Young Wide Receivers and Steve Johnson

by billsoferie on Jan 30, 2012 1:41 PM EST

Can Steve Johnson Become an Elite Wide Receiver?

In this recent article on BB.com, Stevie discusses his intentions to become considered in the conversation of elite young receivers in the league. Whether or not you believe he is already there, he does not. This is a good and bad thing. You never want your players to feel that they have arrived or accomplished their greatness. You want players to feel that they always have something to learn and that they can always improve their craft. This is good, but also raises a possible negative idea in whether or not Stevie feels that he can do that in Buffalo.

"I believe I can be considered with this young generation of receivers… my name can be mentioned," Johnson said. "That’s as far as I can go because I don’t have any playoff games under my belt. I don’t have any winning seasons under my belt or any individual accolades like Pro Bowls or first team or things like that.

I guess it comes down to whether or not Stevie feels that this team still is on the rise. In the two seasons where he has found success, the team as only managed to win 9 games. It is possible that he has lost some faith. I believe that this opinion will play a huge role in Stevie’s willingness to resign here. I understand that he has so far said all of the right things and that he wants to remain in Buffalo, but I expect that right now.

Some stats:

Victor Cruz: 82 receptions, 1,536 yards, 9 TD

Mike Wallace: 72 receptions, 1,193 yards 8 TD

Torrey Smith: 50 receptions 841 yards, 7 TD

A.J Green: 65 receptions, 1,057 yards, 7 TD

Michael Crabtree: 72 receptions, 874 yards, 4 TD

Jordy Nelson: 68 receptions, 1,263 yards, 15 TD

Desean Jackson: 58 receptions, 961 yards, 4 TD

Percy Harvin: 87 receptions, 967 yards, 6 TD

Darrius Heyward-Bey: 64 receptions, 975 yards, 4 TD

Mike Williams: 65 receptions, 771 yards, 3 TD

Steve Johnson: 76 receptions, 1,004 yards, 7 TD

NFL.com

Yes, some of these guys are rookies, but they are started full time. This is only Stevies second year as a full time starter, so it is fair to add them in here. Once you start to put names like Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, his numbers look even worse.

I love Stevie, and I hope he stays, but if you look at the stats, he is not yet elite and I hope he still thinks he can get there in Buffalo. The stats also show that we still need a big WR. If the Bills can convince Stevie that they will in fact bring in a guy like Bowe, Jackson, Meacham or Manningham maybe they can convince him that will increase his chances of not only putting up more numbers, but winning as well.

Can Stevie become an elite wide receiver in Buffalo?

What do we need to do to help him stay and accomplish his goals?

Poll

Is Steve Johnson currently an elite young wide reciever?

Yes

98 votes

No

86 votes

184 votes | Poll has closed

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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Comments

Stats

Don’t always tell the whole story. There were several times Fitz’s inaccuracy cost Stevie catches, yards and TD’s. And Stevie cost himself more catches and yards in the last game. Less antics, more accuracy from the QB and his numbers inflate.

What’s more important to me is that he plays and practices even though he’s hurt. He produces in spite of being hurt at a fairly good rate. He’s a good locker room guy from what his teammates say. He plays well against the best CB’s in the game. And he still has room to improve/grow. The fact he knows he still has room to improve/grow is a good indicator of his football IQ. He has developed a chemistry with Fitz. One would hope that he wouldn’t have broken hands, torn groins or dinged up shoulders next season. All of those were injuries he played with this season and look at his stats.

The kid can play, has a great work ethic and football mind set. There is no doubt he should be resigned.

by phaze1 on Jan 30, 2012 2:26 PM EST reply actions

i agree

But the people who publicly determined who is an “elite”,wr will not consider that. They will look at stats across the league.

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Jan 30, 2012 2:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

What does it matter it is declared “elite”, it is about production and team victories

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Jan 30, 2012 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

Sure is...

Whatever defines the word “elite” though. He is our best outside WR, so if we don’t resign him in a system where our team is trying to build on it’s drafted talent, then I am not sure our team is ever going to make it to the playoffs. If he wants to be a “star” or a “named player” on a team that is lacking any stardom, the all the more power to him.

I will tell you one thing… he matched or even better his one-on-one match-ups with Revis Island this year. So that in itself is “elite”.

by dabillsr1 on Jan 30, 2012 4:21 PM EST reply actions

Yes

ask Darelle Revis

With the 10th Pick in the 2012 NFL Draft the Buffalo Bills select Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama.

by tomcs on Jan 30, 2012 5:33 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Id say hes 2nd tier, right now, and dont see him ever becoming "elite."

Now I love Stevie, always have liked him. But when I say, “hes 2nd tier and dont think he has much more of a ceiling” thats not really a bad thing. Calvin, Andre and Larry are the elite. Those guys are freaks. Theyre uncoverable. You can put a man on them, over the top and on the inside, and theyll still come down with the ball.

Id put Stevie in the Brandon Marshall, Mike Wallace, Anquan Boldin, Dez Bryant level. These are all good players, real good players, including Stevie, but he just doesnt have the Size – Speed – Strength combo that the “Elite” have.

With that being said, he is “Elite” on this team though. This team needs what he brings to the game, because he has pretty good hands, sans a few drops, hes got good speed, excellent route running, and is pretty good at running once the balls in his hands. We need playmakers, period, and thats what Stevie is.

"@Katebits: At this rate Sarah Maclachlan is going to start making sad commercials about the Sabres soon."

by bflo on Jan 30, 2012 7:52 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

@bflo

Dez Bryant is athletically elite; moreso than anybody else. Went to Cowboys camp in Cali and watched him going into his rookie season. He had a hurt ankle and still was by far the best athlete on the field. You watch him and he looks different than anyone else when he’s moving. And there were plenty of big, fast, good looking athletes in that camp. He stood out even amongst them. If he ever gets his mind and his game to a consistent level he can be the best in the league, bar none.

by phaze1 on Jan 30, 2012 8:21 PM EST up reply actions

Youre right,

Dez has a chance of getting to the “Elite” level, problem is, I dont trust that he will put in the work. He certainly has the talent, but hes got to put it all together. For the first few years, Calvin had the talent, but it seemed this year he finally had the drive and maturity to put himself in the top 3.

I think that Dez could join them as a Top 4, but hes got to show me first.

"@Katebits: At this rate Sarah Maclachlan is going to start making sad commercials about the Sabres soon."

by bflo on Jan 30, 2012 8:34 PM EST up reply actions