Reception Perception: Andre Johnson Still has Plenty Left to Offer the Colts
By: Matt Harmon
March 12, 2015
March 12, 2015
Andre Johnson regressed statistically in 2014, but his play was still very strong. (Image: Troy Taormina - USA Today Sports)
After 12 seasons with the Houston Texans, Andre Johnson was unceremoniously cut as free agency began. Despite being the best player in franchise history, the current regime did not want to keep him with a $16.1 million cap figure. But Johnson was not out of work long, as the division rival Indianapolis Colts scooped him up with a three-year, $21 million deal. He’ll become one of the top targets for star quarterback Andrew Luck.
The Colts are hoping a hungry, vengeful Johnson can be one of the missing links for a team that again should be in the hunt for a Super Bowl. From what he showed on the field last year, the veteran wideout is up to that task.
Despite being 33 years old and recording less than 1,000 receiving yards in 2014, Andre Johnson is far from finished. The former No. 3 overall pick can still play a crucial role in an NFL passing attack. In the eight games sampled for this Reception Perception study, which evaluates eight games (the four best and worst statistically) of a wide receiver’s performance to create an accurate assessment size, Johnson played a majority of his snaps at the all-important X-receiver position. He played on the left side of the formation 48.1 percent of the time and was on the line of scrimmage on 79.1 percent of his snaps. However, Johnson was not limited to just one role. He also played a bit of flanker, and in the slot (16 percent of his snaps), for the Texans in 2014.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, in recent years the Colts used the recently departed Reggie Wayne in the exact same fashion. Wayne was often an outlet receiver for the developing Luck. While he lined up in multiple positions, like Wayne, Johnson did not play the safety-blanket role during his swan song season in Houston.
Fellow receiver DeAndre Hopkins had a breakout season last year for Houston, but it was Johnson who paced the Texans’ passing attack.
The Colts are hoping a hungry, vengeful Johnson can be one of the missing links for a team that again should be in the hunt for a Super Bowl. From what he showed on the field last year, the veteran wideout is up to that task.
Despite being 33 years old and recording less than 1,000 receiving yards in 2014, Andre Johnson is far from finished. The former No. 3 overall pick can still play a crucial role in an NFL passing attack. In the eight games sampled for this Reception Perception study, which evaluates eight games (the four best and worst statistically) of a wide receiver’s performance to create an accurate assessment size, Johnson played a majority of his snaps at the all-important X-receiver position. He played on the left side of the formation 48.1 percent of the time and was on the line of scrimmage on 79.1 percent of his snaps. However, Johnson was not limited to just one role. He also played a bit of flanker, and in the slot (16 percent of his snaps), for the Texans in 2014.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, in recent years the Colts used the recently departed Reggie Wayne in the exact same fashion. Wayne was often an outlet receiver for the developing Luck. While he lined up in multiple positions, like Wayne, Johnson did not play the safety-blanket role during his swan song season in Houston.
Fellow receiver DeAndre Hopkins had a breakout season last year for Houston, but it was Johnson who paced the Texans’ passing attack.
Click to finish reading this at The Washington Post
Comment Form is loading comments...
