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Johnson VS Fitzgerald via 1st and 10

I

InterestedJeff

Noob
One of the topics today on 1st and 10 was "Is Fitzgerald overrated." To my suprise, both Skip Bayless and Eric Casilious, who I normally dispise, said yes. Both of them said Andre Johnson was the best in the NFL and that the reason Fitzgerald is getting so much run is because ESPN does nothing but talk about how great he is.

I know most of us probablly agree with them on this one. All of us here in Houston love AJ. Its just nice to see him get some national love as well.

GO TEXANS!
 
Fitzgerald is a great player. I wouldn't consider him to be overrated.

I would actually just say that AJ is underrated.
 
bah007 said:
Fitzgerald is a great player. I wouldn't consider him to be overrated.

I would actually just say that AJ is underrated.
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That's pretty much where I'm at...no reason to bash Fitz to make AJ look better. I sure wouldn't drop either of them off MY roster!
 
I feel dirty agreeing with Skip Bayless about anything. Even if he said the sky was blue, I'd still feel like I was agreeing with a professional troll.
 
Fitz is a monster. Aj is as well. These two are 1a and 1b, people just don't see that because they don't tell everyone they are.
 
You also have to look at the division Fitz plays in. Getting to the playoffs, gets you the recognition, and going to the Super Bowl claims your fame. It's easier for Fitz to do it right now because of how he can get in the playoffs. It would've taken us a 12-13 win season for AJ to even smell playoffs.
 
El Tejano said:
You also have to look at the division Fitz plays in. Getting to the playoffs, gets you the recognition, and going to the Super Bowl claims your fame. It's easier for Fitz to do it right now because of how he can get in the playoffs. It would've taken us a 12-13 win season for AJ to even smell playoffs.
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I agree with that, but when you take your team on your back and drag them to victory, you deserve some credit.
 
Fitz has put up Jerry Rice type playoff numbers..better even..so that is far from overrated. But I refuse to take Skip's bait, that is all he does and is the Justice mentor. BOTH are great and I agree with bah007, it is more AJ being underrated.
 
Good points by all. Fitz is definitely being showcased the last few weeks, the perks of making the playoffs I suppose. That being said he is quite awesome and there is no need to bash either one of them. There should be no arguement that the NFC West is not the toughest division/road to the playoffs.

Take away all the media hype, especially produced in overdrive by ESPN and you are left with two fantastically talented receivers.

If I was to compare them head to head, I think Fitz looks a little more graceful going up and high pointing the ball with the balance and body control and AJ is more just powerful than finesse, he'll just manhandle the ball away from a defender. They are both good route runners, not sure who is faster, I would think AJ is from watching TV from my couch. They are both tough enough to go across the middle as well. So like someone said, 1A and 1B. But for my money, I give the edge to AJ.
 
I love how respectable both wideouts are. I think Andre is better, but I wouldn't call Fitzgerald overated at all. Fitzgerald has had more hype to him since joining the league. I feel Andre has always been forgotten about nationally, until this year. People across the country are finally coming to the realization of how good he really is.
 
Fitzgerald is better at catching. AJ is better after the catch has been made.
 
Anyone calling Fitzgerald over rated should be punched in the face.

The real answer between both of them as to who is better is both answers. They are both great WR's and play great for the their teams. Fitz is just getting more pub from everyone right now because he has been the only WR playing each week and in the playoffs he has been by far the best so that is all that anyone is looking at and Fitzgerald is fresh on their minds while AJ hasn't been playing in weeks.

THis year AJ, Roddy White, Steve Smith, Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, and Bolden all had fantastic seasons in the team situations that they were in and you could almost make a case for anyone of them. Most of us in here would want to say AJ because he plays for the Texans and he is our guy.

At the end of the day though after watching the kinds of plays that Calvin Johnson made this year I think he is probably the most talented.
 
