The Lions Taking Matthew Stafford #1 Would Be a Disaster
NFL January 23rd. 2009, 12:45pm
ESPN’s draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. – who will tell you how highly he rated Larry Fitzgerald and conveniently ignore how he went incredulously blue in the face when Mike Williams fell all the way to the Lions at #10 – projects the Detroit Lions to take Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the #1 pick in the NFL draft.
Kiper provides common, bushwa justifications such as “the Lions need a quarterback moving forward†and they could use a “face of the franchise†type player.
However, when you look at the Lions’ roster, as people who cover the Lions have bothered to do, drafting Stafford would be disastrous.
What do the Lions have in place to facilitate life for a rookie quarterback? They have no consistent offensive scheme. Their skill players, besides Calvin Johnson, aren’t worthy of the designation. Given one word to describe their offensive line, it’s pervious. No quarterback could be successful with that. How valuable is a “face of the franchise†when that face gets slammed to the field turf 52 times?
The Lions are pathetic at nearly every position. Jim Schwartz and Martin Mayhew need to begin with the basics. The Lions can’t implement a high-powered passing attack. They first need offensive linemen who don’t get run around like fools and reverse pancaked.
Detroit would be better off signing a stable veteran quarterback to keep things competent, while they rebuild from the lines outward. They need to be mediocre before they can be good.
The Lions’ 2009 season will not be a Matthew Berry segment. Sexy should not enter the lexicon. Take the guy who is going to shut up and anchor the left side of the line for the next ten years.
Of course then again, this is essentially the same Lions’ braintrust making draft the pick, so Michael Crabtree, come on down!
50 Responses to “The Lions Taking Matthew Stafford #1 Would Be a Disaster”
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January 23rd, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Anyone who watched Stafford in his time at Georgia knows he’s a classic all-tools, no-brains quarterback. He would make five amazing throws, then follow it up with some incredibly poor decisions. His bowl game was a microcosm of his career — three medicore-to-bad quarters and one really good stretch (which was enough for the Dawgs to beat an overmatched Spartans team). Caveat Emptor, my friends, when it comes to Mr. Stafford.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Please note that, before everyone attacks Kiper here, he is merely stating what he thinks the Lions will do, not what they should do.
Picking a franchise QB #1 overall is the chic pick and often the one teams are forced to make for PR reasons.
If it were me, I take an OL, and then hope to snag Sanchez at #20 or wait until the 3rd round to take Josh Freeman.
The QB free agent list looks like this:
Warner
Collins
Cassell
Garcia
Grossman
Boller
Batch
Losman
Ramsey
Who are you going to sign? Warner and Cassell probably aren’t going anywhere, and probably wouldn’t go to Detroit anyway unless you overpaid.
Miami and Atlanta would disagree.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Andre Smith
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:56 PM
What they should do is whatever it takes to get maximum value from trading that #1 pick. They absolutely need help everywhere, and the more picks they can accumulate in the top half of the next two drafts the better.
The only way they should keep that #1 and pay #1 money is if it’s a sure thing (and is it ever?).
They need a massive talent infusion, and the LAST THING that organization needs is a huge public mistake with a monumental financial commitment. Get out of the pick.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:59 PM
I thought TBL was all about Stafford going number 1? And I thought TyDuffy was the soccer guy? So how does he know way more about football than TBL?
Probably has something to do with TBL being a Jets fan. They know nothing
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 PM
@Sportsdork – You can only trade the pick if somebody else wants it. Nobody is going to spend $30+ million guaranteed + the draft picks it would take to get the #1 pick.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 PM
could someone please explain to me why people put so much stock into the L OT.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:01 PM
phewwww, I was getting worried. It’d been a while since we’ve had a post about the shitty Lions
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 PM
If Jim Schwartz, “a great defensive guy”, drafts a QB he should be fired. Offensive line is the way to go, maybe D-line? But they would probably have to trade the pick to get real value if they went that way, and trading the 1st pick is becoming harder and harder without a rooking salary cap.
Andre Smith, Michael Oher, etc
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Trade Cleveland for Derek Anderson, (give em a 3rd rounder), captain airball could get the rock to Calvin.
Then take D-line or O-line with those 2 1st rounders, (whatever you grade as best).
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 PM
L OT is kind of important because in most cases it’s the blind side of the QB, and the preference of offensive scheming is to not help the LOT in blocking because, in most cases, right handed QB is rolling right, which in turn is where you want you extra blocking. I could be way off here, feel free to attack.
