Sports Radio Interviews

Matthew Stafford is Confident that Things will Turn around in Detroit

The Detroit Lions have been one of the worst NFL franchises of the past decade. They have picked in the top 10 of the NFL draft a number of times in the past ten years and have missed on more picks than they have hit on. They have drafted guys like Mike Williams, Charles Rogers, Joey Harrington, Stockar McDougle and Roy Williams all in the top 10. Since 2000, the Lions have just one winning season, have consistently finished at or near the bottom of the division and they have just two wins in their last 32 games. However, despite their struggles, it looks like they are headed in the right direction. While it may take a couple of years before they are really able to compete in the NFL, they do have some nice pieces in place if they can keep them around. One of those pieces is Calvin Johnson who is one of the most talented wide receivers in the league. The other piece is Matthew Stafford.

Last year in the NFL draft, the Lions made Stafford the first overall pick and despite an up and down and injury riddled year, Stafford showed people around the NFL why he was the number one pick. Despite playing in just 10 games, Stafford threw for over 2,000 yards and showed the potential that everybody saw when he was coming out of Georgia last year. The NFL is no longer a league that is dominated by running games and strong defenses. Right now, the NFL is a quarterback driven league. Just look at the Super Bowl this year. The two best quarterbacks in the NFL are playing for the championship. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. The Lions believe that they finally have their quarterback of the future with Matthew Stafford and if the Lions are going to finally turn things around, it will be up to the former Georgia Bulldog to live up to his draft status.

Matthew Stafford joined 106.7 in Washington D.C. on the LaVar Arrington Show to talk about snapping the team’s losing streak last year, dealing with injuries during his rookie year, whether or not he thinks Tim Tebow can make it in the NFL as a quarterback and whether or not he thinks the Lions are heading in the right direction.

On how big it was for the Lions to get a win early in the year:

“It was huge. Obviously I wasn’t there last year like you said, but you could tell that some of the guys that had been there for a long time, that had been losing for a long time, that 0-16 season got to them. Early on in the season to get a win this year was great for us to break that streak for us.”

On the keys for them to get things going in Detroit:

“I think being able to stick together. This is the first time that we had our head coach, offensive and defensive coordinator staying on the staff in 10 or 15 years, that’s huge for guys to be able to learn into a system for one, maybe two, maybe three more years and we can get something going. Obviously we’ll have a strong draft, we have high picks and hopefully we can hit on those guys. Then pick up a couple of guys in free agency and get some pieces together and get this thing moving in the right direction.”

On the frustrations of dealing with injuries this year and being placed on IR at the end of the year:

“It was tough. I actually kinda dinged my knee up in the fourth game of the year and missed a couple of games there and played my way back through that. I was lucky enough in high school and college, I never missed a game. I was healthy all through that and it was different playing through injuries and not being out there with the fellas. I’m sure LaVar knows too, you wanna be out there every Sunday. It’s tough to sit out with injuries, but its part of the game. You gotta try and get better from ‘em and I’m looking forward to next year, getting back out there for sure.”

On Tim Tebow:

“I played against him for three years in college and he’s a heckuva player, great football player, a great leader for him team and I’m sure he will be when he gets to the pros as well. It’s gonna be a learning curve for him. He’s gotta learn to get under center and play in a pro style offense, but the guy is super talented and everybody knows it.  (Host: So you think he can do it?) I think he’s gonna be a project and he’s gonna take some time. I don’t think anybody can draft him and right away be extremely comfortable throwing him under center, doing all that and running a normal offense. But with time, the guy has shown his work ethic. He’s gonna work hard for ya and he’s got some talent.”

On the play of Peyton Manning and Drew Brees and two of the best playing for the Super Bowl:

“It is unbelievable. They’re both playing at an extremely high level right now with a ton of confidence and these guys are playing at the top of the league right now. But it’s a process. Peyton Manning’s first year, he wasn’t what he is today and Drew Brees’ first year he wasn’t what he is today. I understand its gonna take time and I think the Lions organization understands its gonna take time, but with the right pieces around and being able to stick together for a long time, I think we can do this.”

On Calvin Johnson:

“He’s about as big of a freak as you man. He’s a monster. He’s 6 foot 5, 235, can run 4.3, can catch it. He’s physically probably one of the most outstanding guys I’ve ever been around.”

On whether or not he believes in the direction of the team:

“Yea I do. I think we need some pieces obviously. There’s parts of our team that are not as good as they possibly could be and it could really help us out if they got better. If we do that and continue to be able to stick together, keep the same coordinators, the same head coach and the same idea going, that we can do this thing.”

On who he likes in the Super Bowl:

“I like Peyton Manning. I don’t see anybody beating that guy. He’s special.”

Listen to Matthew Stafford on the LaVar Arrington Show here

Tags: Detroit Lions, Former number one NFL Draft picks, LaVar Arrington Show, Matthew Stafford, NFL, Super Bowl XLIV