Matthew Stafford: Focus Finally on Detroit Lions QB's Skills over Injuries?

Through the first two seasons of Matthew Stafford's career, the media was focused squarely on how prone he became to injuries, and rightfully so.

The Detroit Lions quarterback had missed 19 games over the course of his rookie and sophomore seasons due to injuries.

Even as Stafford entered this preseason completely healthy, the talk was not of the team's talent level, but of how talented the team could be if Stafford manages to play an entire season.

Well, when healthy, Stafford has showcased the type of ability worthy of a No. 1 overall draft selection and the title of "franchise quarterback".

Perhaps throughout all the complaints of his "glass shoulder", the analysts failed to remember the resilience Stafford displayed when on the field (particularly the famous game in which he played with a separated shoulder against the Cleveland Browns), and how prior to his NFL career he had never missed a start due to injury (through high school and college at the University of Georgia.)

Finally, now the banter of when Stafford will suffer his inevitable season-ending injury is giving way to more positive discussions. The focus is on how well Stafford is performing to begin the 2011 campaign, and how he is a viable MVP candidate through three games (this may be too soon for such talk, but the proverbial Lions Kool-Aid is currently at its most popular.)

If this writer's opinion is not enough to convince you of Stafford's ability, then look at the unbiased numbers; through three games, Stafford has thrown for 977 yards. He has nine touchdown passes and just two interceptions. His quarterback rating stands at an impressive 110.7.

Stafford has of course also become smarter about protecting his body. In his rookie season he ran the ball 20 times for 108 yards. In three games last season he had just four attempts for 11 yards, and so far this year he is not trying to run the football when under duress at all, as evidenced by his zero rushing yards.

In Week 3 against Minnesota, Stafford was truly tested; he withstood five sacks from the Vikings and each time got up and was ready for the next play. He is throwing the ball quickly and efficiently; through three weeks he has a 66.9 completion percentage.

Analysts say that if the offensive line can keep him upright, then it will go a long way towards keeping him on the field, but isn't that true of every quarterback and offensive line combination in the league?

What all this means is that focusing on his battles with injuries is not fair to Stafford as a quarterback. He has been unlucky so far in his NFL career. The injury bug has attacked and bitten him hard, but that does not mean it will (or should) define his career.