Guest Aloysius Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Stafford wows at private workout By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFYDraft.com The Detroit Lions brain trust headed south today to hold a private on-campus workout with Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Matt Stafford. The results were encouraging for Stafford and the Lions, who own the first pick in April's draft. Sources described Stafford's workout as flawless, stating it was significantly better than his March 19 pro-day workout, also held at Georgia. Stafford used his former Georgia teammates as primary pass catchers. Bulldog receivers Mohamed Massaquoi, Kenneth Harris, Demiko Goodman and tight end Tripp Chandler took part in the workout, but that is where the similarities to Stafford's college days ended. The Lions coaching staff put Stafford through a workout that included an assortment of passes and routes he will be required to complete in the NFL and which will be part of the Detroit offense in 2009. The draft's top quarterback was on point with all his throws throughout the session. He threw just about 40 passes and hit on all but three of them. Stafford fired the ball downfield, hitting receivers in stride, and threw accurately through the entire session. Detroit coaches did speak with Stafford about aiming his passes, which negatively affected his accuracy, yet that seemed to be the only glitch all morning. Overall, the Detroit brass were very complimentary about Stafford's work today. The Lions praised his overall passing mechanics and the way he threw the ball. The draft is still more than three weeks away, but Stafford's workout today was so impressive that observers in Athens got the impression it was a "done deal" and the Lions will use the first pick to acquire Stafford. Mark Sanchez and the USC Trojans hold their pro-day tomorrow in Los Angeles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aloysius Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 If the Lions take Stafford, I see the picks before us going as follows: 1. Detroit - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia 2. St. Louis - Jason Smith, LT, Baylor 3. KC - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest 4. Seattle - Eugene Monroe, OT, VirginiaThat'd leave us with a very interesting choice between Orakpo and Crabtree. Who we choose may depend on whether Mangini & Kokinis are going to trade Braylon Edwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solon16 Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 it's all smoke...I think they take Jason smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JewDago Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 let's hope they take stafford. having smith go to the rams helps us be in the unenviable position of having curry, raji and crabtree all be gone by the time we pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 If the Lions take Stafford, I see the picks before us going as follows:1. Detroit - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia 2. St. Louis - Jason Smith, LT, Baylor 3. KC - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest 4. Seattle - Eugene Monroe, OT, VirginiaThat'd leave us with a very interesting choice between Orakpo and Crabtree. Who we choose may depend on whether Mangini & Kokinis are going to trade Braylon Edwards. Even if CLE takes Crabtree, it is no guarantee they ship Edwards out. I think if they took Crabtree they'd rather him spend his first year not having to be the #1 target. Braylon may not be a UFA come next year depending on what happens with the collective bargining agreement, CLE will always have the option to franchise (or transition tag him) after the season, then trade him for picks in next years draft, and it's always possible with success next season he wants to stay and CLE would want him to stay. Still not sold KC takes Curry, since they do need a NT for that 3-4, and Pioli is going to build from the inside out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I always though the Lions would go Stafford. The guy is the top QB prospect and a top 5 pick no matter how you slice it...when you have that....you take the QB if you even come close to having a need. If he was there at #5, we should have taken him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mz. Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 it's all smoke...I think they take Jason smith I don't see this as a smokescreen. There doesn't appear to be anyone anxious to trade for the #1 pick, so what would their "smokescreen" motivation be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I always though the Lions would go Stafford. The guy is the top QB prospect and a top 5 pick no matter how you slice it...when you have that....you take the QB if you even come close to having a need. If he was there at #5, we should have taken him. At that same token, you take a QB that high and are wrong, you set your franchise back several years, which DET has experience at. Though I am more sold on Stafford, based on him having the number of starts he has in the SEC. But if I am the Lions, I want to move down a couple of spots and if I can't, I am probably taking Smith, who Mark Schlereth thinks is better than Joe Thomas or Jake Long coming out of college. While that's quite a statement, if he is right, DET really couldn't go wrong with him. We also all know what happens when you have QB but no one to block him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I don't see this as a smokescreen. There doesn't appear to be anyone anxious to trade for the #1 pick, so what would their "smokescreen" motivation be? Hopes that someone else really wants Stafford. Or that someone a few spots back really wants Smith and thinks SEA or STL will take him before they get a chance if Stafford is off the board. These guys play mind games for the sake of mind games at this time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 At that same token, you take a QB that high and are wrong, you set your franchise back several years, which DET has experience at. Ahhhhh....the ultimate quandary.....you also set your team back years if you pass a top qb....you get just good enough to not have a shot at another for 7-8 years