Why Calvin Johnson Might Score 20 Touchdowns in 2009

• By: Chris Liss
• On: 4/30/2009 12:41:00 AM

Related: Chris Liss Detroit Lions NFL 



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While doing some research for our magazine, I remembered that Scott Linehan had taken over as the Lions offensive coordinator. That bodes very well for Johnson.

Here's an excerpt from the first draft of the Calvin Johnson magazine outlook:

Johnson needed to do much of his damage from deep as he was criminally underused in the red-zone - 14 targets (tied for 29th) with six scores - and also near the goal line - two targets, zero scores. Some of that had to do with the Lions not getting to the red zone frequently, but offensive coordinator Jim Colletto's conservative play calling from in close was also a factor. Enter new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan who loves to throw to his top receivers from in close - as Rams head coach in 2006 he targeted Torry Holt a league-leading 30 times from inside the 20, and six times from inside the five (good, for fourth). In 2005 with Linehan as the Dolphins offensive coordinator, Chris Chambers led the league both in targets inside the red zone with 29 and inside the five with seven. And in 2004 the Vikings threw to Randy Moss and Marcus Robinson inside the five a combined 18 times. Linehan was not only the coordinator in Minnesota that year, but his quarterback throwing all those fades was none other than Culpepper.

The bottom line - expect Johnson to refine his skills, see far more looks from in close and benefit from slightly better quarterbacking in 2009. And if Culpepper even approaches anything close to his former level of play under Linehan (remember Kurt Warner and Jeff Garcia both made Pro Bowls after being left for dead), Johnson could rewrite the record books.