Both are talented.. but I give the nod to AJ , he had to play a few seasons with "who we dare not mention is name"

:specnatz:
 
bah007 said:
Fitzgerald is a great player. I wouldn't consider him to be overrated.

I would actually just say that AJ is underrated.
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What he said.

Both are sick WRs who are going to be commonly mentioned (barring injury) as being at the top for their position for some time to come. Fitz is getting his attention because of the play-offs. AJ finally got his because he is just that darn good despite being on the Texans. Hanging 200+ on a top D sure didn't hurt that.

Funny--google AJ and this was one of the top links--AJ--The Unrespected
 
Wolf said:
Both are talented.. but I give the nod to AJ , he had to play a few seasons with "who we dare not mention is name"

:specnatz:
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Look at what Calvin Johnson had to play with this year? He was in maybe even worse of a situation.

Look at what Fitzgerald and Bolden had to play with for several years. They had all kinds of bad QB's over there in Arizona and no running game to help them out either. AJ isn't the only great WR that has been hampered down from having horrible QB situations.

I don't really think their is one best WR in the league. Last year you could have made that argument for Randy Moss because he had 23 TD's and was dominating everyone, but that was for that one season. TO was amazing as well the year before.

I think going into next season it will be AJ, Fitzgerald,Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith, Roddy White ,Moss (If Brady is playing), and Bolden (Depending on where he goes).

All of those guys will be the front runners and the best in the game. It will just be a matter of who gets injured and for how long and how their QB's play as well.
 
Texecutioner said:
Look at what Calvin Johnson had to play with this year? He was in maybe even worse of a situation.

Look at what Fitzgerald and Bolden had to play with for several years. They had all kinds of bad QB's over there in Arizona and no running game to help them out either. AJ isn't the only great WR that has been hampered down from having horrible QB situations.

I don't really think their is one best WR in the league. Last year you could have made that argument for Randy Moss because he had 23 TD's and was dominating everyone, but that was for that one season. TO was amazing as well the year before.

I think going into next season it will be AJ, Fitzgerald,Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith, Roddy White ,Moss (If Brady is playing), and Bolden (Depending on where he goes).

All of those guys will be the front runners and the best in the game. It will just be a matter of who gets injured and for how long and how their QB's play as well.
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true, I should have added a :joker: smiley on it LOL
 
The only clear advantage Fitzgerald has over AJ is hands...beyond that...I'd say as a complete package WR Andre Johnson is #1 in the world of football.
 
Without looking at one stat - wasn't Boldin the Cardinal beast until his face got smashed? My impression is that Fitz has done GREAT things in the POST SEASON. As such, awesome. Some great highlight reel plays. I would not, however, say he's one of the best because of a handful of games.
 
AJ: 115 receptions, 1575 yards, 13.7 average, 8 TDs
6 year career: 486 receptions (81 per year), 6379 yards (1063 per year), 13.1 average, 33 TDs (5.5 per year)
6'3" 223
4.43 40 time

Fitz: 96 receptions, 1431 yards, 14.9 average, 12 TDs
5 year career: 426 receptions (85 per year), 5975 yards (1195 per year), 14.0 average, 46 TDs (9.2 per year)
6'3 220
4.53 40 time

Boldin: 89 receptinons, 1038 yards, 11.7 average, 11 TDs
6 year career: 502 receptions (83.6 per year), 6496 yards (1082 per year), 12.9 average, 40 TDs (6.6 per year)
6'1 217
4.71 40 time

Pretty close
 
Last edited:
gtexan02 said:
AJ: 115 receptions, 1575 yards, 13.7 average, 8 TDs
6 year career: 486 receptions (81 per year), 6379 yards (1063 per year), 13.1 average, 33 TDs (5.5 per year)
6'3" 223
4.43 40 time

Fitz: 96 receptions, 1431 yards, 14.9 average, 12 TDs
5 year career: 426 receptions (85 per year), 5975 yards (1195 per year), 14.0 average, 46 TDs (9.2 per year)
6'3 220
4.53 40 time

