If you ask any NFL expert who the best wide receiver in the NFL is right now, Calvin Johnson’s name would probably be uttered by a good percentage of these experts.  Calvin Johnson is the Detroit Lions’ stud wide receiver, whose nickname is Megatron.  This guy is such a physical freak that one has to wonder what his workout routine might be.

His name has been in the news a lot this past week because he was on the verge of breaking Jerry Rice’s single season record for most receiving yards.  He did so Saturday night.  On his current pace, he could potentially get 2000 receiving yards which is something that has never been done.

What makes Megatron so special?

NFL teams were drooling with anticipation for Johnson to enter the draft.  He had loads of potential and won tons of awards in college.  If they didn’t notice him during college, they all woke up at the NFL combine.

First off, the guy stands 6′ 5″ and weighs 239 pounds.  Salivating size for an NFL wide receiver.  Now, if only someone this size had some speed.  Johnson was originally not going to run the 40 yard dash at the combine, preferring to wait for his pro day at Georgia Tech.  Then he changed his mind, borrowed someone’s running shoes, and ran a 4.35 in the 40.

Let me repeat that…a 4.35 in the 40.  WOW!!!

At his pro day he ended up having a vertical jump of 42.5″ and a broad jump of 11′ 7″.  Very impressive numbers that show his all-around explosive power.  That speed is displayed all the time in the NFL.  In fact, during his game on Saturday night, one of his first catches was a 2 yard pass that he ran for 39 yards.  The defensive back guarding him was behind him and the gap kept getting wider as Johnson ran down the field.  It was fun to watch that type of speed.

I’m not a wide receiver expert so I don’t know how his route running is.  If he isn’t a good route runner, I’d hate to see what he does when he does get good.  With this guy’s speed and quickness, he seems to be able to get open at will.  You better double cover him.  With his leaping ability and hands, you can put the ball in a position where only he has a chance to get it.

What would Calvin Johnson’s workout look like if I could design it?

Once again, another sports star I could not find a workout for.  So we’re just going to have to go with some of my thoughts.  I think you treat this guy’s workout like you would Chris Johnson.  Design the workout to enhance the speed, not necessarily improve it, but make sure you aren’t doing anything to hinder it.  Emphasize strength and power, not necessarily bulk because he already has the size.  He doesn’t need to gain anymore because that could negatively affect his speed.

I love Olympic lifts and what’s perfect for a wide receiver is hang cleans or hang snatches.  Receivers always start in a standing position just like these lifts do.  You then have to initiate a lot of power and speed to effectively move the bar in these lifts and that can translate to speed and power on the field.

The other drills I would put in Johnson’s workout routine would be plyometrics.  These jumping drills will really help maximize his fast twitch fibers and develop more leg explosiveness.  I also think it helps his legs handle the high impact that is on the football field.  By mimicking this with plyometrics in the training environment, your body should be able to handle the same type of high impact movements on the field.

Calvin Johnson is a very special player.  Health will be key to the effectiveness of his career, but if this is a small sample of what he will be like for the next ten years, then we got a lot of excitement to watch from him in the future.