Lions receivers vs. Saints 2011-2013

[Gulf of Brazil]

2013 Stats Lions
Rank......Player................Rec............Yards...............TD's
17.........Johnson..............84.............1492................12
59.........Bush..................54...............506..................3
62.........Bell....................53...............547..................0
101.......Pettigrew............41...............416..................2
110.......Burleson.............39...............461..................1
116.......Durham..............38...............490..................2
203.......Fauria.................18...............207..................7
226.......Ogletree..............13...............199..................1
273.......Broyles.................8.................85..................0

2013 Stats Saints
Rank......Player.................Rec.............Yards...............TD's
13.........Graham...............86..............1215................16
24.........P. Thomas...........77................513..................3
28.........Colston...............75................943..................5
35.........Sproles...............71................604..................2
121.......Moore.................37................457..................2
136.......Stills...................32................641..................5
198.......Watson...............19................226..................2
216.......Meachem............16................324..................2
222.......Collins................14..................54..................0

2012 Stats Lions
Rank.......Player................Rec..............Yards...............TD's
01..........Johnson..............122.............1964.................5
63..........Bell.....................52................485.................0
99..........LeShoure.............42................504.................1
129........Young..................34................214.................4
179........Broyles................22................310.................2
202........Heller..................17................150..................1
257........K. Smith..............10..................79..................1
273........Durham................8.................125..................1

2012 Stats Saints
Rank.......Player.................Rec..............Yards...............TD's
13..........Graham...............86.................982.................9
16..........Colston................83...............1154................10
21..........Sproles................75.................667.................7
32..........Moore..................65...............1041.................6
115........P. Thomas............39.................354.................1
172........Henderson............22.................316.................1
223........Collins..................14...................70................2
244........D. Thomas............11...................86................4
257........J. Morgan.............10..................379................3

2011 Stats Lions
Rank.......Player..................Rec..............Yards................TD's
04..........Johnson................96...............1681.................16
08..........Pettigrew..............83.................777..................5
24..........Burleson...............73.................757..................3
75..........Young..................48.................607...................6
146........Best.....................27.................287...................1
153........Scheffler...............26.................347...................6
177........M.Morris...............26.................230...................1
282........K. Smith...............22.................179...................3

2011 Stats Saints
Rank.......Player..................Rec................Yards................TD's
03.........Graham.................99.................1310.................11
07.........Sproles..................86...................710..................7
12.........Colston..................80.................1143..................8
59.........Moore....................52...................627..................8
69.........P. Thomas..............50...................425..................1
96.........Meachem...............40....................620.................6
129.......Henderson.............32....................503..................2
254.......Collins...................11.....................50...................2
254.......Ingram..................11.....................46...................0



BB_72.... These stats might give us some idea as to how Lombardi may use certain Players/positions
After Calvin there is quite a bit of a drop-off to the next player with 2nd most rec (except 2011 w/Petti).
Saints receivers are more evenly distributed within top 4-5.

 

[Rollingthndr]

Wonder if we will see Calvin more in the slot this year. Similar to the Graham role.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Other NFL Teams with multiple receivers in top 32 of recpetions

2013 NFL Stats
Rank......Team.......Player.............Rec.........Yards...........TD's
05.........CHI..........Marshall..........100.........1295...........12
10.........CHI..........Jeffrey..............89.........1421............7
29.........CHI..........Forte................74...........594............3
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09.........DEN.........D Thomas..........92.........1430............14
11.........DEN.........Decker..............87.........1288............11
30.........DEN.........Welker..............73...........778............10
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13.........NOR.........Graham............86..........1213............16
24.........NOR.........Thomas............77............513.............3
28.........NOR.........Colston.............75............943.............5
35.........NOR.........Sproles.............71............604.............2
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24.........SD...........Gates...............77.............872............4
26.........SD...........Woodhead........76.............605............6
28.........SD...........Allen................71............1046...........8
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11.........CLE..........Gordon.............87............1646...........9
22.........CLE..........Jordan..............80..............917...........7
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2012 NFL Stats
05.........DAL..........Witten.............110...........1039............3
10.........DAL..........Bryant...............92...........1382..........12
30.........DAL..........Austin...............66.............943............6
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08.........DEN..........Thomas.............94...........1434..........10
13.........DEN..........Decker..............85...........1064..........13
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09.........ATL...........Gonzalez...........93.............930............8
10.........ATL...........White................92...........1351............7
18.........ATL...........Jones................79...........1198...........10
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13.........NOR..........Graham.............85.............982............9
16.........NOR..........Colston..............83...........1154...........10
21.........NOR..........Sproles..............75.............667............7
32.........NOR..........Moore................65...........1041............6
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02.........NE............Welker..............118...........1354............6
22.........NE............Lloyd..................74.............911............4
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2011 NFL Stats
01.........NE............Welker..............122...........1569............16
06.........NE............Gronk.................90...........1327............17
15.........NE............Hernandez...........79............910..............7
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04.........DET..........Johnson...............96...........1681............16
08.........DET..........Pettigrew.............83.............777.............5
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03.........NOR.........Graham...............99............1310............11
07.........NOR.........Sproles................86..............710.............7
12.........NOR.........Colston................80............1143.............8
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02.........ATL..........White.................100............1296.............8
12.........ATL..........Gonzalez..............80..............875.............8
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09.........NYG..........Cruz....................82............1536.............9
18.........NYG..........Nicks...................76............1192.............7
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15.........DAL..........Witten..................79..............942.............5
35.........DAL..........Bryant..................63..............928.............9
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25.........PIT...........Wallace.................72............1193.............8
28.........PIT...........Brown...................69............1108.............2
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29.........GB...........Nelson...................68............1263...........15
31.........GB...........Jennings................67..............949.............9
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BB_72..... only one year (2011) do you see two Lions receivers in top 32 for receptions..
NOR is the only team to see multiple players in the top 32 for receptions in all three years