Boldin: 89 receptinons, 1038 yards, 11.7 average, 11 TDs
6 year career: 502 receptions (83.6 per year), 6496 yards (1082 per year), 12.9 average, 40 TDs (6.6 per year)
6'1 217
4.71 40 time

Pretty close
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That's a MASSIVE TD differential.
 
buddyboy said:
That's a MASSIVE TD differential.
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Yeah, Fitzgerald scores a lot more than AJ does. That could also be due to the offense we play in. However, Walter seems to have a knack for the end zone. Im not sure why we don't seem to look towards AJ in the red zone
 
But with Andre Johnson, it was different. He only wanted to show us how we were outnumbered, outgunned, outmatched, and seeming mad, we realized the importance of our monument. On that day, half a century ago, our species was pushed to the crumbling edge of extinction and as we teetered on that precipice, staring down at the abyss, a hand reached out, pulled us back from the brink and gave us hope... the hand of a hero.
 
Yankee_In_TX said:
Without looking at one stat - wasn't Boldin the Cardinal beast until his face got smashed? My impression is that Fitz has done GREAT things in the POST SEASON. As such, awesome. Some great highlight reel plays. I would not, however, say he's one of the best because of a handful of games.
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For the REGULAR Season - 2008

Fitz's Rankings (All NFL)

1. Receiving yds. - #2
2. Receptions - #4
3. Touchdowns - #1
4. Reception of 20+ YDS - #4
5. Reception of 40+ YDS - #10
6. Reception for 1st Down - #3

A.J. is My #1, but there's good evidence that he'd be a valid choice for #2 or 3. Give the man his due.
 
It helps to have Kurt Warner throwing to you. Fitzgerald was sub 1000 the year Matt Leinart was starting.
 
Bolden - 10 TD's through Week 10
Fitz - 6 TD's through week 10

Nothing to do with the injury which was week 4 (?). They just switched places later in the season (Fitz getting the TD's).
 
Personally, I think Fitzgerald has the best hands in the game, bar none. But I think AJ can take some balls away from guys that Fitz won't. I also agree with Polo in that AJ is better after the catch. So while Fitz might catch a few that AJ won't, because of his hands, AJ will muscle a few out as well. Then after the catch, it takes a couple guys to get AJ down usually. He has great size and speed. So I give the edge to AJ, personally.

I would also be willing to bet that AJ's numbers with Schaub (in the games that Schaub plays, I mean, so not the last 32) would rival those of anyone, but his numbers with Carr dampen his overall stats.
 
TimeKiller said:
The only clear advantage Fitzgerald has over AJ is hands...beyond that...I'd say as a complete package WR Andre Johnson is #1 in the world of football.
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I don't think that is really a clear advantage. In years past, I could have agreed with you, but this past season, I can remember 3 or 4 catches, where AJ picked the ball from the defenders hands.

I'm also in the, Fitz is in the play-offs, so he gets to showcase himself right now, and is clearly the #1 for that reason.

AJ hasn't really played in a "big game" yet, so we really don't know.


In AJ's defense.
He hasn't had a pro-bowl/league MVP throwing him the ball, or a pro-bowl/former #1 receiver playing across from him either.

But like I said, this is Fitz's time, let him enjoy it.

numbers better than Jerry Rice.
 
I think a lot of you are forgetting about a man named Calvin Johnson that out muscled a ton of guys for the ball this year and also piled up a ton of yards after the catch with 3 separate horrible QB's this year. Megatron was unstoppable all year as well.
 
gtexan02 said:
AJ: 115 receptions, 1575 yards, 13.7 average, 8 TDs
6 year career: 486 receptions (81 per year), 6379 yards (1063 per year), 13.1 average, 33 TDs (5.5 per year)
6'3" 223
4.43 40 time

Fitz: 96 receptions, 1431 yards, 14.9 average, 12 TDs
5 year career: 426 receptions (85 per year), 5975 yards (1195 per year), 14.0 average, 46 TDs (9.2 per year)
6'3 220
4.53 40 time

