Around the NFL Week 17

I think Stafford has been really excellent the last two weeks. Really excellent. I don't care if he lost today. The Lions-Saints game is going to be very different than it was a couple weeks ago.

I think you can ask any film guy you want and they'll tell you that Stafford is a really erratic passer.

Considering how often you open your mouth and insert your foot (figuratively speaking, of course), I think it's only fair that if I change my opinion on Stafford's value, I do so with a tip of a cap to those who pointed out my errors. I mean, if I was wrong all the time, I would hope someone would do that for me. Not that I would know.

Right now, two good weeks is just two good weeks: if Stafford completes less than 50% of his passes against the Saints in a blowout loss, I suppose (actually I know) you probably won't be around to question yourself. You know, with everyone already doing that for you.

But I'm actually expecting him to play well against New Orleans. He's been one of the stars on the Detroit offense (and the NFL) the last two weeks instead of someone just along for the ride. And that's a big difference from just a month ago when Chicago and Green Bay made him look like a rookie.

/objective observational opinion


Whatever you say kid. :cool-smil

My first mock.

1. Indy - Andrew Luck - QB - Stanford
2. St. Louis - Matt Kalil - OT - USC
3. Washington (From Minnesota) - Robert Griffin III - QB - Baylor (1st, 2nd, and possibly 3rd round pick)
4. Cleveland - Trent Richardson - RB - Alabama
5. Tampa Bay - Morris Claiborne - CB- LSU
6. Minnesota (From Washington) - Jonathan Martin - OT - Stanford

Stafford threw for 5,000 yards this year, nuff said.

Stafford threw for 5,000 yards this year, nuff said.I think we all would be wise to remember when Stafford was throwing for just 7.0 yards per attempt. That was like, four weeks ago. At that point Stafford was a poor man's Carson Palmer.

I'm as surprised as anyone that Stafford managed to hit that number. I did not think he was capable. He exceeded my expectations.

I think the Lions feel like they found their franchise quarterback. Good for them. No one, myself included, should feel disappointed at such an achievement. If you had asked me before the season if there was any reasonable way that Stafford finished with more passing yards this year than Aaron Rodgers, I would have said injury only.

Aaron Rodgers - 9.2 YPA in 2011 (through week 16)
Matt Stafford - 7.5 YPA in 2011 (though week 16)

Good for the Lions. Good for Jim Schwartz. Good for Matthew Stafford. No one is disappointed that Stafford posted the best month of his career in December/January 2011/2012. If anything, I am disappointed in myself for losing faith in a 23 year old player as early as I did. And props out to GMScud for pointing out the error of my ways back then. You sir have wisdom that exceeds the need for hindsight to justify your opinions.

I still think Matthew Stafford has a long way to go. That's not really controversial. But I think he might be on par with, say, Matt Ryan at this point in their careers and thats a good place to be.

I must say that looking at JPP with the Giants makes me wonder if Orakpo would have been a much better defensive player as a 4-3 DE.

Whatever you say kid. :cool-smilThief! Give me my blunt back! ;D

I must say that looking at JPP with the Giants makes me wonder if Orakpo would have been a much better defensive player as a 4-3 DE.

JPP has freakish speed and explosion, Rak simply isn't in his league in that regard.

JPP has freakish speed and explosion, Rak simply isn't in his league in that regard.

He also seems bigger than Rak.

He also seems bigger than Rak.

He is.

My first mock.

1. Indy - Andrew Luck - QB - Stanford
2. St. Louis - Matt Kalil - OT - USC
3. Washington (From Minnesota) - Robert Griffin III - QB - Baylor (1st, 2nd, and possibly 3rd round pick)
4. Cleveland - Trent Richardson - RB - Alabama
5. Tampa Bay - Morris Claiborne - CB- LSU
6. Minnesota (From Washington) - Jonathan Martin - OT - Stanford

1. Indy - Andrew Luck
2. St. Louis - Justin Blackmon
3. Minnesota - Matt Kalil
4. Cleveland - Robert Griffin III
5. Tampa Bay - Morris Claiborne
6. Washington - Landry Jones*

Not because I want him, just because I think Luck and RG3 will be gone and we won't bet the farm to trade up.