dickey moe
Fingerpicker
Here's a better suggestion: go back to the original thread title, but replace "Calvin Johnson" with "Rob Gronkowski."'goldenchild said:
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Calvin Johnson (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Grahamburn
- Start date
Major
Footballguy
'goldenchild said:This weekend was the 1st round of the playoffs for most leagues.
@ stop panickingHad the bye this week and I can't see sitting him for the likes of Johnny Knox, Damien Williams or Jacoby Ford. I'm hoping that, with the past 5 games being mediocre or worse, the law of averages shifts back to big production starting this week.
Squintz82
Footballguy
Exactly what I'm hoping for. I have Bowe and Santana Moss as my WR2's so I don't have much of a choice, even though both outscored Megatron this week.
FavreCo
Footballguy
You start him and ##### and the OC, Stafford and the TV and hope Stafford grows a pair.
Dought Man
Footballguy
Teams have basically said, "Calvin is not scoring". I cant see anyway he gets a score the rest of the season, certainly not next week.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2011/12/a_second_look_detroit_lions_pa.html
That article touches on what the problem is with Calvin. Stafford is not throwing the ball down field, at all. It's frustrating to watch as a Lion's fan, but it really drove me nuts as a Stafford/Calvin owner in my primary league. They don't get creative in regards to getting Calvin the ball on shorter routes, and Stafford has become incredibly gun shy, especially lately. I wanted to blame it on the finger, but that is supposedly back to normal and he still is checking everything down.
That article touches on what the problem is with Calvin. Stafford is not throwing the ball down field, at all. It's frustrating to watch as a Lion's fan, but it really drove me nuts as a Stafford/Calvin owner in my primary league. They don't get creative in regards to getting Calvin the ball on shorter routes, and Stafford has become incredibly gun shy, especially lately. I wanted to blame it on the finger, but that is supposedly back to normal and he still is checking everything down.
Cenobite
Footballguy
I'm with you. Many QBs have a year where their INT rate/total goes up. It should make the QB more determined to get better. The ones that merely play it safe usually are replaceable and will not be part of the elite group. I hope Stafford improves and, at the same time, continues to try to make dynamic plays as he has done in the past.
Grahamburn
Footballguy
4 targets is unacceptable. I'm expecting big things this week. Hopefully these two can get it together for those of us still alive.
teampunjabi
Footballguy
Its time for Calvin to voice his frustration. He needs to demand that ball. I sort of wish the Lions kept losing so that they dont associate checking it down and throwing it to other people besides Calvin with Winning.
Agree with both of you but it's not just the deep ball. It's also the GL "jump ball" plays. Other than the obvious New Orleans game when he was defended like a PR gunner, there is no reason not to throw it to him every single time when single covered inside the 5 yard line. Only two RZ targets in last four weeks vs. nine in first four weeks.
NeverEnough
Footballguy
They need to get back to what they did the first ha;f of the season. Get Calvin the ball!
cubbie5150
Footballguy
I know it's sooo wrong....but I am hoping that Hill is the the QB, someway, somehow. Maybe Stafford can have a non-injury reason for getting benched. Quick, someone send him a caravan of hookers...& then a call to local vice
faulkfan
Footballguy
Amazing how teams can shut down Calvin, but they don't know how to shut down Gronk. Obviously Gronk is the better player. OR Gronk's OC and HC say, "screw you and your defense, we'll get him the ball no matter what you do." I believe this is the case and it is something the Lions need to start doing as well.
TheFootballJesus
Footballguy
If I was a defensive coordinator, I'd feel much better about leaving Burleson or Titus Young in one on one coverage than leaving Welker/Hernandez covered one one one.
faulkfan
Footballguy
This makes me think of Skelton in Arizona. The guy isn't afraid to take a pick once and awhile because he knows the best shot he and the team have is to get the ball in Fitz's hands. Sadly, the Lions won this week and as someone alluded to earlier, they will now be conditioned to think that they can keep winning using dink and dunk passes to every player in a Lions uniform except Calvin. I want the Lions to keep winning, but I am also selfish enough to want my #1 WR to get some points in the process.
faulkfan
Footballguy
I don't know. Pettigrew, Young, Burleson and Morris (out of the backfield) aren't that much worse than Hernandez, Welker, Branch and Woodard (out of the backfield). I would be nervous about Pettigrew, I think he has skills, but I do see your point. Still, playing the Pats you can almost forget about the running game, which you still have to respect with the Lions.
