Detroit Lions Receivers Will Be a Red Zone Nightmare

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

WR Bryant Johnson: 6'3", 211 lbs.

WR Calvin Johnson: 6'5", 239 lbs.

WR Ronald Curry: 6'2", 210 lbs.

WR Travis Taylor: 6'1, 210 lbs.

WR D.J. Boldin: 6'1", 220 lbs.

WR John Standeford: 6'4", 206 lbs.

WR Steve Sanders: 6'3", 205 lbs.

WR Chris Hannon: 6'3", 205 lbs.

TE Brandon Pettigrew: 6'5", 263 lbs.

As of now, those are the targets Lions quarterbacks will be throwing too, along with William Franklin (6'0"), Derrick Williams (5'11"), Adam Jennings (5'9"), and the rest of the Lions TEs, with the shortest one being Jake Nordin at 6'3".

If the Lions get into the red zone, there is no reason the quarterbacks can't throw the ball up to Pettigrew or one of the Johnsons and let them just go up and get it. If that fails, hey, give the ball to the 300-pound FB we have and let him steamroll somebody.

There is a lot of potential in the Lions' receiving and tight end corps, but until they step on the field and prove something, it's just potential. We all know that Calvin Johnson is a freak and will be the No. 1 option for the Detroit Lions, but after that it's pretty much an open race.

Bryant Johnson could prove to be the perfect complement for Calvin Johnson. Bryant hasn't exactly set the world on fire; however, he hasn't been an absolute failure either.

I'll put it this way: Roy Williams has 281 Rec, 4,082 Yds, 14.5 YPC, 30 TD. Bryant Johnson has 255 Rec, 3,221 Yds, 12.6 YPC, 12 TD. Johnson also comes with a much cheaper price tag than Roy Williams. I'd go as far as to say Johnson would have been the more productive of the two had he not been in Arizona battling Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.

Other than Johnson, the next person on the roster that excites me is D.J. Boldin, the brother of Anquan. The scouts say that he has the same freakish skill set as his brother.

He was redshirted his freshman year, didn't do much as a sophomore, sat out due to academics the next year, and didn't do much as a junior. However, as a senior everything finally clicked for him, though it wasn't enough to get him drafted.

Curry, Taylor, and Williams all could end up holding down the second, third, or fourth options at receiver. At TE Brandon Pettigrew is a lock to start. With his blocking ability, Kevin Smith should love him, and with his size he should be a frequent option in the red zone.

I, for one, can't wait to see these guys get on the field. Preseason should be fun because that's when will see which one of these guys wants it more.

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