STAFFORD
Matthew Stafford - Quarterback - Detroit Lions
Stafford was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft and one of the all time best draft picks of the Detroit Lions. Though he struggled early due to dislocated shoulder injuries, he has developed into one of the toughest players in the NFL and the best quarterback in Detroit Lions history. I would even debate with anyone that he is an elite Quarterback who has been stuck on a struggling team.
Many have been hard on him for not taking the Lions to a division championship yet much less a Superbowl. I would say those people are completely unrealistic. Find me one other QB who was drafted to a team near as bad as the Lions were when Stafford was drafted, and has done better. The Lions have done well in putting some players around him but they have never put a complete team around him with good coaches and schemes. In 2017 they probably had the most complete team they have ever had and it was killed by an offensive scheme that was severely anti-run by design and the lack of a defensive tackle who could rush the passer on defense.
For his career, Stafford has only had a thousand yard rusher once, has only a handful of 100 yard game rushers, has a history of an offensive line that cant protect or run block and for many years he never had more than one good receiver on the field at a time. It wasnt until they added Nate Burleson before he had a second target who was dependable and often either Nate or Calvin Johnson were banged up. After they lost Burleson, the Lions added Golden Tate and that has helped him immensely but without a legitimate run game or good defense, the wins just were not going to come against good teams.
Yet without a run game, or a good defense, or good protection, Stafford has been one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. He holds several NFL records and virtually every Lions passing record. His stats so far in his career are comparable to Brady and Rodgers in the same amount of games in their careers and in some categories are better.
One of the best things about Stafford is something not many ever mention. The guy is a good human being in general. You never hear of him getting in trouble, he is a good family man with a beautiful wife and two beautiful twin daughters. He is always well spoken and polite in interviews and simply an all around great representative for the Detroit Lions as well as the state of Michigan.
I have little doubt that Matthew Stafford will be leading the Detroit Lions to the promise land at some point and if they fix a few scheme problems I believe it could happen this year. Yet if it never happens, the one thing I will be absolutely sure of, is it will not be because Stafford isnt good enough. I for one will always be glad he was our quarterback.
Stafford was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft and one of the all time best draft picks of the Detroit Lions. Though he struggled early due to dislocated shoulder injuries, he has developed into one of the toughest players in the NFL and the best quarterback in Detroit Lions history. I would even debate with anyone that he is an elite Quarterback who has been stuck on a struggling team.
Many have been hard on him for not taking the Lions to a division championship yet much less a Superbowl. I would say those people are completely unrealistic. Find me one other QB who was drafted to a team near as bad as the Lions were when Stafford was drafted, and has done better. The Lions have done well in putting some players around him but they have never put a complete team around him with good coaches and schemes. In 2017 they probably had the most complete team they have ever had and it was killed by an offensive scheme that was severely anti-run by design and the lack of a defensive tackle who could rush the passer on defense.
For his career, Stafford has only had a thousand yard rusher once, has only a handful of 100 yard game rushers, has a history of an offensive line that cant protect or run block and for many years he never had more than one good receiver on the field at a time. It wasnt until they added Nate Burleson before he had a second target who was dependable and often either Nate or Calvin Johnson were banged up. After they lost Burleson, the Lions added Golden Tate and that has helped him immensely but without a legitimate run game or good defense, the wins just were not going to come against good teams.
Yet without a run game, or a good defense, or good protection, Stafford has been one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. He holds several NFL records and virtually every Lions passing record. His stats so far in his career are comparable to Brady and Rodgers in the same amount of games in their careers and in some categories are better.
One of the best things about Stafford is something not many ever mention. The guy is a good human being in general. You never hear of him getting in trouble, he is a good family man with a beautiful wife and two beautiful twin daughters. He is always well spoken and polite in interviews and simply an all around great representative for the Detroit Lions as well as the state of Michigan.
I have little doubt that Matthew Stafford will be leading the Detroit Lions to the promise land at some point and if they fix a few scheme problems I believe it could happen this year. Yet if it never happens, the one thing I will be absolutely sure of, is it will not be because Stafford isnt good enough. I for one will always be glad he was our quarterback.