Calvin Johnson Played On Some Of The Most Pass-Happy Teams In NFL History

by Chase Stuart on March 21, 2016

Farewell to one of the greats

Detroit Lions superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson has likely retired. He had a pretty incredible six-year peak: Megatron gained 8,548 receiving yards in his last six years, the most by any player during their age 25-30 seasons. I don’t think there’s much of a debate that Johnson is a Hall of Famer, although I do think he’s not quite an inner circle member of the Hall.

The big reason for that is Johnson’s numbers have always been inflated by playing on a pass-happy team. I’ve looked at this before, but (a) those numbers are now two years stale and (b) I want to use a different methodology today. So here’s what I did:

1) Calculate the number of pass attempts per game for each team in every season.

2) For the top 200 players, I then calculated the number of career games for that player.

3) Then, in each season, weight the number of team pass attempts per game by the percentage of games that player played relative to his entire career. For example, Johnson played 11.9% of his career games in 2012, and that year, the Lions threw 46.3 pass attempts per game. Therefore, for Johnson’s career, 46.3 pass attempts per game will be given a weight of 11.9%. Do this for every season of each player’s career, and you will derive the average pass attempts per game for that player.

By this methodology, Megatron has been on the 2nd-most pass-happy offenses among these 200 players. The only player ahead of him is Marques Colston, who ranked 49th in career receiving yards despite never making the Pro Bowl in any season.

