In his first season under Lions tight ends coach Ben Johnson, T.J. Hockenson made the Pro Bowl. He'll be trying to mimic Megatron in his second.
Yup, Calvin Johnson. One of the greatest wide receivers the game has ever seen is now a model for Detroit's tight end. So are Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Darren Waller, the cream of the crop at Hockenson's position.
Hockenson said Thursday after the Lions' third practice of OTA's that Johnson has been sending him video cut-ups of pass-catchers to study as the former eighth overall pick tries to take his game to new heights in his third season.
"He’s got me watching Calvin Johnson," Hockenson said with a grin. "He's got me watching Kelce, Kittle, Wahler. Everybody in the book that you can imagine. So I’m watching them, I’m taking notes, I’m trying to implement things in my game."
Of course he is. Calvin's in the Hall of Fame. Kelce's on his way there. And Kittle and Waller are nipping at Kelce's heels for the title of best tight end in the game. They're machines, unguardable for the average defense. They're exactly what Hockenson wants to become.
It's Johnson's goal to help him get there.
"He just shows me little tidbits, like, 'Hey, this release looks good, you can do this. This route looks good, you can do this. This cut.' Different things that he thinks I can implement in my game that will help me for years to come," Hockenson said.
So, what has he gleaned from watching Megatron?
"Catch point," Hockenson said. "That dude had one of the best catch points you’ll ever see, just going up for the ball and coming down with it. And just seeing how he used his body against defenders, how he used his hands. That dude was one of a kind. I’m obviously trying to be that, but Calvin Johnson is at a higher level, for sure. That’s a guy that you take things from that you can do. But that dude’s one of one."
Johnson -- Ben, that is! -- pushed Hockenson hard last year to elevate his game, mostly by elevating his preparation. The results spoke for themselves. Hockenson doubled his rookie totals in receptions and yards and tripled his touchdowns, albeit in four more games. The next step is joining Kelce, Kittle and Waller at the top of the tight end food chain.
So in addition to the cut-ups, Hockenson said Johnson gave him "four or five things" to sharpen this offseason, like getting off the ball, route running and change of direction. Johnson, a former college quarterback with a background in coaching receivers, is also working with Hockenson on the mental side of the game.
"Just being able to use football knowledge more to my advantage. Being able to understand the scheme and what we’re doing as an offense and what the role is, rather than just knowing my position and what I need to do," said Hockenson. "How one position affects another, Ben has really taught me that."
Hockenson said he started catching on toward the end of last season. Now he's really homing in. When he watches his tape from his first two seasons, he admits he sometimes thinks, "What was I doing? What the heck was that?" Now that the game is slowing down, Hockenson's ascent is gaining steam.
We'll see if one Johnson can help him play like the other.