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Andre Johnson v. Larry Fitzgerald - ESPN Scout Addresses

jppaul

jppaul

Cut and Dry
AFC South Blogger Paul Kularshky? addresses a mistake that he made earlier when he said Fitzgerald was faster than Johnson, and leads to a comparison of the two receivers head to head.

Really interesting how he breaks it down

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcsouth/0-10-137/Revisiting-AJ-vs--Fitz-on-speed.html

I feel there are couple flaws in the analysis from the scout in part because I believe part of the reason he gives Fitzgerald the "slight edge" is because of his red zone production, but I don't think that is a fair comparison because our play calling last year didn't utilize Johnson in the redzone on fade routes, which he proved that he has no problem dominating on if given a chance.

With Shanahan taking over playcalling duties I think you are going to see alot more of the fade in the endzone. Kubiak said it himself he outsmarted himself in the redzone. Do what works throw it up for Andre.

Anyway interesting article.
 
I'll go ahead and end this nonsense. Andre Johnson is the best WR in the game. Fitzgerald is competing with Moss for second place. And that is coming from a completely unbiased viewpoint...:texflag::fans::texans::texan:
 
For me, it's all about AJ's ability to bring it down in traffic. I don't think there's anyone better at that. Lots of WRs are fast. Lots of WRs have great hands. Finding guys who have both of those PLUS the hand strength and body control to consistently bring it down in traffic - AND not have that size and strength limit his ability to also be a deep threat? Pssshh please - Nobody's better.
 
I think the only reason AJ continues to lose this comparison is production in big games because essentially we haven't played in one yet. Fitz gets that buzz off of the Super Bowl run and nothing AJ can do will top that until he has a big game in a big game. It's simply exposure. Everyone here knows what he can do. Most of the talking heads know what we've got here with AJ. He just needs that "moment" to light it all up.
 
DiehardChris said:
For me, it's all about AJ's ability to bring it down in traffic. I don't think there's anyone better at that. Lots of WRs are fast. Lots of WRs have great hands. Finding guys who have both of those PLUS the hand strength and body control to consistently bring it down in traffic - AND not have that size and strength limit his ability to also be a deep threat? Pssshh please - Nobody's better.
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'nuff said!
</discussion>.

rep your way
 
DiehardChris said:
For me, it's all about AJ's ability to bring it down in traffic. I don't think there's anyone better at that. Lots of WRs are fast. Lots of WRs have great hands. Finding guys who have both of those PLUS the hand strength and body control to consistently bring it down in traffic - AND not have that size and strength limit his ability to also be a deep threat? Pssshh please - Nobody's better.
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That and the fact I saw AJ carry 2 defenders on his back about 8 or 9 yards for a touchdown last season (I think it was the Bengal game?). I can't remember seeing any other WR display that kind of strength.
 
I think they're both badasses. I think Fitz might have the better hands, but only by a very slim margin.
 
Yeah, I think thats one thing that Fitz has over AJ.... just by the slimmest of margins tho. Fitz is def. a master at shielding himself between the defender and the ball, and always seems to come down with a crazy catch in traffic.
 
YOu could go with either one and you wouldn't be wrong. Fitz has better career numbers though, but I think anyone picking either or would be right.
 
I'm of the mind that you cant go wring with either of them.

Flip a coin.

1a and 1b.

Every other team in the league would go crazy to get either of them.
 
Fitzgerald is a master of body control in space; Andre is a physical, power receiver with elite straight line speed. Both are @ the top of their games. :specnatz:
 
If you never make it to the playoffs the rest of the nation only 'really' sees you when you play them. Both are great receivers but Fits went to the SB last season and had more in your face exposure. AJ will always get second fiddle to equally outstanding wr's if we can't ever be better than a .500 team.
 
is this a Texans board or what? Johnson makes Fitz look like a schmuck. there is no other way to put it. if they went head to head in a skills competition AJ would take every event, even the height and weight measurements (he'd grow 2 inches the day before competition). AJ IS GOD PEOPLE! get used to it.:wild:

VT OUT!
 
I think Larry is one of the best WR's in the game. But the truth is that the spotlight of the playoffs and super bowl has magnified his skills and pumped up his ranking to the public.

Andre Johnson is THE BEST WR in the game. His blend of speed, power, and ability to catch any range and turn it into a big play shows that he is the best.

