Matt Stafford: Can he start Week One for the Lions?

but yes, I think he can survive/succeed in the NFL (in that order).

From a basic pro-con standpoint, I think he has several factors in his favor. He has played in a pro-style offense for the last three years. He has also been forced to carry a team (though you could argue that Moreno did much of the carrying, as well). He was thrown into the fire very early in his college career and made significant improvements each year. There is no doubt that he can make any throw asked of an NFL quarterback.

However, I still question his ability to truly drop a touch pass over the top of a linebacker and underneath a free safety. Also, the flaw that strikes me the most is the drawback that probably brought him the most criticism within the UGA fan base. He has an uncanny ability to, atleast once per game, make a bonehead decision. This could come from trying to do too much, or, as was the case in two instances that stick out very strongly in my mind, simply make a mistake. I can think of both the Florida game in 2007 and Georgia Tech in 2008 when he lofted up a ball to no one but the opposing cornerback. Both instances resulted in touchdowns…for the other team.

The fact that he was/is prone to the untimely interception, however, does not (in my opinion) mean that he cannot be a day one quarterback. Matt Ryan’s detractors criticized him for this same flaw. If the Detroit coaching staff will start Stafford on day one, they are going to have to allow him to develop slowly, much like the Falcons did with Ryan. Allow Kevin Smith to carry the ball atleast twenty times a game and let Stafford gain his footing slowly, starting the game off by playing some pitch and catch with Johnson, McDonald, and Pettigrew. The last thing that I’ll say regarding his assets is that he knows how to play with a depleted line, which will definitely be helpful playing in Detroit. I think that as long as he has decent protection, he will be able to make a few plays with his feet and command the offense with success. He has the skill players to work with, let’s just see how he handles the spotlight.

In any case, I do think he is a better choice than Culpepper. Stafford is the future, without a doubt.

Stafford reminds me of a stronger armed version of Eli Manning. In other words, he’s not as cerebral as say Matt Ryan but he’s definitely not the love child of the NFL combine (see Kyle Boler). To be a little more specific, I’m not sure he can come in from day one and put up rediculous numbers the way Peyton Manning did his rookie year, but if enough people step up around him (Pettigrew, Jones, and MEGATRON A/K/A Calvin Johnson [sorry had to throw the nickname in there cause its the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while]) then he could put up Rothlesburger type rookie numbers. Further to add to a point hailtogeorgia made above regarding the once per game bone headed play, Stafford’s got a little bit of Brett Farve in him in that he’ll make a total freshman mistake but then follow it up with a throw or two that only Stafford could make). If you youtube the UGA vs. UF game from 2007 you’ll see what’ I’m talking about. Also don’t put to much emphasis into his 08 Florida numbers, he got robbed on at least one INT in which his receiver was literally tackled by a defender which allowed the corner back to catch unopposed and return int the other way for the TD.