Boldin: 89 receptinons, 1038 yards, 11.7 average, 11 TDs
6 year career: 502 receptions (83.6 per year), 6496 yards (1082 per year), 12.9 average, 40 TDs (6.6 per year)
6'1 217
4.71 40 time

Pretty close
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Aj was injured in 2007 for some time...:texflag:
 
Just for kicks, I checked AJ's stats since Kubiak got here, and also since Schaub got here. I compared them to Fitzgerald's (which means just about nothing, but what the heck). For your perusal:

AJ '06-'08

Catches/game: 6.78
Yds/game: 87.15

AJ '07-'08

Catches/game: 7
Yds/game: 97.04

Fitz '06-'08

Catches/game: 6.02
Yds/game: 86.05

Fitz '07-'08

Catches/game: 6.32
Yds/game: 91.61

They've both really come into their own the past couple of years. Without looking, I'd think that no one else has a higher yard/game average over the past two years than AJ.
 
gtexan02 said:
Yeah, Fitzgerald scores a lot more than AJ does. That could also be due to the offense we play in. However, Walter seems to have a knack for the end zone. Im not sure why we don't seem to look towards AJ in the red zone
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I suspect it may also have to do with coaching philosophy. Kubiak was very struck with how much coverage AJ draws when he got here saying at one point he had never seen anything like it. This may be a maturation deal where he realizes (or Kyle does) that AJ draws that coverage because he is just that good--although there is certainly a tactical advantage to playing against the other team playing AJ heavy.
 
Fitz has more TDs than AJ does because he plays against the 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams six times a year. I'm willing to bet that his numbers wouldn't be what they were if he had to play against the Titans, Jags, and Colts six times a year. He's a phenomonel player, but he's no Andre Johnson. Hell, in my opinion, Steve Smith is the second best WR in the NFL behind AJ, then Fitz.
 
I guess the ultimate question is, if you were starting a team who would be your choice as your #1 reciever?

1. Andre Johnson - one of the fastest and strongest in the game.
2. Larry Fitzgerald - great hands and good finness.
3. Steve Smith - seems to have atleast 1 big play every game.
4. Calvin Johnson - young and overachieved on one of the worst teams ever
5. Randy Moss - great hands and speed

I'd pick AJ hands down. Its probablly because I'm a Texans fanatic but I guess that's what being a fan is all about!
 
They’re both big fast WR but where they differ is that Fitz is better at attacking the ball at its highest point. AJ is bar none the best running routes in the deep middle. He rarely falters or twitches; he can take the big hit and keep on ticking. Remember the Bengals game? My top 5 would be AJ, Steve Smith, Fitz, Randy Moss, and Calvin Johnson rising quickly.
 
Fitz is the best possession WR in the game, bar none. Best clutch WR

AJ is the best playmaker, great deep speed

I'd put them as equals, it just changes on what style of wideout you like
 
Although I'm not sure if there is a size difference, I view AJ as a huge wide receiver who can tower above CB to snatch the ball away and Fitzgerald (who I love) as a smaller, speed type guy who can move in space. I haven't seen much of Fitzgerald so I'm not sure if this is too accurate of a view. I would definitely pick AJ's size and playing style over Fitzgerald.
 
thunderwolf said:
Although I'm not sure if there is a size difference, I view AJ as a huge wide receiver who can tower above CB to snatch the ball away and Fitzgerald (who I love) as a smaller, speed type guy who can move in space. I haven't seen much of Fitzgerald so I'm not sure if this is too accurate of a view. I would definitely pick AJ's size and playing style over Fitzgerald.
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AJ is 6' 3" and 225#. Larry Fitzgerald is 6' 3" and 220#.

AJ is supposed to have more straight away speed. Larry Fitzgerald has amazing leaping ability.

They're just two amazing wideouts.
 