A few things about our boy AJ.

He is left-handed. And right-handed.

His shirts never wrinkle.

He’s a lover, not a fighter, but he’s also a fighter, so don’t get any ideas.

If a monument was built in his honor, Mt. Rushmore would close, due to poor attendance.

His blood smells like cologne.

On every continent in the world, there is a sandwich named after him.

Respected archaeologists fight over his discarded apple cores.

andre&
 
its like the manning-brady debate. its a waste of time to say one or the other is better. they're 1a & 1b. im just glad we have one of them
 
DiehardChris said:
For me, it's all about AJ's ability to bring it down in traffic. I don't think there's anyone better at that. Lots of WRs are fast. Lots of WRs have great hands. Finding guys who have both of those PLUS the hand strength and body control to consistently bring it down in traffic - AND not have that size and strength limit his ability to also be a deep threat? Pssshh please - Nobody's better.
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what the hell is this?...The hallmark of Fitzgerald's game is that he's got that freakishly uncanny ability to go up, get the ball at it's highest point & bring it down over defender(s)........... & all hands at that. His speed is also underrated; he's improved that since he's been n the league That was never more apparent than this past postseason when he pulled off on Polamalu & Townsend for that TD in the superbowl. AJ's a beast but Fitz does have the slight edge & it has next to nothing to do with exposure for me.
 
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Mr teX said:
what the hell is this?...The hallmark of Fitzgerald's game is that he's got that freakishly uncanny ability to go up, get the ball at it's highest point & bring it down over defender(s)........... & all hands at that.
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That is a notable part of Fitz' game. Then again, it is also a notable part of AJ's. Just think of a couple 4th down or game saving plays on last drives of the games against Miami and TN (over Finnegan for one) last year.

when he pulled off on Polamalu & Townsend for that TD in the superbowl.
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Fitz is plenty fast, just not as fast as AJ. Not sure outrunning those two guys is the best example around.
 
infantrycak said:
That is a notable part of Fitz' game. Then again, it is also a notable part of AJ's. Just think of a couple 4th down or game saving plays on last drives of the games against Miami and TN (over Finnegan for one) last year.



Fitz is plenty fast, just not as fast as AJ. Not sure outrunning those two guys is the best example around.
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besides, their speed difference can be measured in arm lengths. If you guys watched the combine there isn't much difference in a 4.38 and a 4.43 (just using random numbers).
 
infantrycak said:
That is a notable part of Fitz' game. Then again, it is also a notable part of AJ's. Just think of a couple 4th down or game saving plays on last drives of the games against Miami and TN (over Finnegan for one) last year.

For every 1 of those plays AJ makes Fitz makes 2. It's not a notable part...it is THE part of Fitz game that makes him so special. It's the same part that makes Randy Moss such a special WR & is the 2nd best attribute a WR can have next to great hands.


Fitz is plenty fast, just not as fast as AJ. Not sure outrunning those two guys is the best example around.
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Eh..maybe you're right & I agree, but he's not as slow as everyone thinks he is either.
 
infantrycak said:
The only point I would make there is the QB plays a role in that as well. But generally I would agree Fitz is more notable for that.
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Put Boldin across from AJ and I bet he makes more plays also. You can't double everyone, all the time.
 
Vinny said:
Put Boldin across from AJ and I bet he makes more plays also. You can't double everyone, all the time.
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Well, what I was about was some QB's intentionally tossing the ball up for grabs. Back in that big Carr/Vikings game it looked like he was tossing up jump balls for AJ all day long. Of course then he never did it again so he was probably just off target in a lucky way. Your point certainly contributes as well.
 
Frak The Jags said:
I'm of the mind that you cant go wring with either of them.

Flip a coin.

1a and 1b.

Every other team in the league would go crazy to get either of them.
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I agree 100% on this one and what makes it more difficult to decide is that neither one would toot their own horn. The are classy on and off the field. In a position that is dominated by primadonnas it is so refreshing to have two of the best being such great guys. It makes it really hard to pick.
Watch out for Calvin Johnson...he is good and going to be better than both (I think) and Cj is also a good guy too.
 
spurstexanstros said:
I agree 100% on this one and what makes it more difficult to decide is that neither one would toot their own horn. The are classy on and off the field. In a position that is dominated by primadonnas it is so refreshing to have two of the best being such great guys. It makes it really hard to pick.
Watch out for Calvin Johnson...he is good and going to be better than both (I think) and Cj is also a good guy too.
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I agree with you here. Personally I think Calvin Johnson will be better than all of them once he gets the right QB that can get him the ball enough. Calvin's height and ability to go get a ball is about as good as Moss but he's got the strength of Andre Johnson and even longer arms but also has the speed.
 
