I can't believe how gruelingly relentless is the ignorance displayed by you munchkins. The question isn't whether or not Calvin Johnson is a dominant player. The question is whether or not Detroit will be miraculously blocking, running and tackling better next year because of his presence.
Before I give you a chocolate swirly of statistical evidence, let me direct you to an article about the NFL Draft's Top 10 WR Busts by a writer for, yes Fox Sports, and his name is Mr. Moneypenny:
"NFL franchises are understandably apprehensive about drafting Johnson too high, largely thanks to the league's awful history at projecting success at the position ... In past NFL drafts, talented prospects like Irving Fryar and Keyshawn Johnson were taken with the first overall pick by teams needing a difference maker. But unfortunately, you still have to have the talent and system in place to get guys like Fryar and Keyshawn 'the (expletive) ball.' Right now, too many experts argue that teams shouldn't risk drafting Calvin Johnson too high, because you can find always find a receiver later in the draft, for much cheaper."
Ms. Moneypenny's husband (maybe that's why he's so smug) drags through a disgraceful round-up of bad busts (what, no Michael Westbrook?) until we arrive at this recently jettisoned garbage:
"#1 WR Bust: Charles Rogers, 2003
First round, second pick, Detroit
Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson are the most dominant receivers I've ever seen at the college level, but I'd put Charles Rogers right on the edge of that group. Rogers was ridiculous at Michigan State, then ran an incredible 4.3 in the 40 heading into the NFL Draft, an insane time that had dozens of scouts salivating. Upon entering the league, the talented Rogers accomplished very little, breaking his collarbone on more than one occasion (hey No-Wood, did you read that?), and violating the NFL's substance abuse policy almost as many times (three) as he caught TD passes (four). In three NFL seasons, Rogers caught an embarrassingly low 36 passes for 440 yards, and was cut by the Lions in 2006. Attempts at an NFL comeback are questionable at this point, especially considering that the once speedy Rogers recently timed in around 4.8 in the 40, half a second slower than he ran in his glory years. Maybe his collarbone was bothering him..."
Now that you've considered that anecdotal evidence, how about some statistics to prove my point: Detroit's needs are vast and another WR, no matter how talented, is not going to win a single game for them. Not when they suck this bad:
2nd most pass attempts per game which means that the Lions were behind in every game, helping to yield the 2nd worst time of possession and 4th most INTs. Having the worst rushing attack in the league points directly at the O-line and it really doesn't matter if your #2 receiver is an undrafted Anglo-American when your line give up the 2nd most sacks & sack yards. And nothing can help you if you have the 2nd worst scoring defense.
The Lions problems are myriad, yet they groped blindly for another savior in the form of the skill position who touches the ball the least. The fact that so few of those top picks are still around rather bolsters my point. They go through WRs like strippers go through eight balls.
Let me explain this one last time. In four out of the last five years, the Lions have selected a WR in the first round. In the last five years, the Lions have selected five offensive lineman out of 38 picks. That one pick-per-year has averaged in the sixth round.
During these five years, the Lions have amassed a winning percentage of .275. You guessed it: worst in the league.
My point: although Johnson might become an elite NFL WR, the Lions front office has a deeply flawed vision of how to build a team.
You owe me a coke!
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