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Player Profile - 4.22.09


Pros: Stafford has an unbelievably strong arm, which will allow him to make all the throws needed to be a star at the NFL level. He does a great job of standing tall in the pocket and waiting for routes to develop. He shows the athletic ability to make plays with his feet. With his quick release and great pocket awareness, the former Bulldog has the ability to start for his NFL team from day one. Stafford is also a more accurate passer than he's given credit for—completion percentages don’t tell the whole story. The former Dawg possesses an NFL frame and did not miss time due to injury during his three years as a starter in Athens.

Cons: At 6’2’’ he stands a tad shorter than NFL teams want from a franchise QB. Like most “gunslingers”, Stafford has a tendency to be overconfident with his arm and will force throws into coverage. He often goes for the home run in traffic rather than the short, open route. He doesn’t show very good touch on the short routes and at times doesn’t give the receiver a chance to turn upfield after the catch. His game management skills need to improve.

Scouts Take: His play improved each year at Georgia and he still has the potential to get better coming in as a true junior. Stafford’s huge arm sets him apart from the other quarterbacks in the class. He can make throws on the field that don’t look possible. Some compare Stafford to Jay Cutler because of his big arm. If he goes number one to the Lions, look for him to get on the field early in the season. He could struggle as a rookie, but he should connect on numerous bombs to Calvin Johnson. He is not Peyton Manning or John Elway in terms of being a sure thing, but the potential is there for him to be an elite quarterback at the next level and he is for more worthy of being the number one overall pick in the draft than the last two quarterbacks who were bestowed that honor (JaMarcus Russell and Alex Smith). With the proper coaching, the Lions may finally it a home run.

CFI: Q&A: Matthew Stafford, Georgia - 11.7.08

School Bio

4.1.09 - The Detroit Lions held a private workout with QB Matthew Stafford Tuesday in Georgia. Stafford told NFL.com the workout went really well. The Lions contingent arrived in Georgia on Monday night, and coach Jim Schwartz had dinner with Stafford. At 8am, Stafford met with the team for about an hour and a half to diagram plays on the blackboard and throw passes outside. When the Lions met with Stafford three weeks ago, they gave him a playbook to study, and they quizzed him on it this morning. Stafford told me he thought he aced the quiz and was comfortable with how he performed on the blackboard and in throwing drills.

Stafford's ability to read defenses should be the least of anyone's worries. The rocket-armed passer was given free reign to audible back during his freshman year. But that doesn't mean that he's immune from making bad decisions. When you have a big arm, you sometimes think you can throw the ball into the tightest of spots. The big-armed former Bulldog has shown the propensity to commit dreadful mental mistakes, especially when pressured. And there will be a bit more pressure on him in the NFL than there was in college. - All Access Daily Dose: Stafford Works Out For Lions

3.20.09 - Every NFL team was represented at the campus workout in Athens, Ga., including many representatives of the Detroit Lions; General Manager Martin Mayhew, senior personnel executive Shack Harris and Lions quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton. Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford was accurate on 47 of 50 throws at his Pro Day workout. Stafford will also have a private workout with the Lions on March 31st again at Georgia. Jacksonville QB coach Mike Shula, though, said he came away impressed with Stafford’s work. According to Shula, Stafford has “a bright mind, is a fast thinker, and has all the tools that an NFL quarterback is going to need to be successful.” For the record, Seattle G.M. Tim Ruskell was also in attendance.

This day couldn't have been set up any better for Stafford. These situations play into his strengths and don't reveal his weaknesses. Of course he was impressive--no one doubts this kid's arm strength or accuracy dropping back. Detroit is going to take him, but it is their deficiencies which will unmask those of Stafford. Detroit can't protect the quarterback; Stafford struggles with his accuracy outside of the pocket, and makes bad decisions when pressured. I've seen it for three years. He had a habit of forcing throws and tossing terrible interceptions, relying too much on his arm strength. He's all set between the ears, so perhaps he can be coached out of those bad tendencies, but I'm not at all sure of that and I wouldn't spend the first overall pick on a maybe. Best case? He's Jay Cutler without the immaturity issues. However, I see him more as the "bad" Brett Favre...the one who throws team-killing interceptions with regularity and thinks his arm is a license to throw into triple coverage. Ask yourself this--if Stafford is so great, how come his teams constantly underachieved?

