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Starting Stafford is the right call
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Matthew Stafford has been named the Lions' starting quarterback. (AP/Photo)
The Detroit Lions made the decision yesterday that rookie Matthew Stafford will be the number one quarterback when they take the field Sunday in New Orleans. It was a decision that took all preseason to come to, but all in all, I think it’s the right one.
It was between Stafford and veteran QB Daunte Culpepper, who was unable to play in the fourth and final preseason game due to a sliced foot that required stitches. Had Culpepper played in the final game, who knows if the choice of Stafford under center still would have been made, but Culpepper didn’t play, and despite Stafford throwing an interception for the fourth straight game, he was chosen as the starting quarterback.
I’ve been saying all along I thought this was the choice that had to be made. I think the idea that a quarterback needs to sit a year to learn is ludicrous. There have been instances where QB’s have sat and both succeeded and failed just as there have been guys who have played right away and either flourished or fizzled. Every player is different.
This Lions team will be much improved at certain positions from last year. The defense was almost completely remade with 17 of the 25 players on the roster new to the organization. Included in that number are strong-side linebacker Julian Peterson and middle-linebacker Larry Foote. These two veterans will bring stability to the middle of the defense and allow Ernie Sims to use his speed to make plays. Plus rookie safety Louis Delmas should bring an intimidating presence to all receivers going over the middle.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we’re seeing the second coming of the ’85 Bears, but the defense should be better suited to get off the field in third down situations and keep the team in games longer than they were a year ago. And the only thing more helpful to a young quarterback other than a solid running game is a good defense.
Despite the improved defense, this team is not going to turn any heads this season. They are the perennial pick to finish last in the NFC North, so why not start Stafford? Culpepper is a shell of his former self. Sure he threw zero interceptions to Stafford’s four this preseason, had a higher completion percentage and a higher quarterback rating, but he also had fewer big plays. The Lions are not going to run anyone over on the ground this year. They can’t rely on simply not turning the ball over and wearing down the clock attempting to squeak out 10-7 and 13-10 victories. They will need to take some chances and look for big plays from their superstar receiver Calvin Johnson. And the fact is Stafford gives them a better chance to do that.
Culpepper didn’t complete any passes of over 20 yards this preseason. He simply looked like he was playing not to lose and not to make any mistakes, sort of what you would expect from a rookie. He never appeared to be on the same page as Johnson, obviously the Lions’ greatest weapon, and rarely seemed like he had the confidence to throw the ball downfield. Stafford on the other hand was constantly looking for his big-play guys down the field, and despite making some poor decisions, at least has the look of a guy who can fire the ball in tight spaces and make some plays, something this organization has lacked at the quarterback spot for far too long.
The greatest reason I’ve heard as to why the team should sit Stafford is because he may get hurt or lose his confidence a la Joey Harrington if too many things go wrong this season. My answer to that, ‘are you serious?’ May get hurt? Lose his confidence? He’s a football player! If he’s not tough enough to take a few hits or mentally strong enough to handle adversity then he shouldn’t be the leader of this team!
Harrington didn’t make it because he wasn’t good enough, plain and simple. All the talk that he was ruined because we lost so much while he was here is bologna. He didn’t have what it took, and he got exposed. A lot of quarterbacks have gone through rough seasons their first years out, and a lot of them have had the mental fortitude to learn from it, put it behind them and use it to fuel their competitive fire. Did John Elway lose his confidence and start questioning himself after his poor first year? No. I’m not saying Stafford is Elway, but if a player can’t take the lumps, then they shouldn’t be playing.
Every quarterback drafted with the first couple of picks is usually used to winning and succeeding, and almost always taken by a poor team used to losing. Peyton Manning went 3-13 his first year. Did he start seeing sports psychologists like Harrington did? No, he manned up and moved on.
The idea that the Lions have to nurse and baby Stafford until he’s absolutely ready to get on the field is wrong in my opinion. He wants to play, and he gives the team the best chance to win. If Culpepper’s going to lead this team to the playoffs, that’s one thing. But he isn’t. Whether it's Daunte or Stafford under center, this team isn’t going to win more than four games most likely, so they mine as well get their prized rookie as many snaps and reps as possible so that come next year and beyond, when this team is ready to start competing for division titles, he’s seasoned and ready to lead.
And should he fail this season, so what? He’s leading a team that went 0-16 last year. It’s not about his stats; it’s about him getting better from week to week. And if in three years he’s no longer the starter because he couldn’t get the job done, it won’t be because the team played him his first year. It will be because he couldn’t hack it. It’s time to take off the kid gloves and let the guy play. Who knows, he may just be alright.
For more info: Check out Detroit Lions Examiner Chris Morgan
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