Less than a week after Steve Smith scorched his team yet again for eight catches and 181 yards, Bears head coach Lovie Smith announced Calvin Johnson is this week’s top receiver the Bears plan to completely ignore on defense.
“These big name guys don’t concern me,” said Smith. “First we let Greg Jennings catch nine for 114, then Steve Smith goes off last week. That’s all part of the plan. We challenge these guys by ignoring them.”
Johnson, who has caught two touchdown passes in each of Detroit’s first four games, was humbled by the news.
“Wow, I’m getting the Steve Smith treatment? I must be better than I thought,” he said. “I mean, now my two touchdown per game streak is in jeopardy cause I’ll probably catch like six or seven this week.”
When asked about the team’s unconventional approach, safety Brandon Meriweather was enthusiastic.
“I’m not gonna cover the guy anyway,” he said. “So now that we’re actually scheming it like that, I can just lay back, wait for Calvin to make the catch, then spear him like it’s 1982 all over again. Flag me, don’t flag me … I don’t really care.”