jurb26
Footballguy
NE ranks 20th in the league in rushing and Det ranks 24th. I'm not sure how Det is more capable of garnering respect on the ground than NE, especially since Best went down. On top of that, NE has a far better Oline and gives Brady a great deal more time to work with in the pocket. Calvin is a deep ball/route weapon and to get him the ball it takes more time for the plays to develop than most other WRs let alone a TE. Especially when he is seeing double coverage. Think R. Moss type routes.... Add to it that NE also has better surrounding threats, Welker alone is far better than anyone else on Det., and clearly Brady is a better QB than Stafford at this stage of their careers. Gronk is clearly set up to have more success than Calvin.
cubbie5150
Footballguy
I get what you're saying, but a few of us were definitely mulling over selling Calvin high after his hot start. At least I know I was trying to work some deals... FWIW, the most viable deal right after week 7 (from my POV) fell through: I would have gotten Jennings/FJax for Calvin + one of McGahee/Greene. Other owner understandably couldn't stomach either of my RB offerings....good thing for me given what happened to Jennings/FJax. Still, watching Calvin under-produce the past month has been painful
Grahamburn
Footballguy
I still wouldn't trade him for anything, and the guy had 9 TDs in the first 5 games of the season. I'd say the record breaking discussion was warranted.The "should I bench him" talk is a bit tongue in cheek. Nobody in their right mind is benching him. It's been a slow stretch though. I'm looking forward to the bounce back these next two weeks.
Squintz82
Footballguy
Last edited by a moderator:
Hipple Long Ware & Peete
Footballguy
Bench him at your peril. Calvin will be fine. You can't exactly blame the offenae for throwing it to the other wide open receivers. Oak's d is pretty meh and they give up a ton of points. Plus it seems they are mailing it in the past few weeks. Hopefully the D can jump on em early.
plastik
Footballguy
I've lost in the first round of the playoffs a number of years in a row and remembered Calvin letting me down several times. I looked back over the last 5 years and in that span Megatron has averaged only 2.8 receptions for 49 yards and .2 TDs in week 14. I know it doesn't mean anything, but it sure does suck when you're counting on him for a good game when it matters most.
Last edited by a moderator:
ff_arkitct
Footballguy
Same here. I rather have him in and take a hit, then watch him blow up on my bench. The fact of the matter is that he can go off at any time, and you don't want to have him riding pine when it happens.
BeTheMatch
Footballguy
It's not harder than it looks. What is hard, apparently, is for Stafford to give him chances to make plays. Top guys on other teams get just as much attention as Calvin does. The difference is two-fold: 1) Other teams are still able to find ways to scheme them open; and 2) the QB doesn't just automatically refuse to even look in that player's direction once he realizes, pre-snap, that he's going to be double-covered.Stafford and the Lions' offensive staff seem perfectly willing to just accept defenses taking away their best player. It makes no sense.
Last edited by a moderator:
BeTheMatch
Footballguy
(Rotoworld) Coach Jim Schwartz admitted that Matthew Stafford could have been more aggressive in getting the ball to Calvin Johnson in Week 14.
Analysis: Johnson saw just four targets on the day and tied a season-low with 29 yards. He has one touchdown in his last five games. Although Johnson will continue to see double- and triple-teams, it sounds like the Lions are going to make a concerted effort to get him going against the Raiders this week. Megatron remains a strong WR1 weekly.
Analysis: Johnson saw just four targets on the day and tied a season-low with 29 yards. He has one touchdown in his last five games. Although Johnson will continue to see double- and triple-teams, it sounds like the Lions are going to make a concerted effort to get him going against the Raiders this week. Megatron remains a strong WR1 weekly.
Grahamburn
Footballguy
Can you let us know who they are? It'll make for a good laugh Monday morning.'DexterDew said:
fightingillini
Footballguy
DET has zero chance of beating good teams if they can't figure out how to get Calvin the ball. Sure, defenses have tried to take him away and they LOVE the fact that Stafford checks down more often now. It takes away from DET's explosiveness and ability to put up big points ever week. They scored 34 against MIN only because their D scored 2 TDs....the offense only scored 20. DET's defense, while much improved, isn't good enough to keep a good team from scoring less than 20 points. So good teams would love DET to keep ignoring Calvin and checking down to the TEs and RBs......means they likely win the game.