unless you get lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Ahhhhh....the ultimate quandary.....you also set your team back years if you pass a top qb....you get just good enough to not have a shot at another for 7-8 years unless you get lucky. It is the ultimate quandary. Of course in DET's case, you look at this QB draft, where you are likely drafting next year, and what that QB class projects to look like, it might give you extra pause this year though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aloysius Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Even if CLE takes Crabtree, it is no guarantee they ship Edwards out. I think if they took Crabtree they'd rather him spend his first year not having to be the #1 target. Braylon may not be a UFA come next year depending on what happens with the collective bargining agreement, CLE will always have the option to franchise (or transition tag him) after the season, then trade him for picks in next years draft, and it's always possible with success next season he wants to stay and CLE would want him to stay. Yeah, you're probably right. The ideal scenario would be to do something similar to what Detroit did when they drafted Calvin Johnson, where they kept Roy Williams around for about a year before trading him. But it's possible that Braylon wouldn't respond all too well to Crabtree coming in. Don't know if that's the case - but if the coaching staff thinks that'll happen, we'll likely see Braylon traded, especially if they can get a proven receiver as part of the trade package. Still not sold KC takes Curry, since they do need a NT for that 3-4, and Pioli is going to build from the inside out. Personally, I think Orakpo's more likely to be KC's pick than Raji. And I would be shocked if they took Rak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Naaa....you can't let next years draft influence this years draft. Be sort of like not betting strong with a full house because you might have 4 aces on the next hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Naaa....you can't let next years draft influence this years draft. Be sort of like not betting strong with a full house because you might have 4 aces on the next hand. Not if you believe one of the QBs you can get next year is better than either guy you can get this season. Just saying, if you are DET and you have any doubt about the QBs this year, the thought of who will be available via draft and FA next year has to cross your mind. There is a reason teams have scouting departments working year round. Teams are always looking more than one year ahead, from a franchise and roster perspective. They can't live only in the now and expect success over the long haul. As we have agreed, you have a huge gamble w/ your franchise when taking a QB high in the 1st. It makes or breaks you for years, just as passing does. So if you can make your team better now, and get a QB next year who you believe is better than those in front of you high in this draft, you do that. If DET is absolutely sold that Stafford can be their QB for years to come and they can put in him in position to be successful and grow, you take him for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcrow1945 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Even if CLE takes Crabtree, it is no guarantee they ship Edwards out. I think if they took Crabtree they'd rather him spend his first year not having to be the #1 target. Braylon may not be a UFA come next year depending on what happens with the collective bargining agreement, CLE will always have the option to franchise (or transition tag him) after the season The nice thing about this is Cleveland has no other player that they would have to worry about Franchising. In some cases you'll want to try and sign the player to a long term deal after tagging him so you can free the tag up for another player. The only other player they would need to franchise one day would be Thomas and I think he's signed through 2012....Unless someone corrects me. They won't let Edwards leave without getting something. They'll either trade him or tag him and trade him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcrow1945 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Naaa....you can't let next years draft influence this years draft. Be sort of like not betting strong with a full house because you might have 4 aces on the next hand. Oh, I think they look at the following year's draft. Let's say Schwartz is crazy about Snead or Bradford or Tebow and wants any of them and believes all three could be solid NFL Qb's.......And let's say at the same time the 2010 draft has no talented left OT's coming out. I'm sure coaches think and talk about it. Why take a QB this year when we can get any of the the three we want next year? If we don't take a top left OT this year we won't be getting one next year either! This weighs heavily on their mind. The only problem with you gambling analogy is that in cards you don't know what's coming in the next hand...The coaches do know what is coming in 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Not if you believe one of the QBs you can get next year is better than either guy you can get this season. The point is you don't know unless you are going to throw games....and then you still don't know. Really man....you can't let what might happen influence what you do this year....that is as simple as i can put it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 The point is you don't know unless you are going to throw games....and then you still don't know. Really man....you can't let what might happen influence what you do this year....that is as simple as i can put it. Coaches and teams have a realistic and pretty accurate idea of how they should do in a coming season. I am sure DET doesn't have any real expectations of more than 6 wins next season. Not with that roster. I disagree with you regarding forward thinking, when you factor in that the NFL team is a business first and foremost. That is as simple as I can put it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mz. Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Really man....you can't let what might happen influence what you do this year....that is as simple as i can put it. That's the kind of forward thinking that got GM to where it is today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Look....of course you have an idea of who is entering.....but we are talking QB here...top QB's go early.....you don't pass them thinking you can get one next year You can think what you want.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 You can pass them if you think what you have a shot at next year is that much better than either of the QBs this year. If you question that these guys may not be a sure locks, and your looking at a year away that you see as sure QB (or multiple, which looks to be the case), you certainly do. QB isn't going to fix all of DET's issues, and with no one to keep that QB up right.... These aren't just players, they are financial investments by teams. Not just an investment in the player, but their own franchises future. You can think what you want too..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpeen Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 So basically you leave it to chance....skip a guy this year because you might get better next year...OK....lol.....with the financial investment you mention, i think teams try to control as much as they can. Why draft anybody.....you might do better next year.. You are a good egg Masters, but on this issue I think.....no....I know.....you need to re-evaluate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Only need to re-evaluate it if you take it to the rediculous extream you just tried to take it to. Teams that want success and end up successful do not get trapped in the tunnel vision of "I need a QB and there is one available in the first of this draft, I have to take him." It's all chance. This year, next year, or 10 years from now. That isn't going to change about the draft. Teams have to make the most educated risk/chance. You don't do that with tunnel vision. You are a good egg too, but when all you can do is take something to an exagurated extream, you're arguing to argue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicksilvy Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Doesn't it make sense though? If you have a need at both QB and LT, and they're both availible now, but comparable QB's are availible next year at your projected draft pick whereas comparable LT's are not availible, wouldn't you take the LT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mz. Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Why draft anybody.....you might do better next year.. I'm fairly certain that's not what we're advocating here. You get that. So you're saying if you're DET, and you have guys like Bradford and McCoy rated significantly higher than Stafford, and Stafford rated slightly higher than Jason Smith, who you rate much higher than any LT prospect next draft, you still select Stafford? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLEVELandMILIDH Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Even if CLE takes Crabtree, it is no guarantee they ship Edwards out. I think if they took Crabtree they'd rather him spend his first year not having to be the #1 target. Braylon may not be a UFA come next year depending on what happens with the collective bargining agreement, CLE will always have the option to franchise (or transition tag him) after the season, then trade him for picks in next years draft, and it's always possible with success next season he wants to stay and CLE would want him to stay. Still not sold KC takes Curry, since they do need a NT for that 3-4, and Pioli is going to build from the inside out. I think will go into the season with BE and depending on how we look the first 5 games and weather or not we get him to sign a long term contract we could trade him before the week 6 trade deadline to a team in contention with a need of a receiver because of injury or poor performance. This would be the best way to get somebody to overpay for Edwards, much like what happened with Roy Williams last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I'm fairly certain that's not what we're advocating here. You get that. So you're saying if you're DET, and you have guys like Bradford and McCoy rated significantly higher than Stafford, and Stafford rated slightly higher than Jason Smith, who you rate much higher than any LT prospect next draft, you still select Stafford? Thank you. You follow exactly where I am going with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I think will go into the season with BE and depending on how we look the first 5 games and weather or not we get him to sign a long term contract we could trade him before the week 6 trade deadline to a team in contention with a need of a receiver because of injury or poor performance. This would be the best way to get somebody to overpay for Edwards, much like what happened with Roy Williams last year. That is one ideal scenario. That of course hinges on how BE performs and a tea being in that position. The other ideal scenario I see is that BE returns to the 07 form, which is what his perceived ability is/was, and you can ship him in next offseason for an inflated value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mz. Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I stand by it: You only pass on a franchise quarterback if you already have one. If you don't have a big time passer in today's NFL, you're just another team looking for a big time passer. Unless you don't think Stafford is a franchise QB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Masters Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I stand by it: You only pass on a franchise quarterback if you already have one. If you don't have a big time passer in today's NFL, you're just another team looking for a big time passer. But he better be a franchise QB and you better be really sure yu believe he is. In the case of DET, right now they are less than just another team in today's NFL. They did go winless after all. They have a lot of needs and require a lot of work to undo what Millen did to them. My perspective is if I am DET in this draft. Not any NFL team in a vaccume situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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