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Handling of top pick Johnson symbolizes Lions' turnaround
May 7, 2007
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Clark your opinion!
Here's what I know about Detroit's Calvin Johnson after his first mini-camp: The Lions love their first-round draft choice -– heck, who wouldn't? -– but they won't rush him into the lineup.
The Lions plan on giving top pick Calvin Johnson plenty of time to flourish. (US Presswire)
That doesn't mean Johnson is missing something in his game. What it means is that offensive coordinator Mike Martz knows how difficult it is for a rookie to make an immediate impact at wide receiver.
Remember, Martz was in St. Louis when the Rams drafted Torry Holt to pair with veteran Isaac Bruce. It took Holt a year before he came around and, once he did, he and Bruce became the league's foremost one-two wideout combination.
That could happen with Johnson and Roy Williams in Detroit. But the Lions aren't about to overwhelm Johnson.
"You can't assume anything," Martz said. "Torry (Holt) didn't start at the highest level right away. His first eight games were OK, but he didn't become a great receiver for a year or two. (Johnson) will play, and he'll play well. But it will take time."
Time is something the Detroit Lions have. This is a team that hasn't had a winning season since 2000 and is 24-72 under three different head coaches (four, if you count interim coach **** Jauron) since then.
Nobody has been worse.
But I sense those days are fading, largely because the Lions seem serious about improving. First, they have a no-nonsense head coach in Rod Marinelli. Second, they have Martz, and there is no more imaginative play caller out there. Third, they didn't waste any more time with underachiever Mike Williams. And fourth, they just completed a shrewd draft, defying critics by taking Johnson after spending three of their previous four No. 1's on a wide receiver.
That was smart. This is not about the past; it's about the future, and Johnson not only was the best player in this draft; he's a key figure in the resuscitation of the Lions.
"You can't identify any one thing that you like about him," Martz said. "He does so many things so well. One thing I noticed this weekend is how, for a big guy (Johnson is 6-feet-5, 239 pounds), he drops his hips going in and out of cuts. Which is just like a little guy."
Of course, Martz also mentions how Johnson will have to work on his conditioning –- something the rookie acknowledged after his first pro experience. Martz also mentions how uncomfortable he is talking about one receiver -– particularly an unproven one -– when there are veterans like Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey on the roster.
"I don't know that people know how good a season Mike Furrey had," he said, speaking of last year. "He didn't start two games and still wound up with 98 catches. There are a lot of good players out here."
Running back Kevin Jones is one of them. Despite reports that had Jones missing up to half of this season, the Lions expect him to be ready for training camp. Apparently, screws that were inserted in his surgically-repaired left foot have been removed, and Jones is ahead of the team's schedule for recovery.
"Warrick Dunn had the same injury and he played the next year," Martz said.
Nevertheless, the Lions protected themselves by acquiring Tatum Bell, and look for Martz to make use of him. All Bell did in Denver was average 4.9 yards a carry. But why stop there? The Lions have T.J. Duckett and former Wisconsin star Brian Calhoun, too, and imported veteran offensive linemen George Foster and Edwin Mulitalo to clear the way for them.
So the Lions should be able to run. And we already know they have pass catchers. The question, of course, is: What about Jon Kitna at quarterback? Detroit answered that one on draft day when it passed on Brady Quinn and peddled backup Josh McCown to Oakland.
Martz likes Kitna, and it's easy to understand why: He's tough, he's attentive and he's productive. So he threw more interceptions than touchdowns last season. That happens when you get sacked 63 times. The Lions' offensive line stunk, but Kitna somehow managed to stand in there to complete 4,208 yards–- the league's fourth highest total.
Having Johnson will make him better. Having Johnson will make everyone better. But give the guy time to make an impact. The Lions will.
Handling of top pick Johnson symbolizes Lions' turnaround
May 7, 2007
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Clark your opinion!
Here's what I know about Detroit's Calvin Johnson after his first mini-camp: The Lions love their first-round draft choice -– heck, who wouldn't? -– but they won't rush him into the lineup.
The Lions plan on giving top pick Calvin Johnson plenty of time to flourish. (US Presswire)
That doesn't mean Johnson is missing something in his game. What it means is that offensive coordinator Mike Martz knows how difficult it is for a rookie to make an immediate impact at wide receiver.
Remember, Martz was in St. Louis when the Rams drafted Torry Holt to pair with veteran Isaac Bruce. It took Holt a year before he came around and, once he did, he and Bruce became the league's foremost one-two wideout combination.
That could happen with Johnson and Roy Williams in Detroit. But the Lions aren't about to overwhelm Johnson.
"You can't assume anything," Martz said. "Torry (Holt) didn't start at the highest level right away. His first eight games were OK, but he didn't become a great receiver for a year or two. (Johnson) will play, and he'll play well. But it will take time."
Time is something the Detroit Lions have. This is a team that hasn't had a winning season since 2000 and is 24-72 under three different head coaches (four, if you count interim coach **** Jauron) since then.
Nobody has been worse.
But I sense those days are fading, largely because the Lions seem serious about improving. First, they have a no-nonsense head coach in Rod Marinelli. Second, they have Martz, and there is no more imaginative play caller out there. Third, they didn't waste any more time with underachiever Mike Williams. And fourth, they just completed a shrewd draft, defying critics by taking Johnson after spending three of their previous four No. 1's on a wide receiver.
That was smart. This is not about the past; it's about the future, and Johnson not only was the best player in this draft; he's a key figure in the resuscitation of the Lions.
"You can't identify any one thing that you like about him," Martz said. "He does so many things so well. One thing I noticed this weekend is how, for a big guy (Johnson is 6-feet-5, 239 pounds), he drops his hips going in and out of cuts. Which is just like a little guy."
Of course, Martz also mentions how Johnson will have to work on his conditioning –- something the rookie acknowledged after his first pro experience. Martz also mentions how uncomfortable he is talking about one receiver -– particularly an unproven one -– when there are veterans like Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey on the roster.
"I don't know that people know how good a season Mike Furrey had," he said, speaking of last year. "He didn't start two games and still wound up with 98 catches. There are a lot of good players out here."
Running back Kevin Jones is one of them. Despite reports that had Jones missing up to half of this season, the Lions expect him to be ready for training camp. Apparently, screws that were inserted in his surgically-repaired left foot have been removed, and Jones is ahead of the team's schedule for recovery.
"Warrick Dunn had the same injury and he played the next year," Martz said.
Nevertheless, the Lions protected themselves by acquiring Tatum Bell, and look for Martz to make use of him. All Bell did in Denver was average 4.9 yards a carry. But why stop there? The Lions have T.J. Duckett and former Wisconsin star Brian Calhoun, too, and imported veteran offensive linemen George Foster and Edwin Mulitalo to clear the way for them.
So the Lions should be able to run. And we already know they have pass catchers. The question, of course, is: What about Jon Kitna at quarterback? Detroit answered that one on draft day when it passed on Brady Quinn and peddled backup Josh McCown to Oakland.
Martz likes Kitna, and it's easy to understand why: He's tough, he's attentive and he's productive. So he threw more interceptions than touchdowns last season. That happens when you get sacked 63 times. The Lions' offensive line stunk, but Kitna somehow managed to stand in there to complete 4,208 yards–- the league's fourth highest total.
Having Johnson will make him better. Having Johnson will make everyone better. But give the guy time to make an impact. The Lions will.
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and the writer is from CBS Sportsline not the Detroit Press
and the writer is from CBS Sportsline not the Detroit Press
and the writer is from CBS Sportsline not the Detroit Press
