The Detroit Lions were one of the NFL‘s big disasters from the 2015 season.
With a strong nucleus heading into the campaign, the Lions were poised to contend for the division. But after a fiasco of a first half in which the Lions started off 0-5 and limped into their Week 9 bye at 2-7, the season was quickly lost. As a result, Detroit sports radio became flooded with angry Lions fans calling in to express their disdain for the Ford family’s team ownership and Jim Caldwell‘s coaching ineptitude.
Lions starting quarterback Matt Stafford did not escape the firestorm of criticism in the Motor City after a disastrous first half of the year that put him at the bottom of the league in quarterback production. Stafford’s early 2015 struggles were a continuation of a 2014 season that saw the disruption of an upward trend in production and efficiency he’d been enjoying since his rookie year.
Matthew Stafford’s Rough 2014 and 2015 Campaigns
Many pointed to Calvin Johnson‘s injury as the main factor in Stafford’s 2014 struggles. Yet it was the hiring of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and the passing philosophy he brought to the Lions offense that played the biggest part in Stafford’s rough 2014 campaign.
Lombardi implemented a scheme that featured more underneath passing, which didn’t work well with a quarterback who struggled under pressure. Between 2011 and 2014, Stafford had a quarterback rating of 94 without pressure and 63 under pressure. Combine that with the fact that Stafford, a quarterback who is simply better throwing deep passes rather than short passes, was told by Lombardi to dial it back.
As 2015 came along, the pressure Stafford faced increased behind a revamped offensive line. He was among the top ten most pressured quarterbacks in the league. As the Lions running game proved inept and organizational stability was vanishing quickly, Stafford understandably struggled at the start of the season.
A quarterback who looks to throw the long ball and struggles under pressure was forced to throw short passes. He also faced more pressure than he ever did in his career.
However, Stafford’s season shifted when Lombardi was fired and replaced with Jim Bob Cooter. He finished the season with 4,262 yards and 32 touchdowns. He set career highs in completion percentage (67.2) and quarterback rating (63.64). Stafford became the first quarterback in the history of the NFL to complete at least 60 percent of his passes in all 16 games. He did all this while getting sacked 44 times. An impressive stat line to say the least.
Stafford also proved smart with the ball down the stretch. He threw just two interceptions in the final eight games of the season. As a result, the Lions went 6-2 down the stretch.
2016 Season Will Define Matthew Stafford
It won’t be easy in 2016 for Stafford, as he loses his safety net in legendary receiver Calvin Johnson, who retired on March 8, 2016 after nine seasons in the NFL. Johnson caught six of Stafford’s 17 touchdown passes thrown from Weeks 12 to 17. He was always there for Stafford, even against double or triple coverage.
Add to this the fact that Stafford and the Lions have been without running back Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Pettigrew for the entirety of their offseason workouts. General manager Bob Quinn has been working to acquire weapons for Stafford for the 2016 season, signing veteran receiver Andre Roberts as well as bringing in the ever-experienced Anquan Boldin for a visit. Boldin was a former Pro Bowl-caliber player who still proved productive last season. He compiled 69 catches for 789 yards on an atrocious San Francisco 49ers offense.
Boldin could compete for the third receiver spot in Cooter’s offense behind incumbent Golden Tate and newcomer Marvin Jones. Along with the continued development of tight end Eric Ebron, Stafford will have the weapons to make plays in 2016.
This season will define Matt Stafford’s career. His safety net is gone, no longer equipped with the second-greatest player in franchise history. It is now his team, and in an offense that suits his needs, Stafford will have a chance to flourish.
If he can continue the efficiency, leadership, and decision-making shown in the last half of 2015, the Lions could surprise many. If he struggles early, the Lions will likely move on from the man they drafted first overall in 2009.
