Build the Car First, Find a Driver Second

I'm not pretending I know much about the NFL, let alone how to coach it. In fact, after I'm done writing this article, I'll probably just go back to hiding in the depths of mediocre college football journalism.

I would, however, like to say that if I was a newly-hired head coach in the NFL, I think I would do things a little differently than the trend that is popping over within the crazily-high-turnover world that is professional coaching.

Then again, maybe that's why I'm not about to be hired as a head coach in the NFL or anywhere else. Mostly, I just want to know what you think.

I think that new coaches in the NFL worry too much about finding their franchise quarterback too soon.

I'm not a Lions hater, or a Stafford hater (quite the opposite in fact), but they are the most recent example available so I'm going to use them.

I think that Matt Stafford is a number one draft pick caliber kind of guy, and I think he will be endlessly better than Jamarcus Russell, Alex Smith, David Carr and a number of other first-pick no-shows that the NFL has seen over the course of its long history. He has the potential to be a very good NFL quarterback someday.

Despite this, and anything else that happens this year (unless Stafford becomes an immediate Pro-Bowler and leads the Lions to the playoffs), I don't think I'll change my mind when it comes down to the fact that I think the Lions should've chosen Jason Smith.

I understand completely that new coaches mean new quarterbacks, that everyone wants their guy and that the new quarterback symbolizes change and immediately becomes the face of your franchise.  It's practically written law that an NFL team needs a successful (not uber-productive or great, just successful) quarterback to truly succeed as a franchise.

In fact, the need for a successful quarterback in the NFL, my friends, is the basis of my argument. Pardon the dumb analogy (yes, I hate them too), but I'd feel better about having a good car ready before selecting the best driver.

If I was a new coach in the NFL, I'd want to do everything in my power to make my quarterback successful. Matt Stafford is well on his way, but he's missing something very important; an offensive line.

To be honest, I feel that Matt Stafford would've been the perfect pick for the Lions if they'd only passed on Brandon Pettigrew and taken Michael Oher in the late first round (no offense, Brandon, I think you're great, but the tight end class of 2009 was probably the deepest of any position). 

At the very least, I would've picked Eben Britton at the top of the second instead of Louis Delmas and that alone would've greatly benefitted Stafford.

Stafford has some good pieces in place. Calvin Johnson is a beast (Bryant is serviceable), Pettigrew will become one of the best, and Kevin Smith has some decent potential. I know it's cliche, but I'm not sure it will matter much if Matt Stafford gets killed by the pass rush.

When you choose a QB as the first overall pick in the draft in your first year as a head coach, it seems to me that you are practically placing your entire job on that quarterback's shoulders, which sounds awfully risky anyway, and even more so if he's not well-protected.

I also think that the Daunte Culpepper-Scott Linehan connection still has some juice in it, and I think a seasoned veteran like Culpepper is the kind of guy that, with a little extra time in the pocket thanks to Jason Smith, would've been more than serviceable in this rebuilding year and may have even won the Lions some games.

The worst case scenario is that Daunte would be much better for Calvin, Kevin and Brandon than Dan Orlovsky or Matthew Stafford at this point in their young careers especially with Jason Smith. Also, they would all have gained an immense amount of experience while maybe scrounging up a few wins in the process.

To be honest, I don't think Drew Stanton has had his fair chance, but I'm also realistic so I'll say that the Lions could win around four games this year and still have the fifth pick or so in next year's draft.  If Jevan Snead isn't available there, maybe Colt McCoy or Tim Tebow (the 2010 draft at the QB position is a really difficult one to gauge right now) will be around at the top of the second. 

Whatever quarterback they would ultimately have chosen in the 2010 draft would've stepped into a very favorable situation.

I know that the Falcons and the Ravens both had new coaches and new quarterbacks that were both very successful, but you have to admit that both teams were far more talented then than the Lions are now. 

Between the draft and free agency, the Falcons really built things up around Matt Ryan, including their offensive line.  On the other side, the elite Ravens defense made sure Joe Flacco never had too much pressure on his shoulders. Voila; instant success.

Once again, I'm not saying it's wrong to want to pick your guy right away, or that the Lions did anything wrong. I certainly don't expect this train of thought to become a trend in the flashy-happy NFL anytime soon.

I'm just saying that I don't think a shiny new quarterback is nearly as important to a franchise under a new coach as we are being led to believe, but I want to know what you think. 

Like I said, it just seems much safer to have a quality car waiting when you try to pick your next great driver than to shove your great driver into a clunker.