PFT: Stafford gets the Week One start

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by Mike Florio on September 7, 2009 12:47 PM ET
Lions coach Jim Schwartz previously was coy regarding his plans for the quarterback position in Week One.

As of Monday, he's coy no more.

Schwartz, per various media outlets, has announced that Matthew Stafford, the first overall pick in the 2009 draft, will start the game.

Stafford wins the assignment over Daunte Culpepper, whose shot at the job might have been derailed by the placement of eight stitches in his toe.

But we think this competition was rigged from the get-go. A year after Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco led the Falcons and Ravens, respectively, to the playoffs as Week One starters, the Lions had to have realized upon making Stafford the first pick -- and paying him more than $40 million guaranteed -- that they had to use him sooner rather than later.

So why not create the impression that Stafford had to earn it? The experience might have made him better prepared for the mental hurdles that will arise as he tries to end the 50-year curse that was placed on the team by Bobby Layne, who played football at the same high school Stafford attended.

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

If he was worthy of the overall number one pick, then he better be able to play. Never have agreed with someone getting drafted so high, paid so much, then having to sit on the bench to "learn" for a few years.

 

[LeonDixson]

May the Schwartz be with you, Mathew.

 

[Doomsday]

Good news for my fantasy team, I got CJ. Stafford should be able to get him the ball.

 

[Hostile]

New coach, a #1 overall QB and a QB roster of JAGs.

Yeah, this is shocking.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Hes going to be a top 5 QB in 3-4 years

 

[The Quest for Six]

mistake as far as I'm concerned. He shouldn't start until atleast halfway throught the season or until he can grasp what defenses are showing him because this isn't college football. Detroit isn't going anywhere this year and with their schedule, they'll be lucky to get three or four wins, but throwing a rookie quarterback into the fray on a bad team, you might just ruin him, like David Carr

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

mistake as far as I'm concerned. He shouldn't start until atleast halfway throught the season or until he can grasp what defenses are showing him because this isn't college football. Detroit isn't going anywhere this year and with their schedule, they'll be lucky to get three or four wins, but throwing a rookie quarterback into the fray on a bad team, you might just ruin him, like David Carr

We see how well sitting on the bench worked for Vince Young.

But when you have QB's like the afore mentioned Ryan and Flacco, you have to give then their shot now. I believe sitting on the bench just makes them go "cold".

 

[Sarge]

Hes going to be a top 5 QB in 3-4 years

FWIW, I'll take that bet...

Carry on...

 

[yrades]

Start em if you got em. Aikman turned out ok after going 1-15 in the 89 season. Might as well find out early if you have the real deal or not. 40 million bucks is a lot of money to throw away. The NFL has to stop that madness.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

FWIW, I'll take that bet...

Carry on...

Hes got a better arm than Cutler but a good attitude.

I know Cutlers not top 5, but hes above average on arm alone

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

Start em if you got em. Aikman turned out ok after going 1-15 in the 89 season. Might as well find out early if you have the real deal or not. 40 million bucks is a lot of money to throw away. The NFL has to stop that madness.

Actually, that one win was by Steve Walsh. But as you said, Aikman turned out to be an ok QB.

 

[The Quest for Six]

We see how well sitting on the bench worked for Vince Young.

But when you have QB's like the afore mentioned Ryan and Flacco, you have to give then their shot now. I believe sitting on the bench just makes them go "cold".

different animal, Ravens have a great defense and a decent offensive line, good running game, Qb not asked to carry the team, that's the defense.

Atlanta was a very solid offensive line and a great running game, Detroit has neither a good offensive line or good running game and have a poor defense throughout...

Aikmans career was shorten because of the hits he took the first two years.

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

different animal, Ravens have a great defense and a decent offensive line, good running game, Qb not asked to carry the team, that's the defense.

Atlanta was a very solid offensive line and a great running game, Detroit has neither a good offensive line or good running game and have a poor defense throughout...

Aikmans career was shorten because of the hits he took the first two years.

So you're saying that they don't sit on the bench to learn, but to be protected?

I'm not saying that it will or will not work whether they start or sit. What I am saying is you play your best player. And a player that is drafted so high should be your best player.

 

[The Quest for Six]

So you're saying that they don't sit on the bench to learn, but to be protected?

I'm not saying that it will or will not work whether they start or sit. What I am saying is you play your best player. And a player that is drafted so high should be your best player.

not going to learn much if you spend on of your time on your back or running for your life. All complicated blitzes will do is take his eues from down the field to the pass rush. He has no idea of the blitz packages and schemes that he'll see. better for him to sit and watch for eight games, if the team struggles, then by the bye week, give him a shot, atleast then, he'll have a better grasp on things. Veterans aren't excited about a rookie taking the reigns at quarterback so early. Just because you're the first overall pick in a draft, which is based on measureables and potential, it doesn't mean you're the best player on the team...

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

not going to learn much if you spend on of your time on your back or running for your life. All complicated blitzes will do is take his eues from down the field to the pass rush. He has no idea of the blitz packages and schemes that he'll see. better for him to sit and watch for eight games, if the team struggles, then by the bye week, give him a shot, atleast then, he'll have a better grasp on things. Veterans aren't excited about a rookie taking the reigns at quarterback so early. Just because you're the first overall pick in a draft, which is based on measureables and potential, it doesn't mean you're the best player on the team...

You'll learn how to get up and change something to try to prevent it from happening again. And they'll learn alot more than how to hold a clipboard.

All I'm saying is if a player is drafted high, they should be able to pick up alot of things in OTAs, training camp, and preseason games. Now that doesn't make them a ProBowl type QB, but it helps with the learning curve of todays NFL.

Once a player signs a six year contract, by the time you sit someone for a year or two, you essentially lost them for 1-2 years while they are making a lot of money which is a "hit" to the cap.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Hes going to be a top 5 QB in 3-4 years

Not with that organization.

 

[Doomsday]

Stafford gives them the best chance to win. I dont think they should sit him, just for the sake of sitting him. Let him go out there and get some experience. They improved thier oline so he shouldnt get beat up like Kitna was the last 2 seasons.

 

[Avaj]

If he was worthy of the overall number one pick, then he better be able to play. Never have agreed with someone getting drafted so high, paid so much, then having to sit on the bench to "learn" for a few years.

Agree

They make it seems like Sanchez was the #1 pick, so we will see.

 

[The Quest for Six]

You'll learn how to get up and change something to try to prevent it from happening again. And they'll learn alot more than how to hold a clipboard.

All I'm saying is if a player is drafted high, they should be able to pick up alot of things in OTAs, training camp, and preseason games. Now that doesn't make them a ProBowl type QB, but it helps with the learning curve of todays NFL.

Once a player signs a six year contract, by the time you sit someone for a year or two, you essentially lost them for 1-2 years while they are making a lot of money which is a "hit" to the cap.

David Carr was ruined by starting him, he was hit so much that he was keying on the rush and not looking downfield.

OTA's are nothing but getting in and getting aquanted to what's in store in the NFL, he's been trying to grasp the vast playbook, not concentrating on blitzes defensive schemes, which he doesn't see in preseason games.

Money has nothing to do whether a guy should start day one as a rookie..

If he fails miserably starting and you have to replace him, what do you think that does to him..

And Vince Young was never going to suceed in the NFL, either will Tim Tebow. They are running QB's, classic college QB's, failures in the NFL