Why Stafford is a Bad Choice at #1
by Twon82 on Mar 9, 2009 10:32 PM EDT
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PrintWith only a little while longer before the draft, I remain wholly unconvinced that QB Matthew Stafford is the way to go for the Lions at #1. This is not an entirely original stance, but I thought I would lay out why I feel this way (and let everyone sound off accordingly).
Detroit is where QBs go to die. This is the case right now even, with Daunte Culpepper. We do not have the system required to build a QB to be a winner in the NFL. The only way we can acquire that system is by building around the position, making everyone around the QB a solid team player that makes the QB better.
Stafford himself has not convinced draft analysts and fans alike that he is worth the money that would be thrown at him for the #1 position. Why take on a QB that is not fully NFL ready when you don't have a system that is prepared to build him to that point? This situation SCREAMS Joey Harrington all over again to me....just more expensive.
Time and again, I have heard people call LB Aaron Curry "the safest pick in the draft." Considering that we can use all the help we can get on defense, why would we not draft Curry? Because it is not conventional to take a LB at #1?? Who cares. The only thing I could understand would be going with O-lineman Eugene Monroe.
Throw the money at the safest pick or trade it away for a more sure bet if you don't want to spend that kind of money. Either way, Matthew Stafford will be a bust in the NFL. Anything Mel Kiper, Jr. says is enough to send me running after seeing some of his follies in the past.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit or its writers. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.
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I wouldnt have a problem with curry although you said it we need help at QB.To do this we need a couple of key positions filled to go with defense player at #1.First go to free agency pick up another OL like Khalif Barnes or Trai Essex both proven,but preferably
Trai coming off pitt championship team,then protect ourselves with a free agent QB one who knows how to win and can stay healthy like jp losman the three QBs we have know are either never healthy or inexperienced and unproven.So there it is without more OL help the QB will be running for there lives or racking up sacks or worse getting hurt.
Jason Smith
I actually like Curry a lot and definitely would love to take him 1.1. But here’s my argument for Smith. We have two picks in the first round. If we take Curry first, we won’t be taking another LB at 1.20 and I don’t like our options at the other positions at that spot. If Smith goes at 1.1 there will be a lot of good LBs left at 1.20. Cushing, Lauranaitus, Mathews, and possibly even Maualuga could be there. Are they as good as Curry? Probably not. But I like the combination of Smith and one of them better than Curry and someone like Vontae Davis, or Peria Jerry. Developing a draft strategy has to extend beyond the first pick. We’re trying to build an entire team and need to plan accordingly.
Oh and just to continue my Culpepper bashing. He didn’t come to the Lions to die. He’s been dead for 5 years.
my problem with Stafford
remains the fact that he is inconsistent and makes poor decsions. I don’t think the NFL is the right place to fix those problems. I don’t care how good his arm is, if he cant make good decisions with the ball I don’t want him.
by tigerfaninChicago on Mar 10, 2009 8:33 AM EDT reply actions
Stafford
I dont see any better choice to turn a team around than a franchise QB like him. As far as the constancy, not only did he show that he has it in college, where he did improve every year he was there, but the NFL is the only place to improve on what he has. I say this over and over, great completion %, huge arm, mobile, and can throw on the run. This guy will turn us around at QB. A LT and a LB, really, those are the other choices. No comparison, we take Stafford.
by proud to bleed light blue on Mar 10, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions
Joey Harrington Part 2
How many junior quarterbacks have had so much upside only to become “Joey blue skies”? Don’t forget Ryan Leaf.
Uses Both #1 Picks on Offence
If you take Stafford you pretty much have to get an LT at #20. Even though you will have to reach a bit for Britton or Beatty. I don’t want another Backus.
I guess you could skip the LT selection and plan on not playing your #1 pick for all of 2009 and letting Daunte take his lumps [the two Drews can take their turn when he gets hurt] for the year.
That way the Lions will finish around 1-15 [I gotta believe they will luck out once] and pick #1 again. Then we get to agonize over the best LT or best defensive player again.
Boy! I am really looking forward to that scenario. That will really build the season ticket sales for 2010.
How about
We don’t really need offense… We need D. So we take Curry and then solidify the line with someone like Alex Mack at 20. Then go D at 2.1 (Big D tackle would be nice). Then D in round 3 and 5, etc.
My theory is we take the closest thing to can’t misses with the first two picks. It seems like that would be Curry and Mack at this point. At a minimum we get two above average players to plug in for years.
Stafford has a strong arm. Great. He has a low completion percentage. So he can throw it far and miss our guys 40% of the time.
Trading #1 Pick
Can we ban any further talk of trading the #1 pick. It is pure fantasy.
Nobody wants the pick with this group of players available.
Besides, think of the great publicity and excitement it will generate for the franchise, not to mention all the season tickets that will be sold in anticipation of watching the #1 pick play on a one and fifteen team!
Stafford
I would like to hear from someone who watched this guy on a consistent basis. I saw the bowl game and I was not impressed. He made terrible throws in the first half. He also played the last two years with a top-tier running back and yet he never had a completion percentage above 61.4. Also, I look at what he did against his toughest competetion and you see when he played Florida he complete 54.5 of his passes and throw 3 picks. For the season he only had 3 games of three TD’s or more which is hardly great for college. And nobody talks about this guy being a winner. Now, I know Peyton got killed in college for always failing to win the big game but he always carried himself as a leader. I don’t hear that about Stafford. Now, I don’t see this happening but at this point I would rather take Sanchez if we have to take a QB because along with the good numbers people talk about this guy as being a leader. After the combine all I heard about this guy is that he impressed everyone with his attitude and looked like a leader. I also don’t think it hurts that Sanchez’s number’s were better than Stafford’s. Completion percentage is 4 points better, he had 6 games with 3 TD’s or more, and his TD/int ratio is 3.4/1 vs. Stafford’s who is 2.5/1. And before you dismiss Sanchez’s numbers becuase USC is basicly a pro team, keep in mind that USC doesn’t have any skill position players projected to go in the first round (according to Scouts Inc.) and Georgia was playing with the “top” rated QB and running back. And if you want to talk conferences I can assure you I am not one to back the Pac 10. But let’s be honest too. Alabama probably wasn’t that good. Florida was that good and the rest of the conference (LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, Tenn, etc) all seemed to be having down years. Plus, Georgia got to play Alabama and Florida at home and got crushed both times.
Why am I carrying on like this (besides the fact that I have nothing better to do). Because the only reason I can see for taking Stafford is that he has a big arm. The rest of the evidence I have seen suggests he is not worthy. If there is someone who watched a majority of his games and has anything to add I would love to hearit. I would rather have Curry or Jason Smith or even Raji with the number one pick but if it has to be a QB I say take Sanchez over Stafford.
by tigerfaninChicago on Mar 10, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions
I hope to God we don't take Stafford #1
Why, why, why do the Lions do this to themselves? They set themselves up to fail by drafting the sexy positions with their high picks. Can’t we, for once, build a team the right way, from the inside out? Why take a QB if he doesn’t have a line to protect him?
Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game
Stafford watching
I watched him for 3 years. Not just the one Sanchez played. Talk about asking for a bust. He had top players at all the positions, RB, WR, O-Line. And he cant even get into the bowl games. And 61.4 % is not that bad when you are on the run cause the protection is horrible and the only WR to throw it to is a freshman. Stafford will be our choice, so start believing in the future.
by proud to bleed light blue on Mar 10, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions
questions
What do you mean by “can’t get into the bowl games”? Also, I have heard about the O-Line problems before but if it is really so bad then how did Moreno run for 2700 yards, 30 TDs and a 5.5 avg yards per carry the last 2 years? I will give you that he had young talent on the outside but I wonder if the problem was protection, wide recievers not getting open or a QB holding onto the ball too long. It’s likely a combo of all three of course but I still can’t give you that “Stafford played behind a bad line” when the running game was so effective. Also, is there any moment you can remember where Stafford had to put the team on his shoulders and carry them? Or a moment were you said that guy is a leader? The only game I have to go on is the MSU game and frankly the Spartan D is so bad that I don’t give him a ton of credit for his second half performance there and the 2 best teams they played this year (Floridia and Alabama) smoked them at home. As a Stafford backer, how do you answer that?
Also, if he is drafted #1 I do not intend to jump off a roof or turn in my fan card. I have watching the lions for nearly 20 years now and I intend to keep my seat on the band wagon. If Stafford is picked I won’t be rooting against Stafford or waiting around for him to fail. I don’t think he is the right pick but if he is picked I will be happy to be wrong.
by tigerfaninChicago on Mar 10, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
flo- bama
Easy, they were both in the top 5 when playing Georgia.Their D were much better and faster. It takes a team to win, so when I say the line, it is not to place blame solely on them for his less than steller year. Running game, well Moreno made things happen much like Reggie Bush. And Sanchez cant even run, let alone throw on the run. Look at the complete player, and our priority, forget the safe pick. This kid has experience. By bowl games i mean BCS. Thank you for your time. And thanks for supporting. GO LIONS.
by proud to bleed light blue on Mar 10, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions
This is very unsettling...
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth/0-9-44/Finding-context-in-the-Stafford-debate.html
Sanchez and Freeman are looking a lot better now.
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