Rookie WR Johnson has grasp of new job

ALLEN PARK, MICH. - About one-third of the way through watching the Detroit Lions' Monday morning practice, it hit me: Those Nike eye consultants won't be getting one red cent out of Lions rookie receiver Calvin Johnson.

By Mark Craig, Star Tribune

Last update: August 6, 2007 - 10:54 PM

Not only did the 6-5, 239-pound Super-Duper Freak not drop a pass in just his third NFL practice, he didn't even bobble one.

A huge receiver with big mitts, he was striding past cornerbacks as if they were children. But the most impressive thing about the No. 2 overall draft pick on Monday was how he located the deep ball, adjusted and pulled it in with young-Moss-like consistency. (And, by the way, nobody calls more deep passes in practice than Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz.)

During a deep one-on-one drill against defensive back Daniel Bullocks, Johnson gained a step down the right sideline, leaned way back, looking nearly straight up over his left shoulder, and caught a 40-yard touchdown as he slid to keep his feet in the back corner of the end zone. Later, running down the left sideline during 11-on-11, he got almost two steps behind cornerback Keith Smith, looked high over his right shoulder and snared a pass that traveled about 55 yards in the air.

"Calvin has great hands, Roy [Williams] has great hands, Mike [Furrey] has great hands. They all have great hands," Martz said. "That ball should never hit the ground. That's what we expect, to never drop a pass. That's a realistic expectation with these receivers."

Detroit rookie wide receiver

Calvin Johnson