Lions Starting to Zero In on Stafford
NFL Picks | by Mike O'Hara | 03.10.2009/3:01PM
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Matt Stafford is getting a closer look from the Lions’ coaches, scouts and front-office executives.
Stafford, the Georgia quarterback ranekd among the top prospects in next month’s NFL draft, visited the Lions at their Allen Park offices on Tuesday.
Staffiord’s Pro Day—for all 32 NFL teams—is March 19 on Georgia’s campus in Athens, Ga.
And after that, the Lions will schedule a personal workout with Stafford.
The Lions have the first pick in next month’s NFL draft, and no matter which way they go – draft Stafford or take a player at another position – the top candidates will be thoroughly inspected.
Stafford, in particular, will be heavily scrutinized because of the importance and impact quarterbacks have on a team. The success or failure of a quarterback drafted high has more impact than a player at any other position.
The Lions have looked at every play on tape of Stafford’s career at Georgia. They met with him at the Combine workouts in Indianapolis last month and hosted him at a dinner.
Now they want to see the real thing – or as close as a workout gets to the real thing.
“We need to see him on the field,” coach Jim Schwartz said in a session with the Detroit media Tuesday afternoon. “We’ve looked at every throw he’s made for the last two years.
“We do the same with every quarterback.”
Mike Mayock, the lead draft analyst for the NFL Network, was interviewed by Ken Brown and me on Detroit radio station WJR-760 Monday night.
Mayock is not completely sold on Stafford as the No. 1 pick, even though Mayock agrees with NFL Network colleague and former NFL GM Charlie Casserly that the Lions have a “desperate need” for a quarterback.
Mayock said he is impressed with Stafford’s ability to throw from “different platforms” and with his overall athletic ability. Accuracy might be a concern.
However, in a discussion that was not part of the radio interview, Mayock warmed to Stafford in one key area: if there isn’t pressure from ownership or top management to play him in his rookie season.
In that scenario – which certainly would be present with the Lions – Mayock said Stafford would have a greater chance to succeed.
The Lions have re-signed Daunte Culpepper. He is projected as their No. 1 quarterback.
In Tuesday’s interview, Mayock indicated there would be no pressure to play Stafford early – or because of the amount of money invested in him.
“Every case is different,” Schwartz said. “Our job as an organization is to put him out when he’s ready.”
So when does a young quarterback play?
“The answer to that is, it depends,” Schwartz said.
The Lions will get a better look at Stafford – or any quarterback – at his personal workout than on the pro day.
The pro day workouts are for all prospects at a school. And the player controls the workout.
On a personal workout, for the Lions’ staff only, the coaches can dictate what throws he has to make. It gives them a better chance to evaluate his decision-making.
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