I think 'dre gives you everything Fitz does(perhaps in a slightly different way, brute force vs finesse), plus he's faster(seperation), and stronger(harder to bring down).

Fitz is great, but he just can't do some of the things 'dre can. Like dragging a safety 30 yards, or running past a corner in man coverage. I don't think there's anything Fitz does that 'dre can't. We've all seen him go up in triple coverage and snatch the ball out of the air, with defenders pawing at him, and the ball.

I would say AJ is the clear cut #1, and Fitz is fighting Steve Smith for 2a, and 2b.
 
Let's do away with the "Texan's fan" part of it for a sec.

Look at what Calvin Johnson, a rookie, did while playing on a 0-16 team this year. (Compare this this with AJ's or Fitz's rookie seasons) I can't even imagine how good this guy is going to be, or could be, if he had a decent quarterback throwing to him. The Lions may have blown it with the other receivers taken in the first round, Roy Williams included. But not with this guy.

I don't give it a couple more years before it will be AJ 'who?' or Fitz 'who?'

Calvin Johnson will be in a class of his own.
 
Marcus said:
Let's do away with the "Texan's fan" part of it for a sec.

Look at what Calvin Johnson, a rookie, did while playing on a 0-16 team this year. (Compare this this with AJ's or Fitz's rookie seasons) I can't even imagine how good this guy is going to be, or could be, if he had a decent quarterback throwing to him. The Lions may have blown it with the other receivers taken in the first round, Roy Williams included. But not with this guy.

I don't give it a couple more years before it will be AJ 'who?' or Fitz 'who?'

Calvin Johnson will be in a class of his own.
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Calvin Johnson wasn't a rookie this year.

Last year, his rookie year, he had 48 rec. for 756 yds on a team that passed for 3878 yds.

AJ as a rookie had 66 rec. for 976 yds on a team that passed for 2655 yds.

I think CJ is going to be great but let's not AJ who quite yet.

Love the avatar by the way.
 
Calvin has mad skill, his measureables are off the chart. we'll see how he copes through the "tough years" in Detroit. He would be wise to follow the example set by Andre Johnson who not only weathered the "tough years" but rose above them through dedication, hard work & perseverance :superman:
 
beerlover said:
Calvin has mad skill, his measureables are off the chart. we'll see how he copes through the "tough years" in Detroit. He would be wise to follow the example set by Andre Johnson who not only weathered the "tough years" but rose above them through dedication, hard work & perseverance :superman:
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amen brother!! I hope he follows AJ example, I will actually like watching the lions play when they get a QB to throw to Ca J
 
stingray said:
I didn't want to start another thread but check this thread out on azcardinals.com

http://forums.azcardinals.com/showthread.php?t=40389
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I think those guys have a valid point.

If I wasn't a Texans fan, I think the recent record breaking post season by Fitzgerald pretty much speaks for itself.

Fitz is an interesting receiver, because he doesn't have "elite speed" which so many teams go crazy over. He's just really, really talented and has hands made of glue.

Clearly Fitzgerald and AJ are 1 and 1a like someone over there said. I would of course take AJ if I had to pick between the two, but its pretty hard to not choose a guy who just broke Jerry Rice's playoff receiving record
 
I would put Fitz up by a somewhat small margin because he has something that AJ doesn't: playoff experience and success. Fitz has proven he's a guy who can step up when the games REALLY count and make a huge impact. We don't know that about AJ yet. We can make assumptions, but Fitz made a name for himself based on some fantastic performances when the games had "win or go home" on the line.
 
IlliniJen said:
I would put Fitz up by a somewhat small margin because he has something that AJ doesn't: playoff experience and success. Fitz has proven he's a guy who can step up when the games REALLY count and make a huge impact. We don't know that about AJ yet. We can make assumptions, but Fitz made a name for himself based on some fantastic performances when the games had "win or go home" on the line.
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AJ should not suffer because his team has not made the playoffs, he has done more than enough to help his team.
 
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