NFL critics are preparing to see Lions QB Matthew Stafford fulfill his vision as an elite player in the NFL and we are here to tell you why.
Matthew Stafford reporting to Training Camp with tons of luggage. (via. DetroitLions.com photo credit -unknown)
Every since water was identified as the most sufficient fluid for the human body (sarcasm), Lions QB Matthew Stafford has had his NFL elitism criticized and questioned. Here is the most painful part about the unwarranted slander and undermining; Stafford hasn’t done much during his career but break franchise records in passing yards (fastest in NFL history to reach 25,000 yards passing) and throw touchdowns.
Thanks to Football Outsiders Inc. for their statistical work, I researched and discovered that Matthew Stafford holds the NFL record for most games with a 60.0% passer completion rate in a season (2016). Indeed, last year Stafford completed 60.0% of his passes in every single game of the 2015-16 season. During ProCamps Worldwide the other week, Lions WR Marvin Jones mentioned to me that the Lions finished 6-2 in their last eight games of the 2015-16 season, emphasizing that it was a league best. Now I’m not here to unravel a bunch of emotionally based hypothesis about how the Lions are headed to the top of the NFL, but I can assure that over the next 2-3 years the career of QB Matthew Stafford will reach its maturation. Below I’ve given three key enhancements for the man we should now refer to as “that guy” in 2016.
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Matthew “That Guy” Stafford enhancements for 2016
1. Jim Bob Cooter
The relationship QB Matthew Stafford has with his current offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter is essential to Stafford’s success.
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Instead of being confined to the limitations of a high-minded guy like Joe Lombardi, Stafford will have the opportunity to work collectively with his Offensive Coordinator to execute plays that are most suitable for the Lions current personnel. With new Running Back coach David Walker on board now a stretch running attack will play as an advocate to a stellar passing attack.
2. WR Options
Instead of a load of focus on WR Calvin Johnson Jr. and Golden Tate, the Lions WR collaborative of WR T.J Jones, WR Marvin Jones Jr., HB Theo Riddick, WR Jeremy Kerley and more are going to give defenders headaches in 2016. Expect the passing yardage to be exponential for Stafford this season as stretch runs and quick passes help the Lions sustain leads and improve their time of possession. A statistical in which dreaded their success in 2015.