Rk	Receiver	First Yr	Last Yr	G	Rec Yds	Att/G	Pass Ratio
1	Marques Colston	2006	2015	146	9759	39.9	117.3%
2	Calvin Johnson	2007	2015	135	11619	38.9	113.8%
3	Julio Jones	2011	2015	65	6201	38.7	110.8%
4	Kellen Winslow	1979	1987	109	6741	37.9	120.5%
5	Demaryius Thomas	2010	2015	85	6621	36.9	105.6%
6	Wes Welker	2005	2015	160	9924	36.4	108.3%
7	Larry Fitzgerald	2004	2015	186	13366	36.4	108.5%
8	Charley Hennigan	1960	1966	95	6823	36.4	113%
9	Reggie Wayne	2001	2014	211	14345	36.3	109.3%
10	Pierre Garcon	2008	2015	116	6027	35.8	104.6%
11	Mark Duper	1983	1992	144	8869	35.7	113.7%
12	Torry Holt	1999	2009	173	13382	35.7	109.1%
13	Mark Clayton	1983	1993	158	8974	35.7	113%
14	Haywood Jeffires	1987	1996	132	6334	35.7	111.8%
15	Wes Chandler	1978	1988	150	8966	35.6	115.3%
16	Antonio Brown	2010	2015	86	7093	35.6	102.1%
17	Dez Bryant	2010	2015	84	5825	35.5	102.3%
18	Donald Driver	1999	2012	205	10137	35.4	107.5%
19	James Jones	2007	2015	136	5861	35.4	103.6%
20	Sammy White	1976	1985	128	6400	35.4	121.1%
21	Jeremy Maclin	2009	2015	90	5859	35.3	102.6%
22	Isaac Bruce	1994	2009	223	15208	35.2	106.9%
23	Deion Branch	2002	2012	140	6644	35.1	106.1%
24	Troy Brown	1993	2006	182	6366	35.1	106.6%
25	DeSean Jackson	2008	2015	112	7814	35.1	102.8%
26	Marty Booker	1999	2009	157	6703	35.0	106.9%
27	Greg Jennings	2006	2015	143	8291	35.0	103.3%
28	Jeremy Shockey	2002	2011	136	6143	34.8	106%
29	Ernest Givins	1986	1995	147	8215	34.8	109.8%
30	Sterling Sharpe	1988	1994	112	8134	34.8	110.5%
31	Larry Centers	1991	2003	192	6797	34.8	106.1%
32	Dwight Clark	1979	1987	134	6750	34.7	110.9%
33	Jake Reed	1992	2002	154	6999	34.7	105.2%
34	Roddy White	2005	2015	171	10863	34.6	102.3%
35	Marvin Harrison	1996	2008	190	14580	34.6	105.9%
36	Webster Slaughter	1986	1998	162	8111	34.5	107.7%
37	Antonio Freeman	1995	2003	132	7251	34.5	104.1%
38	Chad Johnson	2001	2011	166	11059	34.4	104.8%
39	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	2001	2011	144	7237	34.4	104.7%
40	Frank Sanders	1995	2003	136	6749	34.4	103.8%
41	Jordy Nelson	2008	2014	105	6109	34.4	101%
42	Derrick Alexander	1994	2002	126	6971	34.2	103%
43	Tony Gonzalez	1997	2013	270	15127	34.2	103.2%
44	Jerry Rice	1985	2004	303	22895	34.2	105.7%
45	Anquan Boldin	2003	2015	186	13195	34.0	101.7%
46	Brandon Marshall	2006	2015	152	11273	34.0	100.1%
47	Cris Carter	1987	2002	234	13899	34.0	104.6%
48	Darnay Scott	1994	2002	124	6193	34.0	101.7%
49	Terry Glenn	1996	2006	136	8823	33.9	103.6%
50	Jason Witten	2003	2015	207	11215	33.9	101.3%
51	Roy Williams	2004	2011	115	5715	33.9	103.4%
52	Bobby Engram	1996	2009	176	7751	33.8	103.1%
53	Vance Johnson	1985	1995	128	5695	33.8	106.4%
54	Mike Quick	1982	1990	101	6464	33.8	106.1%
55	Ricky Sanders	1986	1995	134	6477	33.8	106.6%
56	Marshall Faulk	1994	2005	176	6875	33.8	102.5%
57	Lionel Taylor	1960	1968	113	7195	33.7	105.9%
58	Mike Wallace	2009	2015	111	6307	33.6	97.4%
59	Charlie Joiner	1969	1986	239	12146	33.6	116.2%
60	Rob Moore	1990	1999	153	9368	33.6	103.6%
61	Keyshawn Johnson	1996	2006	167	10571	33.6	102.6%
62	Jeff Graham	1991	2001	160	8172	33.5	102.4%
63	Joe Horn	1996	2007	163	8744	33.5	102.3%
64	Michael Haynes	1988	1997	147	6588	33.5	104.1%
65	Ike Hilliard	1997	2008	161	6397	33.5	102.6%
66	A.J. Green	2011	2015	76	6171	33.5	95.7%
67	Tony Martin	1990	2001	177	9065	33.4	103.2%
68	Amani Toomer	1996	2008	190	9497	33.4	102.1%
69	Anthony Miller	1988	1997	155	9148	33.3	103.6%
70	Randy Moss	1998	2012	218	15292	33.3	101.2%
71	Shawn Jefferson	1991	2003	195	7023	33.3	101.9%
72	Gary Clark	1985	1995	167	10856	33.3	104.1%
73	Wayne Chrebet	1995	2005	152	7365	33.3	100.7%
74	Andre Rison	1989	2000	186	10205	33.3	102.8%
