Posted: 12:44 p.m. Sept. 7, 2009 | Updated: 1:52 p.m. today
Stafford to start at QB in Lions season opener
By NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, will start as quarterback in the Lions’ season opener Sunday at New Orleans.
Coach Jim Schwartz made the announcement to the team and media today at Lions headquarters. Stafford beat out rejuvenated veteran Daunte Culpepper for the job.
Schwartz made it clear that he is willing to ride the rapids with the rookie. He also said this was about giving the Lions the best chance to win Sunday, not just about developing Stafford for the future.
“This isn’t an experiment,” Schwartz said. “This isn’t an internship. We’re not asking him to go out there and practice. He’s out there to win, and that’s the bottom line in this league.”
Stafford threw an interception in each of the Lions’ four exhibitions. Culpepper did not throw an interception in any of the three exhibitions in which he played. (He was back at practice today after missing the exhibition finale Thursday night at Buffalo with a cut foot.)
But Stafford made more big plays, showed off his strong arm and proved to the coaches he had command of the offense. Schwartz said he was confident Stafford could handle the blitzes and other tricks NFL defenses love to throw at young quarterbacks.
“There are some guys that may benefit from sitting on the bench and watching somebody else, and those people typically don’t have a grasp of the offense,” Schwartz said. “They still need to learn what defenses do. Their knowledge isn’t up to where it needs to be yet. He was a different case there. What he lacked is playing experience, and there’s only one way to get that to him.”
Some Lions fans fear Stafford will be another Joey Harrington, the No. 3 pick in the 2002 draft, who went 18-37 as a starting quarterback in Detroit. Harrington did not start the season opener as a rookie, but he quickly took over the job. He later said he was given the job too quickly and lost his confidence.
Stafford doesn’t seem worried about that.
“I’ve been through success,” Stafford said. “I’ve been through failure. I’ve been through a lot. … But I try to learn from everything. … I’m going to take every play and every game as a new situation, and definitely get out there and compete my [Swearing is not permitted at Club Pistons. You must edit this post prior to submitting.] off, try to get some wins.”
Asked if he didn’t buy the theory that Stafford could get beaten up and beaten down, Schwartz was defiant, even though the Lions are coming off the NFL’s first 0-16 season.
“I don’t expect to get beaten up and beaten down this year,” Schwartz said. “I expect a lot out of this football team, and I’m not going to concede anything. To expectations outside this building, outside this locker room, I know what we have here, and we expect to compete this year. Let’s sort of throw that out right now.”
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