ALLEN PARK >> Matthew Stafford ended last season with a ratio of 19 touchdowns to two interceptions and a 70-percent completion rate in the final eight games.
That made it all the more astonishing when coach Jim Caldwell said on Thursday that he thinks the Detroit Lions quarterback has improved.
“I think Matthew is better than he was at the end of last year right now and I continue to say that I think he’s certainly going to continue to improve,” Caldwell said on Thursday at his pre-camp press conference.
Stafford, who is entering his eighth season, attributes his improvement to knowing the offense better.
“I think it’s command of this offense, we put it in in the bye week last year with three or four days of practice whatever it was. It has changed throughout this offseason,” Stafford said. “We had the ability to tear it down and start again from scratch with Jim Bob (Cooter), Cally (quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan) and those guys. I think comfort level with what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Remember, Cooter took over as offensive coordinator with nine games remaining last season.
The players reported on Thursday and they open training camp on Friday afternoon:
Here are five thoughts from Stafford on the offense and camp:
1. While he has a good connection with Golden Tate it will take time to get the same understanding with newcomers Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin. “Golden does a great job of getting open, that helps. … I’ve had an offseason with Marvin he’s an extremely talented guy. Everybody does certain things better than others – he has strengths and weaknesses just as everybody does. It’s important to find those strengths and play to them as much as you can,” Stafford said. “It’ll be the same with Anquan. He’s been here a day or whatever. I had a chance to talk to him a little bit, obviously i’ve heard from around the league and other guys he’s played with what a good teammate he is, what a good player he is. Obviously his production speaks for itself.”
2. His leadership style hasn’t changed. “I’m the same person I’ve always been, I’m always going to be that way. One of the biggest plusses of leadership is authenticity. I’m not going to be something I’m not. I’m just going to go out there and do what I’ve been doing,” Stafford said. “And obviously there’s less voices now that some of our older guys are gone I guess my voice carries a little more, but for me I’m the same old guy trying to do the best I can.”
3. He said his relationship with Cooter evolved, there was not one ah-ha moment. “It wasn’t one point, I think it was a building process through the whole second half of last year. We could only add so much at a time it would’ve been unfair to dump an entire new playbook on guys in three days. You get them going, the trend in which way we’re going to go,” Stafford said.
4. Quarterback polls and rankings don’t mean much to him, but he does pay attention to a few key statistics. “Touchdown-interception ratio is obviously a big one. Yards per attempt is a big one, completion percentage is always nice. Things of that nature. There’s also sack numbers – not taking sacks on first and second down,” Stafford said.
5. He still is not sure what constitutes a catch by NFL rules. “It’s so tough. To tell you the truth half the time I get it wrong when they replay it at our place. I don’t know. I don’t envy those guys for having to make those decisions. It’s a really fast paced game,” Stafford said. “What is a running move after you have (possession)? I don’t know. It’s difficult. I know they do the best they can. I love it when it counts as a catch for us and I hate it when it doesn’t. … it’s a difficult thing especially with replay.”
You might have missed
