Viking safety Darren Sharper will let the season play out before including Detroit’s wide receivers among the NFL’s elite but he told Sports Headliners about his respect for Roy Williams, Mike Furrey and Calvin Johnson. “They’re a special group,” Sharper said. “The fact there are different things they can do. The size of the receivers. Their athletic ability. It poses a challenge because when you have so many guys on the field who can catch the ball and do something with the football, you have to make sure you’re alert as a defensive player.”
When the Vikings play in Detroit on Sunday, they will see an offense that Sharper said will “definitely offer a test.” The Lions use a varied offense with different looks under the direction of respected offensive coordinator Mike Martz, former St. Louis Rams coach. “For me as a defensive back, he’s exciting to play against because you want to get a chance to be challenged in the passing game,” Sharper said. “You want to get opportunities to make plays on balls, or be a factor. …”
Williams, 6-foot-3, made the Pro Bowl after his 1,310 yard, seven touchdowns 2006 season. Furrey, 6-foot, led the NFC and was second in the NFL with 98 catches.
The 6-foot-5, 239-pound Johnson, the No. 1 overall pick in last spring’s NFL draft, was a two-time all-American at Georgia Tech where many observers rated him with the best and most explosive college receivers in memory.
The Lions have another newcomer in wide receiver Shaun McDonald who came from the Rams where he played for Martz. In the Lions 36-21 opening day win against Oakland, McDonald caught six passes, the most on the Detroit team. Furrey had five catches, and Johnson, Williams and running back Tatum Bell had four.
Spreading the ball around was quarterback Jon Kitna who completed 75% of his passes, (27 of 36) and three touchdowns. He was six of eight in the fourth quarter as the Lions came from behind to win the game. He finished first in the NFL last season in completions, second in attempts and fourth in passing.
Viking defensive tackle Pat Williams would like similar results Sunday to what he and his teammates did to Atlanta quarterback Joey Harrington. Last Sunday the Vikings defense turned two of Harrington’s passes into touchdown interceptions and limited him to 23 of 32 passes and 199 yards. “We gotta get pressure on him (Kitna),” Williams said. “If we go out there early and get pressure on him…we can shake him up like we did last week. It’s our game plan. …”
Sharper was asked if Johnson can be intimidated in his second NFL game (Williams and Furrey are expected starters with Johnson and McDonald coming off the bench). “It depends on if a guy allows himself to be intimidated,” Sharper said. “I don’t think because a guy is a young receiver you can expect to intimate him. Any receiver who comes in there you want to let him know you’re there. You don’t want him to have the feeling that he can just go out and catch the ball and not have to deal with the ramifications of being in your area. …”