This is a nice little highlight reel from last year, doesn't have that tough 4th down grab against the Dolphins in it but shows some catches in traffic and show off some of his explosiveness. And I was wrong in my earlier post, it was the Bears game not the Bengals game where he drug the defenders into the enzone with him showing off his power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JRR3htV5rA
 
Vinny said:
Put Boldin across from AJ and I bet he makes more plays also. You can't double everyone, all the time.
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I agree somewhat, but that's just it, i think it works the opposite way with Fitz & Boldin. Boldin's a helluva WR, but alot of what he gets is largely due to Fitz drawing the double & i think that's somewhat playing into why Arizona isn't budging with him as far as his contract dispute is concerned i.e. they feel like he can be replaced. On the occasion Warner throws it up or deep to him, is there any doubt to who's gonna come down with it regardless of the coverage. He's about as automatic as it gets in those situations.

AJ's a special player in his own right though. someone had it right, 1a & 1b imo.
 
Texecutioner said:
I agree with you here. Personally I think Calvin Johnson will be better than all of them once he gets the right QB that can get him the ball enough. Calvin's height and ability to go get a ball is about as good as Moss but he's got the strength of Andre Johnson and even longer arms but also has the speed.
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:thumbup That dude...if he ever realizes his potential & can stay healthy....:wacko:
 
Mr teX said:
I agree somewhat, but that's just it, i think it works the opposite way with Fitz & Boldin. Boldin's a helluva WR, but alot of what he gets is largely due to Fitz drawing the double...
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Boldin was productive prior to Fitz coming on the scene. I don't think there's any question that Boldin and Fitzgerald help each other. Or that they couldn't be successful without each other.

What does it matter which WR is better? Any team would be lucky to have a super talented, blue collar receiver such as Johnson or Fitzgerald. I think if the Lions get decent QB play this season, Calvin Johnson will be in that mix. He's sort of a combo Johnson/Fitzgerald in that he has the size, explosiveness, and leaping ability. Calvin Johnson is the reason I predict Matthew Stafford will be a Pro Bowl QB in 2010.
 
Mr teX said:
I agree somewhat, but that's just it, i think it works the opposite way with Fitz & Boldin. Boldin's a helluva WR, but alot of what he gets is largely due to Fitz drawing the double & i think that's somewhat playing into why Arizona isn't budging with him as far as his contract dispute is concerned i.e. they feel like he can be replaced. On the occasion Warner throws it up or deep to him, is there any doubt to who's gonna come down with it regardless of the coverage. He's about as automatic as it gets in those situations.

AJ's a special player in his own right though. someone had it right, 1a & 1b imo.
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Boldin is a fabulous wr and incredible in the open field and you must not remember how productive he was without Fitz. They have different skills, but both are dangerous. Boldin is better than both aj and fitz with the ball in his hands.
 
I'm just happy we have one of them both are HOF to be and in the next year or two CJ will be added to the mix.
 
I always hear people talk about the amazing catches Fitz makes over defenders, but they always forget why he has to make those circus catches. He's not open.

When AJ decides to get open there's not a lot that 99% of the defenders in this league can do about it.

Defenses can try to cover Fitz, they can only hope to contain AJ.
 
Mr teX said:
what the hell is this?...The hallmark of Fitzgerald's game is that he's got that freakishly uncanny ability to go up, get the ball at it's highest point & bring it down over defender(s)........... & all hands at that. His speed is also underrated; he's improved that since he's been n the league That was never more apparent than this past postseason when he pulled off on Polamalu & Townsend for that TD in the superbowl. AJ's a beast but Fitz does have the slight edge & it has next to nothing to do with exposure for me.
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I agree that Fitz is the best in the league at going up and getting the ball at it'a highest point, but AJ is better at getting YAC imo. So it's a wash if you ask me.
 
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