I think I said this a couple weeks ago. I would love to see some stats on how these Draft “Gurus” perform. Seriously, not just whether or not a guy went in the first round but the team they went to….AND whether or not they were a bust….would take about 5 years in the NFL to determine that, or not if they are out before then.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 PM
rocbotum -
Protects the blind side QB among other things.
The Lions are the new Cowboys on thebiglead.com in terms of amounts of posts.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:07 PM
@jim — Understood, I didn’t say it would be easy.
It’s way too early to know how desirable that pick is going to be. Workouts, combines, etc. Then you add in the media element. A smart front office (obviously this is asking a lot of the Lions’) can work teams against each other, use all the tools available. You just don’t know.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:07 PM
For a long answer pick up Michael Lewis’s The Blind Side. Great book to explain why the Left OT is so important. He is the defender of the QB’s blind side, he is vastly important to keeping your qb off the ground and being hurt. Which is very important if you wish to keep your huge investment on the playing field and winning games.
The Left OT is like a body guard. The president gets the best SS agents to cover his ass and the same should be said for the QB.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Detroit Lions again?
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:10 PM
As much as Orlovsky is a donkey, he’s capable of keeping the team in games while they rebuild the O-Line, and I don’t think he would be upset if they draft a for sure QB in a couple years to replace him. All the shit we all talked about Orlovsky, he was practically their only bright spot….decent backup QB. They should be focusing on O-Line and Defense. Even if they give the pick away for a few second round picks for the next couple of years, that would better than taking Stafford right now.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Can we talk about the Bills?
Of course, I might be off the Bills since my Chiefs got Pioli and might actually get some things right now.
GO BILLS!!!
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:13 PM
As much as I like Stafford, I tend to agree that it will be a bad fit for all parties involved. Stafford still needs to develop and if you throw him into that shit storm from day 1, you will have another Joey Harrington. Although, Stafford is light years more talented. Throw in the fact that my falqueens blew their financial load on Matty Ice at pick three and you can only imagine the kind of money the lions would have to shell out at number one.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Sandi -
You think the Chiefs make the move today?
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:15 PM
The one backup free agent QB that has made himself some money this year is Leftwich. He’s been solid filling in for Ben.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Much better
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 PM
But is Leftwich demonstrably better than Orlovsky? I only sign a FA QB if think I have a realistic shot at the playoffs. Otherwise, I roll the dice and play for another high draft pick in 2010.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:23 PM
KC – I don’t think they make the move at all, unless they can get Ferentz in the next day. Their dilemma is that they need to interview a minority candidate and Edwards doesn’t count, if they interview him while he is still coach. I think they may stand pat, and ride it out until next offseason, or mid-season, to try and get good interviews in.
I was hoping Shanahan might work out. I realize it’s a sin that I just said that, but it would be fun. I don’t think Pioli is interested in the Chin or any other big names, I think he wants a young guy that he can work WITH.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:27 PM
For more Lions talk (and we do need more), head here.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 PM
The only way Leftwich makes money is if the Steelers pay him. He still thinks he’s a starter and if he goes somewhere he’s going to want a shot at starting. Could another team pay him to be a backup? Sure. Would you pay more to be a backup? Only if you know you are making the playoffs, and your current backup is terrible.
Detroit knows that they aren’t going to the playoffs. What good is paying a guy like leftwich starter money, when you have Orlovsky at backup money, managing the game as well as leftwich could behind that O-Line. Leftwich would die in Detroit. If I were Leftwich I would ask for a small pay raise to stary in Pitt and be happy that I am a backup for a solid team. If I am Pitt I pay him the money and be happy that I have a solid backup.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:30 PM
+1 Nick
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:30 PM
The Lions would be foolish to take a QB at No. 1 or pretty much anywhere in this draft. Orlovsky showed signs he is capable of handling an offense. Culpepper was signed for two years and will go into camp to compete. He’s got the veteran presence to lead an offense. And Stanton was a SECOND ROUND pick in 2007. Did I agree with it? As a Lions fan, no. But you have to give your young second rounder a shot at the job. Drafting a QB would muddy everything in this sense.
Drafting a QB when you need help so badly on the offensive and especially defensive line is also foolish. The Lions are terrible everywhere except No. 1 WR, RB and…. well that’s it.