Of course, just because Detroit has sent the big decision makers down to Stafford's workout doesn't necessarily mean that the former Bulldog will be wearing the Blue and Silver in 2009. Time and again, I've seen teams chicken out and select the "safe" left tackle. Don't forget, Detroit has two picks in the first round, and they just might take their QB with the 20th pick. Josh Freeman anyone? The guy has displayed tremendous accuracy on deep outs and comeback routes. In fact, I think accuracy is probably the most underrated part of his game. We should also, keep in mind that the young signal caller played with a so-so offensive line and an underachieving receiving corps that dropped quite a few throws. - All Access Daily Dose: Pro Day Impact & Analysis

02.11.09 - Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt On College Football Insiders Coaches Corner - All Access Football Radio:

"Well, everything I’m hearing is he will be a top-ten pick. I think he is worthy of that grade. Very talented guy, he is built to be an NFL quarterback - in my opinion - (he is) six (foot) three-ish, maybe closer to six-three and a half and he’s a trim 230-235 (pounds). He is very strong and durable, he is very agile. His arm is unquestioned in its strength, but also he can make really any throw you would want a guy to make. He is highly intelligent. He loves the game. He’s a humble guy who wants to put the team first, he’s exactly what everyone is looking for. I think he will be a very high pick - if not the first pick."

"The guys that I saw spin the football like that were: (John) Elway, (Dan) Marino - really those two - up close because I was a free agent quarterback with the Broncos when Elway was a rookie. We were both rookies at the same time...he stayed about seventeen years, and I stayed about seven days. But I got to see him (Elway) up close, and he was very, very impressive - even though I was supposedly competing with him. And then Marino, the very next camp when I was with the Dolphins, I got a chance to see him throw and he was different than most anybody else I had ever seen. Jim Kelly (college teammate at Miami) was a fantastic passer also. But just pure arm-strength, I think Elway and Marino were those kinds of guys. Stafford absolutely fits into that category."

"The thing about Matt is that he had to make the best decision for him and his future. He’s not afraid of a challenge. He felt like he was ready; he didn’t feel like his draft-status could’ve improved much at all from this year to next-year’s draft. I would have had a very difficult time saying, ‘Hey Matt, you need to stay because next year you might be a higher draft pick.’ So it came down to: ‘Do you want to try and stay and win a championship, or do you want to try and win a national award?’ But the reality is if he gets drafted as high as most people think he is (going to be), in order to get enough insurance, disability insurance, at the college level, it would have been impossible to come even close to the money he probably will make on his first contract. It would have been tough for him to stay." -

01.21.09 - Stafford is expected to finalize a marketing agreement Thursday or Friday with IMG mega-agent Alan Zucker to handle his off-the-field endorsements, John Stafford said. They haven't settled on an agent to handle NFL negotiations. "We're in the process of that right now," Stafford said Wednesday. "We are interviewing agents. The process will be to get it down to no more than three, maybe even just a couple, and then Matthew will have an opportunity to choose someone who he feels will best represent him. We'd like to have that done certainly within the next 10 to 14 days, if not sooner." Per NFL rules, underclassmen who declared for the draft could not have contact with agents before Jan. 19. "So we're just beginning the process basically," Stafford said.

01.17.09 - (From East-West Shrine Game)Area scouts from the south and west were mixed in their evaluations of the two star quarterbacks to enter the NFL Draft this week, but they agreed that the Detroit Lions will face a tough decision picking between Georgia's Matthew Stafford and USC's Mark Sanchez. They could also look at offensive tackle with the No. 1 pick, then take a quarterback later in round one with the choice they have from the Dallas Cowboys.

01.07.09 - According to several sources, the NFL Draft Bible has learned that Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno will enter the 2009 NFL Draft.

12.01.08 - Matt Stafford took over as the starter in his freshman year at Georgia and finished with 1,749 yards passing with seven touchdowns and 13 picks. His numbers improved in 2007 (2,523 yards passing, 19 touchdowns, 10 picks) and is presently enjoying his best season of his college career. Stafford has thrown for 3,209 yards with 22 touchdowns and 9 picks. While his numbers aren't through the roof, the consensus on Stafford is that he has all the tools to make it at the next level. He has the size NFL teams look for these days, can make all the throws and also has decent mobility. Stafford has openly stated he is considering coming out early and has asked the NFL Advisory Board for an evaluation.

08.01.08 - The Texas native enters his junior campaign with 19 games started through his first two seasons. A prototypical pocket-passer, Stafford stands tall in the pocket, makes quick reads and has made significant improvement in his decision-making. He has established authority of the Georgia offense early in his career and has impressed with his leadership skills. Stafford has never thrown for more than 267 yards in a game and has been inconsistent against top-caliber opponents thus far.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media