Is Stafford's career as a starter over???

[GTripp0012]

I said this to my roommate (Lions fan), but I think the Lions have to honestly and truly move forward as if Stafford isn't their franchise quarterback and they need to acquire one in the offseason to lead the team.

It's by far the most difficult conclusion they could possibly make, and there's nothing to suggest Stafford can't be a top level quarterback in their offensive scheme. But alternative to this is to wait until next year when Stafford is healthy and then find out if he can lead them to the postseason.

Windows of opportunity in the NFL are very, very short. For the Lions, their window as a true contender in the NFC just opened. 2-6 is probably a death sentence in terms of making the playoffs this year: getting back to 8-8 (which is the 09 Titans best case scenario) probably isn't good enough. But with that window open and with the need to capitalize with Kyle VandenBosch and Jeff Backus and Dominic Raiola and Nate Burleson are all still contributors in a delicate balance, I think waiting for Stafford to lead them is the wrong move.

One that could pay off, but still I think the wrong move.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I said this to my roommate (Lions fan), but I think the Lions have to honestly and truly move forward as if Stafford isn't their franchise quarterback and they need to acquire one in the offseason to lead the team.

It's by far the most difficult conclusion they could possibly make, and there's nothing to suggest Stafford can't be a top level quarterback in their offensive scheme. But alternative to this is to wait until next year when Stafford is healthy and then find out if he can lead them to the postseason.

Windows of opportunity in the NFL are very, very short. For the Lions, their window as a true contender in the NFC just opened. 2-6 is probably a death sentence in terms of making the playoffs this year: getting back to 8-8 (which is the 09 Titans best case scenario) probably isn't good enough. But with that window open and with the need to capitalize with Kyle VandenBosch and Jeff Backus and Dominic Raiola and Nate Burleson are all still contributors in a delicate balance, I think waiting for Stafford to lead them is the wrong move.

One that could pay off, but still I think the wrong move.

Det. has some real nice young players...I think they're going to be around for a while...Stafford, Best, Suh, Petigrew and Johnson to name a few.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Det. has some real nice young players...I think they're going to be around for a while...Stafford, Best, Suh, Petigrew and Johnson to name a few.

The counter example would probably be the Texans.

Not to say that Schaub is the problem there: he's not. But the Texans defense was only briefly a decent defense. And the Texans had a few coaching mishaps and probably missed a small window to make the postseason between 2008 and 2009. Right now, the AFC is likely too strong and their defense too weak to win with that core.

They can theoretically keep Schaub and Johnson and Daniels and Foster around, and build around Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye, but the window where they can win with an elite passing game is probably past. That's what I think may happen to Detroit if they try to wait out Stafford. The good young players are going to be there, but they are playing well as a team for the first time in a decade. They've got to get through that window right now.

When you are the league's most improved team, as the Lions may be, the last thing you want to do is wait for the rest of the league to catch up to make a real push at the postseason.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Det. has some real nice young players...I think they're going to be around for a while...Stafford, Best, Suh, Petigrew and Johnson to name a few.

Thats true but things can go to shit real quick as we see in Dallas.