Would Starting Matthew Stafford Be a Good Choice?

There have been debates on starting Matthew Stafford right away, four to six games into the season or have him sit on the bench for a year.

Much of these debates are the result of the success that both Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan last year both leading their respective teams, the Baltimore Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons, to the playoffs last year.

While that may fuel the fire to play Stafford right now, both Flacco and Ryan had the benefit of very strong offensive lines and established running backs.  Neither Flacco nor Ryan had to put the game on their shoulders to carry their teams. 

Baltimore relied on their top-rated defense while Atlanta saw a break-out year from Michael Turner who gained 1,699 yards, second only to Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings.

In reality, if Matthew Stafford is named the starter for the 2009 season, I suspect the Lions would win no more than three to five games.  But then again, many experts, both professional and amateur, have figured the Lions to win no more than six games at best.

Below is an example of what I consider some of the best NFL quarterbacks, both past and present, and what they did in their first year.

Peyton Manning – 1998: 26 TD’s. 28 INT’s, 22 sacks, 71.2 QB rating, 3-13 record

Drew Brees* - 2002: 17 TD’s, 16 INT’s, 24 sacks, 76.9 QB rating, 5-11 record

Eli Manning – 2004: 6 TD’s, 9 INT’s, 13 sacks, 55.4 QB Rating, 6-10 record

Troy Aikman – 1989: 9 TD’s, 18 INT’s, 19 sacks, 55.7 QB rating, 1-15 record

Dan Fouts – 1973: 6 TD’s, 13 INT’s, 14 sacks, 46.0 QB rating, 4-9-1 record

Kenny Anderson – 1971 5 TD’s, 4 INT’s, 23 sacks, 72.6 QB rating, 4-10 record

*Please note that Drew Brees first year in the NFL was 2001 but his first full season was 2002.

While Peyton Manning did have a pretty good year as far as touchdown passes, he still threw more interceptions and the 1998 Colts finished with a 3-13 record.

Kenny Anderson, one of the most accurate quarterbacks ever to play the game, could only do so much to lead the Bengals to a 4-10 record.

Troy Aikman had a miserable first year, taking quite a pounding while managing only one win during the 1989 season. 

One can look to Ben Rothlisberger's first year, going 15-1 and having a passer rating of 98.1.  But look what he had to work with.  An offensive line that had been together for at least three years before he started, a running game with Jerome Bettis and a defense that made up any mistakes that he might have made. 

It just isn't a fair comparison.

So the debate rages on.  Should Stafford play right now and perhaps suffer through a season of poundings and the fans facing yet another losing season?  Or should he sit for at least four to six games and learn from Daunte Culpepper? 

Granted, the Lions aren't going to be much of a factor this year but perhaps it might be a good idea to allow the offensive line to get really in tune with Scott Linehan's new offense.  Culpepper is familiar with it and could teach Stafford the nuances that only he would know about.

Sitting Stafford, in my opinion, would be the best move the Lions could make.  They aren't going finish any better than 6-10...perhaps with some luck, they might get to .500.  But then it sets them up for the 2010 draft where they can build the offensive and defensive lines. 

They can get some behemoths on the offensive line and some speedy defensive ends or solid defensive tackles.

Let's be clear here: There is no tried and true method for "grooming" a quarterback.  We can't look to Stafford to be the savior of the Lions but we can put that moniker where it belongs.  Squarely on the shoulders of Lion head coach Jim Schwartz.

Schwartz, along with Linehan and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, are going to be the ones that will turn this team around, not Matthew Stafford, not Calvin Johnson, not Kevin Smith, not Larry Foote, not Louis Delmas and not Julian Peterson. 

It's going to be up to these three and their respective staffs to train and get the players to buy in to how to execute.  You can have the best players in the world but if they aren't all on the same page, they will still look like lost sheep on the field.  And the Detroit Lions have been those sheep for far too long.

Sit Stafford for now.  He isn't going to take the Lions to the Promised Land this year.  Give the offense a chance to gel without the additional pressure of a rookie quarterback at the helm.  Culpepper may not light it up but at the very least, he will be more of a calming factor than Stafford would be.