Also, why invest so much money into an underclassman QB with no definitive answer as to whether he’ll start from Day 1 or even Year 2.
If the Lions take Stafford or Sanchez No. 1 or any QB for that matter they will look just as incompetent as Matt Fuckin’ Millen.
God damnit, I’m getting all worked up just thinking about it.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Sandi -
Teicher wrote on his blog that as of yesterday afternoon, Shanahan and the Chiefs hand’t even spoken to each other and Chief’s officials are all in Alabama for the game. But, good ‘ol Jack Harry is convinced it will be Teicher. Who knows.
/Chief’s talk. Almost as depressing as another Lion’s post.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 PM
The site is sloooooow today.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:34 PM
you are
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:36 PM
You realize these same points were said a year ago about the Falcons and why they absolutely couldn’t shouldn’t draft Matt Ryan.
How’d that work out?
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:38 PM
KC – Agree, very depressing. Maybe they will dump Herm and give Whitlock a shot for one season….they have to be tired of hearing him.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:41 PM
I’m not saying DET is the answer, but right now I doubt Leftwich is back with PIT next year. You’re right, he’ll want a chance to start/compete. Second, I see the Steelers bringing Batch back for a cup of coffee before he retires (he’s not leaving) with Dixon getting a shot at/taking over as the backup.
Leftwich will look for a K. Collins-like situation. Perhaps somewhere like Minnesota. I think most Vikings fans would take Leftwich over Jackson/Frerotte. He could even compete for time on teams like Tampa, SF, KC, etc.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:42 PM
wheres maggs when you need ‘em?
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:43 PM
We all now it worked out fantastically, however, I believe the stats will show that more often than not, it doesn’t work out so well.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Roeth – Agree, didn’t all over that. I like his chances in Minny, decent O-Line, no heroics needed.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:44 PM
I thought it was the exact opposite. Ryan was really smart, but maybe not athletic enough.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 PM
I’m on adderall. Everything is too slow for me right now. Pick up the pace!
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:50 PM
I think Jake was going for the general consensus of not drafting a QB that high, not that his attributes were the same.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Sorry, I should have been more specific. I meant the server is slow.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:10 PM
assuming TB keeps their West Coasty thing that gruden was using, there’s no way 10-second windup and release boy is getting yob there.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Where does Kiper have Oher going? And why are the Jets drafting percy Harvin?
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:21 PM
As a Packer fan, I hope that the Lions take Jamarcus Stafford. He will set them back even farther, and nobody ever thought that was possible.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Speaking of quality back-up QBs who’ve succeeded when starting, can somebody tell me what happened to Quinn Gray?
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:50 PM
There’s what, a 3% chance he’s there in the 3rd round?
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Stafford has the head if he is pushed and that was the great failure of Richt in dealing with Matt. Stafford was seen as the UGA savior and was never scrutinized. This meant that Stafford could get away with taking a quarter off because he knew no one would push him. If Todd Haley gets the job at KC he would be great for Stafford because he would get on him. Stafford has more natural ability than any QB to come out in 10 years he just needs a team that can sit him for half/entire season which KC could do with Thigpen.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:54 PM
It’s NFL draft season guys, it’s only 92? days away. Sportscenter already has the countdown going. THE LIONS ARE ON THE CLOCK.
On a serious note, I contribute more or less one post per day. TBL generally handles basketball, football and the media reporting. I chime in with baseball, soccer, or, teams that I follow which is teams that I root for (Boston area and U of M) or teams that I pay attention to from where I grew up (Detroit area). That’s what I’m paying attention to and getting my ideas from talking to people. If you have something you feel isn’t being mentioned enough – tyduffy@gmail.com
It worked out rather well this season. There is a high reward for taking a quarterback that high, but there’s also tremendous risk. You’re just as likely to get a Matt Ryan as a Joey Harrington or a Ryan Leaf. There’s no real way to predict that. Even if the Lions got the next great quarterback, they don’t have the infrastructure to allow him to be successful.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:54 PM
If you think Stafford is as stupid as Russell you are sorely mistaken. With that having been said the lions need to take Andre Smith and then hope to get one of the USC LB’s in with their 2nd first round pick.
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:46 PM
Detroit will trade down. Bank on it.
January 24th, 2009 at 10:43 AM
I think that’s the best alternative. The problem is I don’t think there’s an iconic #1 guy that teams want to trade up into that slot to get.