Matt Stafford

lukebailey · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 05:09 PM

With the hype around Matt Stafford, and the chances of him going #1 overall, how many here consider him a top quarterback? This article at sports illustrated leaves some doubts (as Its SI, there may be some swimsuit advertisements-my apologies.)

Matthew Stafford impresses Lions under microscope of pro day - Don Banks - SI.com

I feel bad for the kid. Hes going to get mauled behind that Detroit Offensive line...

Does anyone hear have any strong feelings about a 21-year old kid being given the keys to an entire cities hopes?

**Marrow Man** · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 06:41 PM

Being a UGA fan, I of course am a Stafford fan. But he should have stayed in school another year. He has great skills, but he still makes BAD decisions throwing the ball at times. He matured greatly from his freshman year to his junior year (look at his completion percentages and TD/Int ratios for instance), but he still has a ways to go.

I believe the last several QBs to come out early have not done well as pros. I fear he may not break the trend. He is in a no-win situation right now in Detroit. I hope he does well, and he probably has the best natural skills of any quarterback out there, but it will be a true trial by fire.

Matt Ryan (who waited an extra year before coming out) came to a washed up team with a rookie head coach and did well. But they had Michael Turner, which took the pressure off the QB. Stafford really blossomed after the emergence of Knowshan Moreno at RB. I'm not sure the Lions have a running game that will aid a young QB.

Maybe Barry Sanders is willing to make a comeback?

ColdSilverMoon · #3 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marrow Man

Being a UGA fan, I of course am a Stafford fan. But he should have stayed in school another year. He has great skills, but he still makes BAD decisions throwing the ball at times. He matured greatly from his freshman year to his junior year (look at his completion percentages and TD/Int ratios for instance), but he still has a ways to go.

Yeah, I've always thought Stafford had good physical ability, but was a little lacking between the ears. As a result, he's very inconsistent - case in point the Capitol One Bowl against Michigan State when he stunk the place up big time in the first half but got it together and had 3 TD passes in the 2nd. That kind of inconsistency won't cut it in the NFL...

**Marrow Man** · #4 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 07:05 PM

[quote=ColdSilverMoon;576996]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marrow Man

Yeah, I've always thought Stafford had good physical ability, but was a little lacking between the ears. As a result, he's very inconsistent - case in point the Capitol One Bowl against Michigan State when he stunk the place up big time in the first half but got it together and had 3 TD passes in the 2nd. That kind of inconsistency won't cut it in the NFL...

Yep. I agree completely. If anyone could benefit from one more year in college, it is he.

I remember two years ago against Florida (one of UGA's few wins!), he had a great game and threw a few TDs. But early in the game (end of 1st or beginning of 2nd quarter), he was being pressured, threw off his back foot, and put up one of the UGLIEST wounded duck passes I have ever seen in my life. The DB for Florida just sort of stood there, waited for the ball to flutter down, and practically walked into the end zone. And thought he cut down on that sort of play quite a bit over the years, he sort of became a trademark while at UGA -- ever two games or so, expect him to make an incredibly bone-headed decision like that.

No doubt, though, he has the physical skills and size to be a great quarterback. But sometimes you need more, and can succeed with more -- think Joe Montana.

TomVols · #5 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 11:16 PM

I agree with most all of what Tim wrote. Stafford could be very good. He's not there yet. There are some physically gifted QBs that are wearing baseball caps on Sundays (Leinart, Young, etc.). Stafford could add to their ranks.

**Marrow Man** · #6 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 11:20 PM

Stafford is physically gifted like a pro style QB. So is Leinart, but the buzz on him is that he is lazy and/or likes to party a bit too much. Young is different altogether; very athletic, but w/o much upside past that. The buzz now is that he was never going to progress much past what you saw his rookie season in the NFL.