 

[lionstop1]

(Currently listening in on the Lions brass stating that WR is a priority)

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

NOR is the only team to see multiple players in the top 32 for receptions in all three years

New Orleans is also the only team with running backs ranked in the top 32 in receptions the last three years and in 2013, they had not one, but two running backs in the top 32 in receptions.

If you are to look at the actual WR position on each team -- there isn't much difference at all once you get to the 3rd WR spot. Obviously -- Calvin and Graham are the top targets for each team.

2013:
38 catches for Dunham
32 catches for Stills

2012:
22 catches for Broyles
22 catches for Henderson

2011:
48 catches for Young
40 catches for Meacham

The biggest difference in the New Orleans and Detroit offense. Saints running backs had roughly 450 catches over the last 3 years (i added up in my head, that is why I said roughly) and Detroit had roughly 218 catches over the last 3 years.

I think this explains quite a bit on why Brees has a completion % that is through the roof every year. That is a TON of catches by his running backs.

 

[Naughtymax]

I see this disparity as more of a reflection of the Saints' lack of a singular talent at WR and their QB's abiltiy to really check down well than anything else. When Brees had a true partner in Graham with a drop-off at WR, he started focusing there. Before then there really was no #1 guy.

Unless Staff suddenly gets Brees' HOF-worthy field vision, I'm not sure I see a pattern that we should expect the Lions to follow.

 

[gvsulaker82]

Agree with max..this is more a reflection of the play at qb than it is wr/rb/te. If stafford figures it out players like CJ, tate and pettigrew will have a huge year and if he doesnt CJ will.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

I see this disparity as more of a reflection of the Saints' lack of a singular talent at WR and their QB's abiltiy to really check down well than anything else. When Brees had a true partner in Graham with a drop-off at WR, he started focusing there. Before then there really was no #1 guy.

Unless Staff suddenly gets Brees' HOF-worthy field vision, I'm not sure I see a pattern that we should expect the Lions to follow.

Colston was that singular talent at WR prior to the arrival of Graham. Credit Sean Peyton seeing the talent Graham had and utilizing him in that offense and the talent of Brees. Once Graham arrived, Colston still sees 75+ receptions per year and they had a pretty damn good quartet of WR's in Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Lance Moore. The Lions would have killed to have a quartet of receivers like that for Staffy, if he could actually throw them a catchable ball.

The check downs from Brees is what sets his ass far apart from Staffy. Brees will take what is given to him while Staff continuously attempts to thread the needle in double or triple coverage or simply throws a shitty non-catchable ball at times. Yes, we could consider all the drops the receivers have had but all those balls behind the hips, at their knees or ankles, 3 feet over their out-stretched arms.

 

[Naughtymax]

Colston was that singular talent at WR prior to the arrival of Graham. Credit Sean Peyton seeing the talent Graham had and utilizing him in that offense and the talent of Brees. Once Graham arrived, Colston still sees 75+ receptions per year and they had a pretty damn good quartet of WR's in Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Lance Moore. The Lions would have killed to have a quartet of receivers like that for Staffy, if he could actually throw them a catchable ball.

The check downs from Brees is what sets his ass far apart from Staffy. Brees will take what is given to him while Staff continuously attempts to thread the needle in double or triple coverage or simply throws a shitty non-catchable ball at times. Yes, we could consider all the drops the receivers have had but all those balls behind the hips, at their knees or ankles, 3 feet over their out-stretched arms.

I don't see Colston as a great receiver at all. He's just a guy benefitting from a great QB. How was Meachem in San Diego with a pretty good QB?

These were all average guys playing in a good system with a HOF QB, nothing more.

 

[gvsulaker82]

I don't see Colston as a great receiver at all. He's just a guy benefitting from a great QB. How was Meachem in San Diego with a pretty good QB?

These were all average guys playing in a good system with a HOF QB, nothing more.

Again have to agree, colston was a seventh round pick. The rest of the guys are average. Its similar to collie, clark and garcon in indy. Brady made players like deion branch look good.

Its the same with 90% of running backs in the nfl. There arent players like a barry sanders. Super rare. The offensive line makes or breaks the running game and an elite QB can turn an average WR into a star.