I wasn’t impressed with Matthew Stafford this week, and after defending his inconsistent play on Monday Night Football, I’m reconsidering.  Too many errant throws against the Niners.  No, he didn’t receive much help from the offensive line, but there is no reason he didn’t get rid of that ball before the safety.  No interceptions, but only completed 28 of 50 passes.  Watching Stafford closely, I noticed he didn’t look off his first receiving option many times in the game, which caused him to try and force the ball in some tight spots.
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Defensive Line: B

The defensive front four clearly is the identity of this team. The attitude, aggressiveness, and swagger are contagious, and they are credited with infecting the rest of the defense. Corey Williams has been stellar in absorbing blocks, and stopping the run. Ndamukong Suh, fresh off of a pro bowl, and defensive rookie of the year honors, has been largely unnoticed thus far. Granted, Suh is garnering a lot of attention from offensive linemen, and offensive coordinators are scheming against him. Still, a player as dominant as Suh should be more of a disruption in both the run and pass game than he has been throughout the first four games. The same can be said for Cliff Avril, who was almost unblockable near the end of last season. This defensive line has yet to reach their potential, and the Lions will need the pass rush that the Patriots witnessed in the preseason if they hope to continue their success.

Linebacker: B+

This unit has been steady throughout the first four games. As a group they are significantly improved in pass coverage, but there is much work to do in the run game. Stephen Tulloch is the exception here, as the aptly nicknamed “Napoleon’s Revenge” has been the best defensive player on the field each and every game. Tulloch walked out of Texas Stadium with 12 tackles, and an interception that led to the game winning score. DeAndre Levy and Justin Durant have been good, but not great. Both players tend to over-pursue runners, and have been caught out of position too often. The depth of this unit has improved with the emergence of Bobby Carpenter, who played well in a starting role Sunday against the Cowboys.

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The first fourth of the 2011 season is in the books, and the Detroit Lions are one of only two unbeaten teams in the National Football League. The season is young, and it would be irrational to draw conclusions from this limited sample, yet there are some certainties to take away from the first four games.

Quarterback : A

Matthew Stafford has not been flawless, but has been as close as can be reasonably expected of a quarterback who has started just 17 games. Statistics are important, and it can be pointed out that Stafford is carrying a passer rating of 100.3, is averaging over 300 yards per game, and has 11 touchdowns to only three interceptions, but there are more important factors to consider. The Lions are undefeated, and have won in several different ways. In week one Detroit built a lead, and had to fight off a comeback to hold on for the victory. In week two they blew out the Kansas City Chiefs. In weeks three and four, the Lions fell behind by more than twenty points, and rallied in the second half to win. Regardless of the type of victory, or how bleak the outlook, Stafford remained poised, and showed true leadership, two of the most important characteristics of a great quarterback.

Runningback: D+

The runningback unit entered the season with tempered expectations following the season ending Achilles injury of rookie Mikell LeShoure. Maurice Morris, Jerome Harrison, and Keiland Williams have been largely unnoticed, which is no surprise. What is surprising is the ineffectiveness of Jahvid Best, both as a runner and receiver. After the first four games of last season, Best had made a name for himself as a play-maker, and on each and every play had the potential to break a big one. With Best now healthy, and the Lion offense at full strength, Best should be producing explosive plays each week. He has failed to do so thus far, which will become a major issue as the season wears on.

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