Ravens' Matt Elam calls Calvin Johnson 'pretty old'

The Detroit Lions will face the Baltimore Ravens next Monday night with both teams having a lot on the line. Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives and whoever loses will find it tough to make it past the regular season.

The Ravens know they'll have to contend with one of the league's top offenses led by receiver Calvin Johnson. But for some reason like everyone else that goes against "Megatron" the Ravens defensive backs talk as if he's average.

Safety Matt Elam had a lot to say about Johnson including calling him "pretty old".

“Big, fast, athletic, unstoppable, freak,” Elam said.

“He’s pretty old, so I don’t know how physical he’ll be,” Elam said. “He’s a big guy, but he’s older. I guess when they get older they’re not going to be as physical, you know what I’m saying? We’re going to have to be physical, make him uncomfortable.”

Johnson does have a height and weight advantage against most defensive backs and the Ravens don't have a lockdown corner that can contend with Johnson. But that didn't stop others in their defensive backfield from chirping.

“We’re not going to get scared because of the name on the back of his jersey,” Chykie Brown said. “He puts his pants on just like we do. We’ve got to out there and do us — get physical on him, play tough on him.” 

Johnson doesn't get involved in any of the trash talking debates but let's his play on the field do the talking for him. I'm sure quarterback Matthew Stafford will make it a point to get the ball to Johnson.

Jerry Rice says Calvin Johnson has work to do to be the greatest ever

Is the Detroit Lions’ Calvin Johnson the NFL’s greatest receiver ever? He might be, some say.

But the guy who holds most of the career records, Jerry Rice, said Megatron will have to get a lot closer to them before he gets in the conversation.

“I think it’s great that they’re still talking about me after my career’s over,” Rice told USA Today. “He still has a ways to go.

“We’re just going to let this guy continue to develop, and if he should break the majority of my records or break all my records, I’ll be the first one to congratulate him.”

Rice, 51, holds the NFL career receiving records of 1,549 catches, 22,895 yards and 197 TDs over 20 seasons. Johnson, 28, has 541 receptions for 8,740 yards and 63 TDs in seven seasons.

To some Rice may sound like a bitter old man, but he is correct. Johnson will have to perform at a peak level to put up the numbers Rice did when he was playing. In all fairness Rice always had John Taylor on the other side of the field to draw coverage away from him, played on a dominant San Francisco 49ers team and had Joe Montana throwing him the ball.

If Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford can stay healthy and productive, Johnson might be able to achieve the stats that Rice built up during his career.

Reggie Bush says Lions preparing to be without Calvin Johnson this week

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson missed practice which opened up speculation whether he would play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Reggie Bush isn't so sure. Bush isn't holding out hope on seeing Johnson in uniform on Sunday. Bush says the team is prepping for Sunday's game as if Johnson won't be playing.

"Yeah, that's what we have to do," Bush said. "He didn't practice today, so that's what we have to do. We have to prepare as if he's not going to play."

The offense struggled in last week's 22-9 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Bush is hoping that his teammates can raise their game and bounce back from last week's lackluster showing.

"We knew what was at stake last week, so now, our sense of urgency has to go up, as a unit," Bush said. "Everybody has to step. We all have to do a little bit more this week. Our focus has to go up a little bit more. Our sense of urgency has to go up a little bit more."

Easier said than done. Cleveland is no Green Bay but the Lions must make more big plays in all facets of the game if they hope to pull out a win with or without number 81 on the field.

Dez Bryant thinks he can be the first 2,000 yard receiver

Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant has high hopes for his NFL career. Bryant believes he can become the NFL's first 2,000 yard receiver. A tall task indeed.

Bryant told ESPNDallas.com that his breakout season in 2012 was only the beginning of better days to come. Bryant caught 92 passes for 1,382 yards this past season.

"That's still scratching the surface," Bryant said in a telephone interview with ESPNDallas.com. "It's only going to get better, to be honest. I still have a lot to give. I feel like nobody's seen anything. Nothing.

"I feel like it can be a lot more than that. That's just being honest. I honestly feel like [2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns] can potentially happen." 

It can happen but it won't happen for Bryant as long as he's in Dallas. Bryant says his knowledge of the offense and maturation gives him this confidence. Maybe but I can't see it happening. Dallas still likes to run the ball which will take away any potential targets coming his way. Throw in the fact that tight end Jason Witten is still around and that further dwindles his chances.

The closest to come to matching that feat was Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions and he was all they had on offense. So if he couldn't pull it off I don't see Bryant doing it in a more complete offense. I'm not saying he's a bad receiver, I think the Cowboys have too many other variables that will keep him from approaching that benchmark.

It's good to have confidence in your abilities but this may be a bit too much for Bryant.  

Barry Sanders thinks Calvin Johnson can reach a Super Bowl

Former Detroit Lions great, Barry Sanders will possibly go down as the greatest player to never appear in a Super Bowl. Toiling for the Lions ruined Sanders chances at any kind of postseason success. Even though the team never had much success, Sanders thinks Lions receiver, Calvin Johnson won't endure a similar fate. Sanders thinks that Johnson has a good chance to reach a Super Bowl.

 "I think for him, he has the advantage because it's a passing game. It's much more difficult to stop a passing game than it is to stop a running game, especially with the way defenses play today. So I think his chances will be better of getting to a Super Bowl."

What has Sanders been smoking? Has he really watched these Lions? The way it's looking they could be headed nowhere fast. The only way Johnson gets to a Super Bowl is if he gets traded to a contender.