75	Terrell Owens	1996	2010	219	15934	33.2	101.3%
76	Art Powell	1960	1968	105	8046	33.2	103.5%
77	Ozzie Newsome	1978	1990	198	7980	33.2	107.4%
78	Andre Johnson	2003	2015	185	14100	33.2	98.8%
79	Curtis Conway	1993	2004	167	8230	33.1	100.3%
80	Irving Fryar	1984	2000	255	12785	33.0	102.1%
81	Jessie Hester	1985	1995	147	5850	33.0	103.4%
82	Shannon Sharpe	1990	2003	204	10060	32.9	101.6%
83	Darrell Jackson	2000	2008	123	7132	32.8	100.7%
84	Ricky Proehl	1990	2006	244	8878	32.8	101.3%
85	Johnnie Morton	1994	2005	182	8719	32.8	99.3%
86	Keenan McCardell	1992	2007	209	11373	32.8	99.5%
87	Antonio Gates	2003	2015	190	10644	32.8	97.8%
88	Heath Miller	2005	2015	168	6569	32.7	96.7%
89	Carl Pickens	1992	2000	129	7129	32.7	99.3%
90	Dwayne Bowe	2007	2015	125	7208	32.6	95.8%
91	Brandon Lloyd	2003	2014	142	5989	32.6	98.1%
92	Steve Jordan	1982	1994	176	6307	32.5	103%
93	Eddie Kennison	1996	2007	176	8345	32.5	99.4%
94	Nate Washington	2006	2015	158	6954	32.5	95.7%
95	Rod Smith	1995	2006	183	11389	32.5	98.7%
96	Stephone Paige	1983	1991	125	6341	32.5	102.5%
97	Vincent Jackson	2005	2015	150	8907	32.4	95.9%
98	Santonio Holmes	2006	2014	112	6030	32.4	96.8%
99	Jabar Gaffney	2002	2012	158	5690	32.4	98.2%
100	Terance Mathis	1990	2002	206	8809	32.3	99.3%
101	Al Toon	1985	1992	107	6605	32.3	102.6%
102	Greg Olsen	2007	2015	142	6292	32.3	94.7%
103	John Jefferson	1978	1985	102	5714	32.3	106.6%
104	Ahmad Rashad	1972	1982	139	6831	32.2	116.4%
105	Santana Moss	2001	2014	197	10283	32.2	96.6%
106	Art Monk	1980	1995	224	12721	32.2	101.7%
107	Steve Watson	1979	1987	126	6112	32.2	102.6%
108	Drew Hill	1979	1993	211	9831	32.1	102.8%
109	Carlos Carson	1980	1989	126	6372	32.0	100.9%
110	Joey Galloway	1995	2010	198	10950	31.9	96.9%
111	Jerricho Cotchery	2004	2015	175	6623	31.9	94.7%
112	Jimmy Smith	1995	2005	171	12287	31.9	96.7%
113	Mark Carrier	1987	1998	177	8763	31.8	99.1%
114	Chris Chambers	2001	2010	153	7648	31.8	97.3%
115	Plaxico Burress	2000	2012	148	8499	31.8	96.8%
116	Laveranues Coles	2000	2009	153	8609	31.7	97.3%
117	Todd Christensen	1981	1988	108	5872	31.7	99.6%
118	Ed McCaffrey	1991	2003	185	7422	31.7	96.7%
119	Eric Moulds	1996	2007	186	9995	31.7	96.8%
120	Derrick Mason	1997	2011	230	12061	31.7	96.7%
121	Sean Dawkins	1993	2001	140	6291	31.7	95.8%
122	Muhsin Muhammad	1996	2009	202	11438	31.6	96.6%
123	Anthony Carter	1985	1994	137	7733	31.5	100%
124	Roy Green	1979	1992	175	8965	31.4	100.4%
125	Herman Moore	1991	2001	145	9174	31.4	95.8%
126	Andre Reed	1985	2000	234	13198	31.4	97.5%
127	Bill Brooks	1986	1996	169	8001	31.4	97.9%
128	Todd Heap	2001	2012	145	5869	31.3	95.4%
129	Tim Brown	1988	2004	255	14934	31.3	96.4%
130	Tony Hill	1977	1986	141	7988	31.2	103.7%
131	Ronnie Harmon	1986	1997	181	6076	31.2	97.1%
132	Steve Smith	2001	2015	205	13932	31.2	93%
133	Brian Blades	1988	1998	156	7620	31.1	96.6%
134	Quinn Early	1988	1999	179	6448	31.1	96.1%
135	Steve Largent	1976	1989	200	13089	31.1	103.4%
136	Michael Irvin	1988	1999	159	11904	31.0	96.4%
137	J.T. Smith	1979	1990	160	6974	31.0	98.7%
138	Cris Collinsworth	1981	1988	107	6698	30.9	97.1%
139	Freddie Solomon	1975	1985	151	5846	30.8	104.2%
140	Don Maynard	1958	1973	186	11834	30.8	102.3%
141	James Lofton	1978	1993	233	14004	30.7	99%
142	Henry Ellard	1983	1998	228	13777	30.6	95.5%
143	Wesley Walker	1977	1989	154	8306	30.6	100.4%
144	Vernon Davis	2006	2015	148	5841	30.4	89.7%
145	Brett Perriman	1988	1997	153	6589	30.3	94.2%
146	Pat Tilley	1976	1986	147	7005	30.3	102.6%
147	Hines Ward	1998	2011	217	12083	30.2	91.8%
148	Eddie Brown	1985	1991	102	6134	30.0	94.5%
149	Reggie Rucker	1970	1981	159	7065	29.8	109.6%
150	Eric Martin	1985	1994	153	8161	29.7	93.9%
