Lavar Arrington talks a little Cardinal Football

[TigToad]

Bj

Cuz Bryant Johnson is one of the most underrated receivers in football. Being overshadowed sucks... and even the article that was posted one thread over about the Texan's CB raving about Boldin and Fitz, BJ was left out. He's a scary number 3 threat... and I don't think we can sign him for number 3 receiver money.. he'll go somewhere and get number 2 receiver money and he'll be an excellent number 2 receiver.

 

[Stout]

Cuz Bryant Johnson is one of the most underrated receivers in football. Being overshadowed sucks... and even the article that was posted one thread over about the Texan's CB raving about Boldin and Fitz, BJ was left out. He's a scary number 3 threat... and I don't think we can sign him for number 3 receiver money.. he'll go somewhere and get number 2 receiver money and he'll be an excellent number 2 receiver.

No, he's one of the most underachieving receivers in football, and if he could actually bring his game in the regular season, he might shine and force our QBs and playcallers to look his way more often. Compare the number of times he has made the great play versus the number of times he has flubbed the great play, and you will have your answers.

 

[English on tour]

md - our man on the inside

 

[Kel Varnsen]

No, he's one of the most underachieving receivers in football, and if he could actually bring his game in the regular season, he might shine and force our QBs and playcallers to look his way more often. Compare the number of times he has made the great play versus the number of times he has flubbed the great play, and you will have your answers.

The picture where he's looking into the sky as the long td pass falls through his arms is the one I always think of.

 

[cardsfanmd]

No, he's one of the most underachieving receivers in football, and if he could actually bring his game in the regular season, he might shine and force our QBs and playcallers to look his way more often. Compare the number of times he has made the great play versus the number of times he has flubbed the great play, and you will have your answers.

I wouldn't say that at all. How do his numbers from last year compare to that of the other #3's in the league? I am soooo glad we have BJ. When Fitz or Quan miss a few games this year (bound to happen) would you feel better with Spurlock, Wadkins, McCoy or Morey starting?

 

[cardsfanmd]

Also, I was just wondering, is Matt Trannon still with the team?

 

[Russ Smith]

I have a feeling that a few of those teams interviewed him just to avoid racial dilemmas.

Right that's the Rooney rule I mentioned. There's no question some teams were using Green as a freebie in that because they knew he was happy getting paid by the Vikings so they could satisfy the rule without any real interest in him.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

The picture where he's looking into the sky as the long td pass falls through his arms is the one I always think of.

ahhh Skillethands.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Also, I was just wondering, is Matt Trannon still with the team?

Yes. He did make it into the Oakland game for a couple of plays IIRC.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I like that guy.

 

[Russ Smith]

Cuz Bryant Johnson is one of the most underrated receivers in football. Being overshadowed sucks... and even the article that was posted one thread over about the Texan's CB raving about Boldin and Fitz, BJ was left out. He's a scary number 3 threat... and I don't think we can sign him for number 3 receiver money.. he'll go somewhere and get number 2 receiver money and he'll be an excellent number 2 receiver.

I think he's a very good #3 Wr but I think people overstate his under ratedness(not a real word for sure).

BJ almost never sees a #2CB let alone a #1, he's usually getting the nickel guy. If he goes somewhere else as a starter he'll find out it is a different game when teams are actually keying their coverage on you, and not on Quan and Fitz.

I still think he'll be good but I don't think this is a guy about to become a 90 catch 1200 yards 8 TD WR if he leaves Arizona. I think this is a guy who gets a ton of advantages playing here because he is not the man.

The problem is Whiz won't use 3WR's as much and I think it's inevitable that BJ is going to want to play more than he will here.

I'll go as far as saying if the offense is what I expect it to be, we probably SHOULD try to trade Johnson so we get something for him before he leaves.

 

[BigRedRage]

I'll go as far as saying if the offense is what I expect it to be, we probably SHOULD try to trade Johnson so we get something for him before he leaves.

I agree, he recently said he wants to be here for 4 more years but we shall see at contract time.

 

[cardsfanmd]

When does Fitz become a free agent? I have a feeling that he isn't sticking around.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I agree, he recently said he wants to be here for 4 more years but we shall see at contract time.

Johnson said that? I thought it was Calvin Pace that said that.

 

[Russ Smith]

I agree, he recently said he wants to be here for 4 more years but we shall see at contract time.

And you never know if the guy wants to be here and understands his role by all means keep him.

I just think he's going to find he gets less balls this year, same with Quan and Fitz.

Last year was his breakout year 18.5 YPC, he could come close to that again this year the Pittsburgh offense was run and run, get safeties up, and then go over the top. Both Holmes and Washington were around 17 YPC last year for them and I think BJ can do that again here.

I just think the offense is going to be more run oriented and being a #3WR who thinks he's on the cusp of being a starter, that will be very tough on him.

We'll see but I can see a scenario where the cards realize he's clearly not going to be happy in the system and want to stay, and we just try to trade him before then.

 

[joeshmo]

I just think the offense is going to be more run oriented and being a #3WR who thinks he's on the cusp of being a starter, that will be very tough on him.