I'm a Lions fan through and through but barring a reversal of fortune, I see Sanders blowing smoke up everyone's backside and providing false hope for Lions fans once again.

Hue Jackson Figured McClain Could Cover Megatron

Everyone is an armchair quarterback. I'm one of them. You know, questioning every decision that a coach or player makes. Some of the criticism is warranted, some isn't. But a few things Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson did Sunday against the Detroit Lions made me scratch my head.

First was the third and two deep ball Carson Palmer threw to Chaz Schilens that fell incomplete.

I'm a Lions fan so I'm glad that the pass fell incomplete and saved the Lions some time. The Lions don't have the greatest run defense so I was puzzled as to why the Raiders went deep. I can understand trying to bury someone, but to conventionally ice the game has never hurt anyone in the past.

Here's the one Jackson gets defensive about. The deep pass to Calvin Johnson where Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain was hung out to dry in the defense that was called.

Go make that play,” Jackson said via the CSNCalifornia.com. “It isn’t a scheme issue. The ball’s laying up in the air, you’ve got to go make that play when you’ve got an opportunity. Their guy made it and we didn’t, so they won the game.”



“Yeah, that’s called the Tampa-2. That’s what the middle linebacker does — he runs right down the middle of the field. They made the play and we didn’t.”


First, I've seen the Tampa 2 up close and personal when Rod Marinelli coached the Lions and not once did I see a middle linebacker going deep 40 yards to cover an elite receiver. I never saw the non descript MLB the Lions had at the time trying to cover Randy Moss going deep down the middle. So I don't see why Jackson is so defensive about the lousy defensive call that pretty much cost them the game.

Jackson must've listened to Rob Ryan on how to defend Johnson since he torched the Raiders for 9 catches, 214 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson would've been better off watching film of all the bracket coverage teams have been throwing at the Lions the past five weeks.

Jackson needs to go back to school and when he does he needs to major in "Watching game film 101". Covering Megatron with a linebacker? Suicide!








      

Chicago's DJ Moore Has A Plan To Slow Down Calvin Johnson

The Chicago Bears have opted not to go the Rob Ryan route and will admit that Calvin Johnson is a damn good receiver.  Earlier this week Bears corneback Charles Tillman called Johnson the best receiver in the NFL.

That doesn't mean that the Bears defense will concede anything to Johnson. They figure Johnson will get his catches, but he will pay the price. Nickelback DJ Moore has a plan to slow down Megatron. Just hit him.

As far as the key to defending a huge, talented wideout like Johnson, “Make sure you hit him,” nickel back D.J. Moore told CSNChicago.com. “Hit him.”

“I don’t think people should be thinking somebody is too good, have somebody come in and you give them too much credit, over-think about what you’re doing,” Moore said. “I think we’ll be fine.”

“When you’re big and fast like that, you’re going to catch balls,” Moore said. “Jump balls, he’s probably going to win those. But timing routes, you can still break on the ball like you would any other ball.”


It's easier said than done since the Dallas Cowboys' Terrence Newman tried to take Johnson's head off on his two touchdown catches. Johnson better be prepared to pay the price when the ball comes his way.     

Rob Ryan Disses Calvin Johnson

One of the marquee NFL games this Sunday will be the Detroit Lions taking on the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions are off to a 3-0 start and the talk of the NFL. This will be a big road test for the Lions as they try to extend their winning streak to eight after winning their last four last season.

The main weapon on the Lions offense is receiver Calvin Johnson. Johnson has caught two touchdown passes in each of the Lions three games, yet he isn't mentioned as one of the elite receivers in the NFL. ESPN analyst Cris Carter left him out of his top six and Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan isn't thinking too highly of Johnson either.

“We work against better receivers with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant,” Ryan told the Dallas Morning News. They are probably two of the premier receivers in football, but this guy is right there," Ryan said. "He's almost that good. He's excellent.




"We're going to get after him. I know he's on some touchdown thing like that, whatever. [Lions offensive coordinator] Scott Linehan has done this before with great receivers with Randy Moss. If the guy is as good as Randy Moss I'm going to go in there and hide. Thank God he's not, but he's a pretty [expletive] good player."

Well Rob I will agree with Cris Carter, but i can't agree with you. Although Miles Austin has proven himself to be one of the better receivers in the league I would think most GMs would jettison him in favor of Johnson. For all of Bryant's talent, he's still immature and hasn't proven anything in the league. Johnson still isn't there with the likes of Andre Johnson but he's been hampered playing for what was once a horrible football team. And Ryan is saying he's no better than number three on Dallas' roster. Yeah right.

Not to slight Austin or Bryant, but name me one person that would give up Johnson for Austin or Bryant. Not many and I'd question them about it. Ryan you're gonna have your hands full tomorrow. I'm sure Johnson and the Lions will use that as some extra motivation.






 

Lions Get Two Pro Bowlers

For once the Detroit Lions have two bonafide Pro Bowlers. It seems like it's been ages since they've had two players go to participate in the annual Hawaii extravanganza. Also it was like any Lions player that went was like a sympathy pick, sort of like baseball's All Star Game.

Many expected receiver Calvin Johnson to make it. He was named a starter for the NFC squad. Many expected rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to be good. But not Pro Bowl starter good. That's what 60 tackles, 9 sacks, an interception, and throw in a fumble recovery for a touchdown will get you. I don't think anyone expected this kind of impact when training camp started.

As a Lions fan it gets me somewhat excited about the team's future. Hopefully they can get a few more impact players and translate some of this production into more wins.