It seems as if the general public is enamored with labels when it comes to professional sports. When a guy is deemed a franchise quarterback, he gets to hold that title proudly until his career is over. But at what point are the fans willing to strip him of that honor? What kind of poor play merits a reconsideration of a quarterback's ability?
This is pertinent only because Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford did not enjoy as much success in his first year under new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi as one would have hoped. Yes, the Lions made the playoffs and yes, Stafford completed 60 percent of his passes for just the second season of his career. But his 4,257 passing yards marked his lowest total of the past four seasons and his passer rating of 85.7 ranked just 21st in the NFL, behind guys like Mark Sanchez & Jay Cutler.
Should Lions fans be worried that Stafford has reached his ceiling as a quarterback?
No, they shouldn't. It's true that Stafford's career has been a bit up-and-down and he has failed to master the consistency aspect of the quarterback position. But he is still one of the more talented signal callers in the NFL and has room for further individual improvement. Plus, another year in Lombardi's offense coupled with better health from Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush would make a world of difference for any QB.
"There's still things I think he can clean up with (his fundamentals), and I think if he does, because what I believe as a quarterback is that the more movement you have in your technique, the more opportunity there is to miss," Kurt Warner told the Detroit Free Press.
"That's what you kind of see with Matthew Stafford. He makes some incredible plays, even with his arm in different positions. But the consistency's not there that you need at the position to be one of the top quarterbacks in the league and I think that's where cleaning up the technique will help."
Stafford, 27, has plenty of time to develop while keeping the Lions competitive. To help, Detroit needs to continue adding pieces around him to make life easier, such as shoring up the offensive line.
"There is mounting evidence that quarterbacks 'are what they are' after a certain point in their careers," ESPN's Mike Sando wrote. "Chicago found that out with Jay Cutler. Stafford faced some challenges in 2014 as he learned a new offense, played behind a less dependable line and sometimes could not count on either Calvin Johnson or Reggie Bush. How much better can he get in 2015? The Lions are paying him like he's one of the very best quarterbacks in the league....Nine combinations of linemen played at least 25 snaps together, up from just four during the 2013 season. Center Dominic Raiola and guard Rob Sims do not have contracts for the 2015 season. They have been mainstays on the line. How hard will the Lions work to bring them back? Re-signing the younger Sims and moving Travis Swanson from guard to center could carry some appeal if Raiola is not brought back."