We'll see if the DET coaching staff can see this as well and get Stafford to throw it down the field and attack the defense. Otherwise DET is going to be extremely easy to defend. Stafford needs to make the good throw and let Calvin make a play on it. Yes, sometimes Stafford may throw an INT......it's really no big deal if you're trying to get the ball down the field.
We'll see if the DET coaching staff can see this as well and get Stafford to throw it down the field and attack the defense. Otherwise DET is going to be extremely easy to defend. Stafford needs to make the good throw and let Calvin make a play on it. Yes, sometimes Stafford may throw an INT......it's really no big deal if you're trying to get the ball down the field.
Dought Man
Footballguy
I have Calvin at 14 this week. Plenty of other good options to start over him. Guys like Victor Cruz don't get triple covered.
Area51Inhabitant
Footballguy
No way I can sit him. My current choices to sit him would be a very banged up Nate Washington and a very under targeted Eric Decker.
fightingillini
Footballguy
Calvin is still a guy that can win your game by himself. All it takes is that one long TD pass. People forget that elite WRs can have bad games.....they aren't as consistent as an elite RB or an elite QB. No way that you can EVER bench him in a start 3WR league.
cubbie5150
Footballguy
Same. Still hoping for an incident (non-injury) that will make Shaun Hill the Lions starting QB for the rest of the season
scrumptrulescent
Footballguy
He's going to blow up soon with some ridiculously huge game. 140 yds, 3td's.
Dought Man
Footballguy
Guy hasn't done anything of note since week 8. Not sure why anything would change now. Detroit is not going to force the ball into triple coverage. Teams would rather let Titus Young run free than have Calvin beat them.
FantasyTrader
Footballguy
So, serious question - is Calvin a poor intermediate route runner? This article really doesn't make sense to me. Schwartz is quoted as saying, "a lot of those times with Calvin, to get him shaken free, the quarterback would have had to hold the ball for a long time." Which insinuates Pettigrew/Burleson, etc. DON'T take four seconds to get open. And if it is four seconds because you are continually running Calvin deep aren't you just playing into the hands of the opponent's bracket coverage?I'm not an X's & O's guy. Serious question.
scrumptrulescent
Footballguy
Why did Chris Johnson suddenly break out 2 weeks ago? Why would Rivers start putting up big numbers? Why did Arian Foster break out after some turds at the beginning of the year?Answer: Superstar
I completely Agree Had turned down So many trade offers for Calvin not because I was tied to one player but felt like there wasnt enough value being offered. Now I stuck with trying to decide between Calvin, hakeem nick, dez bryant, miles austin, jordy nelson and dwayne Bowe....
You must start him and just pray, pray and pray... A lot of his issues are penatlies from everyone else, they are constantly in 2nd and 3rd and long where teams know they have to pass and bracket calvin, I feel like everyone was hard on them for not having a running game so now they are running it on 1st down when thats the down they should take some shots deep.
You must start him and just pray, pray and pray... A lot of his issues are penatlies from everyone else, they are constantly in 2nd and 3rd and long where teams know they have to pass and bracket calvin, I feel like everyone was hard on them for not having a running game so now they are running it on 1st down when thats the down they should take some shots deep.
FavreCo
Footballguy
I'd guess they run him deep mostly. Like others have said, Stafford won't even look his way, sometimes even in single coverage. He also doesn't scan the field well like the top QBs. Right now he's a capt. checkdown. I pretty much watch tehm every series and only when it's a deep route and he has great protection will Stafford hang long enough to scan the field and let one rip. Dude needs tape of Shaun Hill and Jeff Blake. Hill threw regardless of coverage. Blake was the premier punt passer in the game.
Dought Man
Footballguy
CJ owners, get ready to enjoy another first half with 1 catch and 15 yards.
cubbie5150
Footballguy
I was downright giddy when Calvin had 1/6 in the 1st quarter week 14....seems he hadn't had a 1st quarter recep in weeks until then. Of course my giddiness was later replaced w/ revulsion.'Dought Man said:
Squintz82
Footballguy
Sir Chadwick
Footballguy
Glad I started him this week. 43.9 pts in my ppr league... pretty much won it for me.
I don't understand how anyone could bench him, regardless of his recent TD-drought.
I don't understand how anyone could bench him, regardless of his recent TD-drought.
Last edited by a moderator:
