Matthew Stafford Scouting Report

is the only time I want to see Mr. Stafford without a clipboard in his hand next year.

objective scouting reports. Too often, the things you read about prospects are colored by what the “draftniks” have to say. The reports quoted above seem to be written from an unbiased scouting perspective. Great post, Sean. This is one of the reasons I’ve made this site my source for all things Lions.
It seems to me that Stafford is less of a bust risk than many “experts” would lead us to believe. However, I think you’re dead on in saying that he should sit this year, barring some sort of exceptional circumstances (and, as rob says, garbage time). If he can absorb the system this year under Culpepper, I have no doubt that he’ll be ready in 2010 to be the “face of the franchise,” as so many people like to say.

There are three factors in the busting of a QB.

1. His own faults. ie. emotional maturity, intelligence, physical limitiations.

2. Supporting cast issues. Weak offensive line, poor receiving corps.

3. Poor coaching/utilization of his talents.

I personally think that Stafford has the first covered. In fact, he may very well be able to overcome the second factor on his own through perseverance and his own abilities. We know we have some improvements to make here, but frankly he will have some very good weapons and the offensive line is not as bad as has been made out.
The last factor is key. A lousy coach and an idiot offensive scheme can fail a QB or team faster and surer than anything.

I have a pretty good feeling about Linehan and Schwartz. Much better than Martz and Marinelli, or Mohrningweg and Marucci. I agree with Sean, Stafford will sit for at least half the year. I know a lot of people on this site are upset with his contract and maintain that he must play right away, but that would be like taking out a huge loan for a business then taking it to Vegas to try and double it. TOO RISKY.

Lets give Stafford every chance to succeed in the long run. Because if he succeeds, the Lions succeed.

I think the video against GT from 2008 was the best one, since it wasn’t highlights. I wanna see what mistakes this guy makes since we know he’s got a rocket of an arm. Couple of things I noticed: he tends to be fairly accurate but under pressure will miss on some throws which is understandable; he missed a few easy passes which annoyed me a bit, there was one in which he missed a receiver who was only 3-4 yds away; he surprised me with his running ability, I’ve seen him run before but he shows some pace and he can take a hit, that’s a good thing. Overall, I liked what I saw from those videos.

Sidenote: It’s funny seeing your name on a jersey since my name is S. Bailey. Looks good I reckon ;)

I am looking forward to your take on the remaining players.

What classifies Georgia’s system as a pro style offense? It appears that 95% of his pass plays were out of the shotgun formation.

As a NYC-based die hard Lions fan I have to tell you that this is the best source of Lions news and information. Thanks Sean for doing this – your site is really quite comprehensive and, although feel the pain with you and other Lions fans, appreciate all the hard work that goes into this site, I’m sure.

Anyway – I completely agree with you about Stafford. I would LOVE to see fat-ass Culpepper actually play well, and lets hope he does (I hear he dropped 30 lbs). I would love to see Stafford and that big arm play and do really, really well. I can’t stand watching another first rounder get destroyed by the toxic Lions environment (A Ware, C Long, J Harrington, you know the history). I guess I wouldn’t care if the Lions went 0-16 again, as long as they’re competitive on the field and making progress, I would be happy.

One more question – any way you can put together, or try to organize, a Lions blog get together this year? I would love to fly out again and meet up with some Lions fans for a game or something. That would be cool. God knows tickets would be available.

Stafford only played in the preseason and help the clipboard for the whole entire year, baring an injury of C.Pep

Stafford bought along the way McNair was. Play a couple of series in the third quarter. No matter what the score was. That way he can prepare himself. Instead of just waiting for garbage time.

Stafford’s O-Line at Georgia was just awful. In almost every pass play, it seems like he has no more than 2 seconds to scan the field and make a throw before the defense reaches him.
Maybe I’m just being an optimist, but the fact that he put up the numbers he did with a line like that gives me a lot of hope that he will be successful here.