(Townsite23)
Tennessee Titans wide receivers Kendall Wright and Michael Preston stood outside their lockers after Thursday’s practice and engaged in a vigorous debate about Calvin Johnson’s most spectacular YouTube moment.
Wright, who grew up two hours west of Dallas, marveled at Johnson’s catch last September vs. the Cowboys when the Lions’ All-Pro receiver reached over three defenders for a 23-yard touchdown. Preston countered with a grab he said he saw Johnson make over the helmet of a Vikings defender on a fade route.
Then, Wright turned to the second-year practice squad member and thought of another highlight.
“It was the one he saw today in his 81 jersey,” Wright jokingly said.
Preston has spent this week emulating Johnson on the Titans scout team. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound receiver has the size and speed to mimic Johnson, but doesn’t have the linebacker build that has helped the NFL’s highest-paid receiver earn the nickname Megatron. Still, Preston is doing all he can to prepare the Titans defensive backs for arguably the toughest matchup in the league.
“I want to block harder than Megatron would block, and be more aggressive than Megatron would be to the ball,” Preston said.
Clocked at 4.35 in the 40-yard dash at the 2007 Combine, Johnson has the potential to score a touchdown from nearly any spot on the field. When Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray watched film of the Lions’ loss to San Francisco last week, he noticed that 49ers free safety Dashon Goldson played more than 20 yards off the line of scrimmage on almost every play. As a result, Preston has tested the Titans corners downfield throughout the week.
“A few times in the huddle the quarterback will tell me, ‘Mike, when I come your way, don’t stop running,’ ” Preston said. “Make sure you keep running and we’ll put the ball up there to you.”
Through two games, the Titans have used free safety Robert Johnson often in a single-high, deep centerfield role just as the 49ers did with Goldson. The Titans haven’t allowed a completion over 31 yards, but have surrendered 15 completions of 15 yards or more and eight of 20 yards or more. In 2011, the Titans were among the league’s best at preventing completions of at least 20 yards.
Matt Hasselbeck has studied how opposing defenses have matched up against Johnson during his own game-day preparations over the last year. Days after the Saints defeated the Lions 31-17 on Sunday Night Football last December, Hasselbeck poured over the game film to get ready for a matchup against New Orleans later that week. In one goal line situation, Hasselbeck said the Saints provided Johnson with “a funky look” by pressing two defensive backs on him at the line like a special teams unit would in punt coverage. The Lions, he added, don’t get caught up too much in reading coverages because they have multiple route concepts taking place at once.
A number of teams have sent multiple defenders at Johnson in goal line situations in an effort to prevent an easy touchdown on a jump ball. In the waning seconds of the opener against St. Louis, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said the Rams had four defenders on Johnson on a designed play for the 6-foot-5 receiver in the end zone. Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford recognized the coverage and found running back Kevin Smith wide open in the right flat for a game-winning touchdown.
“They not only had him doubled, a true double with a corner and a safety, but had two linebackers,” Schwartz said. “They were so worried about Calvin that they stayed underneath of him.”
Gray compares Johnson favorably with Randy Moss when the former Marshall receiver entered the league. From 2002-03, Moss had the most productive two-season stretch of his career (217 catches; 24 TDs). Moss' offensive coordinator then was Scott Linehan, the Lions' offensive coordinator since 2009.
Before coming to Minnesota, Linehan coached in a similar capacity at Louisville when Titans' wide receivers coach Dave Ragone finished third in school history in completions and passing yards. In 2006, Ragone lost a training camp battle to Ryan Fitzgerald in St. Louis when Linehan served as the Rams head coach. Linehan operates a quarterback-friendly, spread offense in which heady quarterbacks like Stafford can prosper. Many of the principals of Linehan’s offense were adopted by Urban Meyer as he rose from an assistant at Notre Dame to one of the top coaches in college football.
“In my opinion, what makes [Linehan] so good as a play-caller is he has a great feel for the quarterback,” Ragone said. “When he calls a play, the quarterback has an understanding of why a play is being called.”
If a defense finds a way to take away Johnson, Stafford has a plethora of options. Nate Burleson flourished alongside Hasselbeck in both the slot and the outside when the two were teammates in Seattle (2006-09). Last season, the 10-year veteran had a career-high 73 catches. Fourth-year Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was targeted 10 times against the Rams, while Johnson received only seven targets. Stafford also has a deep, vertical threat in second-year wideout Titus Young.
Robert Johnson, the Titans’ starting free safety, faced Young in high school when the two grew up outside Los Angeles.
“He was good then,” Robert Johnson said. “He’s starting to read coverages now. From watching film, he knows how to get open. With his speed he’s a threat.”
While few defenses have contained Calvin Johnson, the Packers might have done the best in recent contests. Last Thanksgiving, Green Bay held the Lions receiving corps to just 10 catches for 101 yards in a 27-15 win. Stafford nearly targeted his running backs (17 times) more than his receivers (18 times), according to ESPN Stats and Info. Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner credits the Packers front-seven.
“All the teams that didn’t do well against him, the d-line didn’t get too much pressure,” Verner said. “Stafford was just sitting back there and finding people open. We have to get after him.”
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Tennessee Titans, follow Matt Rybaltowski @CBSTitans.