151	Lance Alworth	1962	1972	137	10266	29.5	100.2%
152	Henry Marshall	1976	1987	165	6545	29.3	98%
153	Lee Evans	2004	2011	118	6008	29.2	89.1%
154	Harold Carmichael	1971	1984	182	8985	29.1	105.4%
155	Gary Garrison	1966	1977	134	7538	29.1	105.4%
156	Del Shofner	1958	1967	113	6470	29.1	106.2%
157	Lenny Moore	1956	1967	143	6039	29.1	108.8%
158	Charley Taylor	1964	1977	165	9110	29.0	107.7%
159	Isaac Curtis	1973	1984	167	7101	29.0	101.6%
160	Sonny Randle	1959	1968	120	5996	28.9	104.9%
161	Alfred Jenkins	1975	1983	110	6267	28.8	99.2%
162	Louis Lipps	1984	1992	110	6019	28.7	90.9%
163	Jackie Smith	1963	1977	198	7918	28.6	106.4%
164	Billy Howton	1952	1963	142	8459	28.6	107.4%
165	Tommy McDonald	1957	1968	152	8410	28.5	104.7%
166	Raymond Berry	1955	1967	154	9275	28.4	106.8%
167	Nat Moore	1974	1986	183	7546	28.4	95.6%
168	Mel Gray	1971	1982	145	6644	28.3	103.9%
169	Jimmy Orr	1958	1970	149	7914	28.2	103.1%
170	Bobby Joe Conrad	1959	1969	144	5902	28.2	102.5%
171	John Gilliam	1967	1977	149	7056	28.2	106.3%
172	Drew Pearson	1973	1983	156	7822	28.2	100.5%
173	Stanley Morgan	1977	1990	196	10716	28.1	92.4%
174	Bobby Mitchell	1958	1968	148	7954	28.0	101.7%
175	Fred Biletnikoff	1965	1978	190	8974	28.0	101.7%
176	Cliff Branch	1972	1984	179	8685	27.9	99.3%
177	Elroy Hirsch	1946	1957	127	7029	27.9	109%
178	Gene Washington	1969	1979	140	6856	27.9	105.4%
179	Roy Jefferson	1965	1976	162	7539	27.8	103.7%
180	John Stallworth	1974	1987	165	8723	27.6	93.8%
181	Pete Retzlaff	1956	1966	132	7412	27.6	103.1%
182	Haven Moses	1968	1981	199	8091	27.6	100.8%
183	Red Phillips	1958	1967	119	6044	27.5	100.2%
184	Riley Odoms	1972	1983	153	5755	27.4	99.8%
185	Jack Snow	1965	1975	150	6012	27.3	101.3%
186	Willie Gault	1983	1993	170	6635	27.3	86.6%
187	Mike Ditka	1961	1972	158	5812	27.2	99.7%
188	Gail Cogdill	1960	1970	122	5696	27.1	97.9%
189	Frank Lewis	1971	1983	155	6724	27.0	96.7%
190	Ken Burrough	1970	1981	156	7102	26.9	100.8%
191	Bob Hayes	1965	1975	132	7414	26.5	98.5%
192	Harold Jackson	1969	1983	205	10372	26.4	96%
193	Billy Wilson	1951	1960	100	5902	26.3	99.2%
194	Otis Taylor	1965	1974	129	7306	25.0	89.5%
195	Max McGee	1954	1967	148	6346	24.6	90.5%
196	Paul Warfield	1964	1977	157	8565	23.7	88.7%
197	Carroll Dale	1960	1973	189	8277	23.6	87.1%
198	Don Hutson	1935	1945	116	7991	23.0	124.4%
199	Boyd Dowler	1959	1971	162	7270	22.9	83.6%
200	Dante Lavelli	1946	1956	123	6488	22.2	87.9%

If we sort by pass ratio, Don Hutson jumps to the top of the list. That may be the one example, though, where he was actually causing his teams to pass more: every team was a run-oriented team during Hutson’s time, until he was so effective he caused the Packers to pass more frequently.

Sammy White and Ahmad Rashad played on the late ’70s/early ’80s Vikings teams that threw a ton. From 1976 to 1982, the Vikings threw 3,605 passes, over 25% more than the average team. Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner, and Wes Chandler were on the Chargers during that same era, and of course San Diego was super pass-happy, too. After those players and Colston, you get to Johnson.

On the other side of the ledger, Football Perspective heartthrob Steve Smith played on teams that passed only 93% of the time, putting him near the bottom of the list. Hines Ward will get overrated because he was a Steeler, but he gets underrated by some because he played on run-heavy teams. And, of course, Paul Warfield ranks 196th on the list, whether you sort by raw numbers or era-adjusted ones. But we’ve discussed him already, too.

Tagged as: Calvin Johnson, WR Project

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