We’ve Seen The Last Of Calvin Johnson’s Monster Seasons
By Joe Chapp
Calvin Johnson is the biggest freak, and by freak I mean a complete nightmare for teams to cover. When Calvin Johnson got injured last year people said, “the Detroit Lions have no Megatron, they’ll struggle” – Detroit did struggle just a bit, but they squeaked out wins in the knick of time going 3-0 in Johnson’s absence.
With the arrival of Golden Tate and Eric Ebron, the Lions have weapons they didn’t have before. Kris Durham, Nate Burleson and Bryant Johnson those are the names that came before Golden Tate as receivers paired with Johnson. It was obvious that Calvin Johnson had to carry the work load.
When people say, “Stafford has tunnel vision towards Calvin”, that is likely because Stafford hasn’t had a wide receiver opposite of Calvin that could take advantage of the defense that focused primarily on Calvin Johnson.
The man known as Megatron will be good, and he’ll rack up tons of yards. However, unlike in years where Calvin had to do everything, and the only person that would get open was Calvin Johnson.
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Those days are gone.
When the Lions signed Golden Tate is wasn’t the sexiest name on the market — names like DeSean Jackson, Eric Decker and Hakeem Nicks were ‘sexy’ names.
Tate was coming off a Super Bowl but in a run-first offense in Seattle, he was undervalued compared to a lot of players coming out. He wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done.
Golden Tate was attracted to Detroit because of Calvin Johnson. The Jets and Seahawks both had interest, mainly Seattle because he was a good piece to the wide receiver unit, but he decided on Detroit.
Who could blame him?
With Calvin Johnson on the opposite side it wouldn’t take much for Golden Tate to have a monster season. When Golden Tate was introduced in Detroit he spoke on being the perfect complement to Calvin Johnson.
“I see myself being a great complement to Calvin, and him being a great complement to myself.”
When Calvin Johnson went out, Golden Tate was the guy who would have to carry the load. It was uneasy to think Golden Tate could carry the load, but he did.
In the three game absence of the best wide receiver in football, Golden Tate didn’t flinch going off for 349 yards, three touchdowns and a 15.5 yards per catch average.
To most it was unknown, but Golden Tate showed on many teams he could be a number one receiver.
Looking forward to the 2015 season, Calvin Johnson comes into a year with play makers around the offense. There’s no doubt Stafford can be like his 2011 self, with the Ameer Abdullah getting drafted by the Detroit Lions that fills the void left by Jahvid Best. Golden Tate coming back, and a healthy and improved offensive line is what bodes well for Detroit.
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There’s no doubt the Lions have something that hasn’t been there in recent years.
Detroit actually has other talented pass catchers around Calvin Johnson.
The hope that Calvin will go back to breaking records is false hope — Calvin should no longer be asked to the carry the whole load like he’s done throughout his career.
Calvin spoke on if he has some good years left, “No doubt,” Johnson said. “What did I miss, four, almost five games last year? Still came up with just over 1,000 (yards). I still have some (good years) left.”
Calvin does have some good years left, but the years in which he was asked to carry the Lions on his back are gone.
The Lions as a whole are deeper, more skilled and more talented than ever before Calvin Johnson is going through the twilight of his career. If you asked Calvin if he’d rather break a single season record or win a Super Bowl, Johnson would say Super Bowl.
Johnson said he’d take a lesser role to take advantage of what the Lions offense has to offer.
Calvin Johnson is the perfect guy to be in this situation, Calvin isn’t going to sit-ups in his driveway like Owens, or yell at his QB when the ball doesn’t get thrown his way like Bryant. He’s always been an unassuming superstar in that regard.
Johnson just wants to win. Like Barry Sanders before him, he’s staring at the possibility of never playing for a championship, despite being the league’s best at his position.
In no way am I saying Calvin Johnson will be worthless, but what we once seen is done and over. It’s better for the Lions to be a complete team rather than just throwing to Calvin Johnson and a bunch of misfits.
Golden Tate, Eric Ebron, Ameer Abdullah, Lance Moore and Joique Bell give Detroit something they never really had before — a complete cast.
Can they put it together? Tell us what you think.
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