While Calvin Johnson certainly was not at those god-level, video game stat, play in the past three years as he was in his prime, he was still a terrific receiver, even if he always had the injury bug. He would “have a foot” one day and the next “have a knee.” Those were what ultimately robbed him of a longer career, had he wanted to continue. He’d always play through those, as was tradition, and put up record-breaking numbers. 2013, though, saw him miss two games because of those nagging injury problems, after playing 32/32 games in the past two years. Playing through fingers literally pointing the wrong way in his record-breaking 2012 season, and a bum knee the next, Calvin “only” produced 1492 yards and 12 TDs in 14 games. The 2014 season saw those injuries flare up again, combined with inconvenient new ones, and he would play the least amount of games he’d play in his career, missing just three, however, still topping 1,000 yards receiving. /

Even still, Calvin Johnson would return to play all 16 games this past year, eclipsing one clueless offensive coordinator, 1200 yards and 9TDs. He was still doing THIS and THIS and THIS. There are few receivers in the game who can make those plays, and while Calvin Johnson might not have been “Megatron” any longer, he still was Calvin freaking Johnson. Teams still built their entire defensive game plan to stop him.

Dec 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) flips the ball after a catch before the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Remember the Saints putting two corners on him at the LOS like they were stopping a gunner on a punt return? Remember him being the 3rd best receiver on the Cowboys in 2011, only to catch two Touchdowns in the 4th quarter to complete an epic comeback, not uttering a word himself? Remember you get to ask, “which one?” when given a chance to talk about your favorite Calvin Johnson catch in triple coverage. Remember the 329? The 98-yard drive against Oakland deep in the 4th quarter in 2011 where he had all but eight yards to win the game? Players like this are not replaceable.

Calvin Johnson could take the entire offseason off, decide he wants to come back week one of the regular season, and still put up 1,000 yards. Let’s not pretend the Lions have improved in that area by any means. Marvin Jones, as of right now, does not hold a candle to Calvin Johnson. Sans his rookie year, Calvin’s worst statistical season ever still trumps Jones’ best. Of course, Marvin Jones has never seen the amount of targets he will be getting this year, and he certainly could feast on this opportunity. He has great hands, good size, and runs a good route. He is young and eager to prove himself as a 1st option in the passing game. But when the offense starts to stall one game, three and out after three and out, I know the Lions will be missing the “throw it to Calvin Johnson” play in their playbook.

There is cause for optimism though, of course! Our own Matt Urban gives fans many reasons to do so. Marvin Jones is a talented wide receiver that is looking to be a number one target, and Golden Tate is a shifty, YAC machine that will likely be the most targeted receiver on the Lions. Eric Ebron has something to prove this year, and should build on a solid sophomore season. Theo Riddick is the best pass catching back, and somehow least talked about player, in the league. The offensive line will go through growing pains, but assuredly cannot be worse than 2015. That is enough to get excited about, even if there are a few unknowns. This is all to say that Stafford could very well become a better quarterback without Calvin. He will need to go through his progressions faster, continue his throwing his receivers open, and stay calm in a (hopefully) more established pocket. All of those improvements were on display on the second half of last season, and he now has an entire offseason with offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter to iron out the kinks. However, thinking that landing Marvin Jones and Jeremy Kerley in Free Agency, while good players in their own rights, somehow means the Lions are better off in that department, means you are in denial. That is fine. Denial is step one in the grieving process, but it has been two and a half months since Calvin announced his retirement. Time to move on to…furiously looks up the five stages of grief…… Anger? Ok, get angry Lions fans, only three more steps to acceptance.

Next: Who will emerge as #3 wide receiver?

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