Just a bit of trivia. Pitt last year had more 4 WR sets then any other team last year and they were in the top half the year before.

 

[football karma]

And you never know if the guy wants to be here and understands his role by all means keep him.

I just think he's going to find he gets less balls this year, same with Quan and Fitz.

Last year was his breakout year 18.5 YPC, he could come close to that again this year the Pittsburgh offense was run and run, get safeties up, and then go over the top. Both Holmes and Washington were around 17 YPC last year for them and I think BJ can do that again here.

I just think the offense is going to be more run oriented and being a #3WR who thinks he's on the cusp of being a starter, that will be very tough on him.

We'll see but I can see a scenario where the cards realize he's clearly not going to be happy in the system and want to stay, and we just try to trade him before then.

The Cards just wont be able to afford him. Some WR needy team will give him far more money than the Cards want to committ - particularly with Fitz's contract coming up on the horizon.

 

[Russ Smith]

Just a bit of trivia. Pitt last year had more 4 WR sets then any other team last year and they were in the top half the year before.

True but they also ran from those sets. We were just about the most pass happy team in the NFL the last 2 years. Pitt last year threw the ball nearly as much as we did last year but based on everything I'm hearing from Whiz I think he wants to be a running team.

The main reason I say this is the fullback situation, it seems pretty clear he wants to play a FB a lot more often than we did under Green?

I guess we won't really know until the season starts but based on where our OL is at the moment I'd be pretty surprised if we're throwing the ball as much this year.

 

[Russ Smith]

The Cards just wont be able to afford him. Some WR needy team will give him far more money than the Cards want to committ - particularly with Fitz's contract coming up on the horizon.

Yep I think someone will vastly overpay for him thinking he's about to become an elite WR. I think he's the perfect #3 Wr, the problem is I think he thinks he's a #1.

I don't know of any stats place that keeps track of total plays on the field but I'd have to think BJ plays as much as any #3WR in the NFL right now.

 

[Duckjake]

He seems to think that the Cards will never be a winning franchise until Bidwill dies or sells the team. Didn't name names, but said the front office is behind the times and needs to be redone

That is pretty much what most people say about the Cardinals. Former players, players from other teams, scouts, journalists, casual fans.

In fact the only people I haven't heard say that are Nidan, 40yearfan and a few people named Bidwill.

However, none of the critics ever cite anything specific so I would surmise that its just become an automatic response from people who really don't have much inside information about the current state of the franchise.

 

[TigToad]

and..

He has done this a couple times.. but he has also made a good number of big plays. Yes, we can blame him for a loss... but I think that is extremely short sighted. The guy is amazing for a 3rd receiver... and he'd be a fine number 2. I'll stick to that and watch his career to prove me right or wrong.

The picture where he's looking into the sky as the long td pass falls through his arms is the one I always think of.

 

[Cheesebeef]

my biggest problem with BJ is simple - over the last three years, there's been NUMEROUS times that we've either had to play without Boldin or Fitz for a couple games and in those games where he stepped up to the number 2 spot, he made very little impact.

in the 3 games that Fitz missed this year, BJ's numbers were 36.7 yards per game and 1 TD - hardly impressive numbers from a number 2 WR.

in 2005 - in Q's two game absence, BJ put up 66 yards and 1 TD in one game before missing the other with injury.

And in 2004, when Q missed 6 games, BJ put up 36 yards per game and no touchdowns over the first six games of the season.

So, in 10 total games as a number 2, the guy has averaged 39.2 yards per game and .2 TDs (or 392 yards and 2 TDs total) - that's pretty bad numbers for an average #2 WR, much less a good number two. He's gotten his shot there mutliple times throughout his career and he hasn't produced when actually facing good coverage rather than nickle coverage.

Like Duckjake said, he's making plays against 3rd corners and thank God he's at least finally doing that, but we should expect much more from this kid. It's really sad how low our expectations are for former first round picks.

 

[40yearfan]

Frankly, I don't thing BJ would make a good #2 WR. I think his best place on the football field is exactly where he is playing with the Cards. Put him in and have him roar down the sidelines looking for that long throw or have him run a slant into the middle of the field when Fitz and Q are having trouble getting open. Loosen up the defense a little and give either Q or Fitz a chance to shake their shadows.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Frankly, I don't thing BJ would make a good #2 WR. I think his best place on the football field is exactly where he is playing with the Cards. Put him in and have him roar down the sidelines looking for that long throw or have him run a slant into the middle of the field when Fitz and Q are having trouble getting open. Loosen up the defense a little and give either Q or Fitz a chance to shake their shadows.

OMG - my jaw just LITERALLY hit the ground. I think this may be the first time I can ever remember where 40 and I are in complete agreement on something football wise.

 

[40yearfan]

OMG - my jaw just LITERALLY hit the ground. I think this may be the first time I can ever remember where 40 and I are in complete agreement on something football wise.

Crap!!!! I slipped up-------uhhh I mean, yea Cheese. You tha man.