The Detroit Lions will finally find out Matthew Stafford’s full potential
By Robert Jones
Back in 2009, the Detroit Lions used the first pick in the entire draft to select Matthew Stafford out of the University of Georgia. He was expected to be the teams savior.
Unfortunately the Lions were no more talented than an expansion team and that made the learning curve harder. His one lone talented piece to work with was future Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson.
Until Johnson retired after the 2015-16 season, Stafford was continually accused of either throwing to him too much or too little.
It was a no win situation.
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When you add the complete lack of a running game outside of Reggie Bush‘s 1006 yards in 2013, then the picture gets pretty clear why Stafford has had the struggles he did before starting to blossom under Jim Bob Cooter two and a half years ago.
Here is the ultimate stat about how much the ground game opens up the passing game; in Stafford’s nine years as the Lions starter, he has had only seven games that a back has rushed for over 100 yards in a game. Their record in those games was 6-1.
Being able to move the ball on the ground opens up the passing game and in turn that keeps opposing defenses on their heels. It’s no secret that defending a team team that can run or pass isn’t easy.
That’s why we always hear about how the basic game plan of almost every NFL team in almost every NFL game is to stop their opponents ground game and make them one dimensional.
The Lions have been doing that to themselves for years. Talk about helping out your opponent.
Yet over the last two seasons, especially, despite the lack of ability to run the ball or even protect Stafford, he has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
This has led to many pundits and fans alike to say ‘imagine what he could do if he did have the diversity of a ground game, let alone pass protection’.
Two years ago, without the benefit of either, Matthew Stafford set a new NFL single season record of leading the Lions to eight come from behind victories. He literally carried this franchise that whole season on their way to a 9-7 record.
Without Stafford, it’s very easy to speculate that the Lions would have been 1-15 or even 0-16 for a second time in their history.
Then Stafford signed the contract that made him the highest paid player in NFL history. A move that was incredibly controversial not only in Detroit, but around the entire league. It was a move that started the scrutiny brewing as fans and media alike watched to see if he could live up to it.