Stafford could be next in line for a big extension

[Chris Raiden]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...front-of-line/

The next quarterback to get a big extension could be....Matt Stafford.

Think he's worth it yet?

[Peter Smith]

The kid is an absolute stud. No question in my mind that if the Lions keep him upright, he will consistently put up near 5,000 yards per season.

[Chris Raiden]

The kid is an absolute stud. No question in my mind that if the Lions keep him upright, he will consistently put up near 5,000 yards per season.

Yep, and I think they get a little better there when Riley Reiff eventually takes over for Jeff Backus on the left side.

[Sascha]

The Lions have done a much better job of keeping their QB's upright over the last three years than people want to give them credit for, but every time a Julius Peppers bullrushes a Jeff Backus and a Matt Stafford gets hurt in the process, we hear the same offensive line comments. The Lions dropped back to pass more than any other team this last season, 666 times, four more than the Saints and over 50 more than anyone else. Yet, they ranked in the top half of the league in sacks and QB hits allowed. And they only slipped to mid-pack, from top 5-10 status in 2010 thanks to the increased number of passes. The o-line can always use improvement, yes, but it's anything but broken.


As for Stafford and his worth, it's as no-brainer a decision there is.

[Peter Smith]

Maybe your running backs (the healthy ones) are just garbage, but that offensive line was blocking for a terrible running game last year.

[Sascha]

Maybe your running backs (the healthy ones) are just garbage, but that offensive line was blocking for a terrible running game last year.

No it wasn't.

Sure, Detroit ranked 29th in rushing offense, but that's because their 356 attempts ranked 2nd to last. The 4.3 yards per carry ranks them a respectable 12th and of the four main ball carriers, Best, Morris and Smith all bettered the 4 yards per carry mark, only Keiland Williams did not.

The reason the Lions run game looked bad often was simply due to a lack of touches and opportunities, and yes, I'm sure missing the best runners due to injury played a large role as well. But generally, whenever the Lions got at least 20 carries, 100 yards (or slightly below) were sure to follow. Sure, there were clunkers like 19 carries for 20 yards against the Vikings and the 32 yards in the playoffs against the Saints, but what team doesn't have clunkers here and there?

Overall, given their circumstances, the run game wasn't really below par either.

[Peter Smith]

No it wasn't.

Sure, Detroit ranked 29th in rushing offense, but that's because their 356 attempts ranked 2nd to last. The 4.3 yards per carry ranks them a respectable 12th and of the four main ball carriers, Best, Morris and Smith all bettered the 4 yards per carry mark, only Keiland Williams did not.

The reason the Lions run game looked bad often was simply due to a lack of touches and opportunities, and yes, I'm sure missing the best runners due to injury played a large role as well. But generally, whenever the Lions got at least 20 carries, 100 yards (or slightly below) were sure to follow. Sure, there were clunkers like 19 carries for 20 yards against the Vikings and the 32 yards in the playoffs against the Saints, but what team doesn't have clunkers here and there?

Overall, given their circumstances, the run game wasn't really below par either.

The Lions used a 1st round pick on Jahvid Best. They used a 2nd round pick on Mikell LeShoure. And they are investing these prime resources in a position that they only want to use 35% of the time? No one believes that in the least. They passed that much because they had to pass that much. Maybe Riley Reiff and a healthy Mikell LeShoure will give them a viable threat in the backfield, but their running game sucked and the little success they had in the running game was due to the fact they caught teams slanted so far to stop Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and the passing game.

Andy Reid thinks passing 65% of the time is nuts

[Sascha]

Early in the season, the Lions carried the ball 30+ times in both of the first two games. It wasn't until Best was slowed and then shelved to join Leshoure who never played a down that the passing game took over to the extent it did last season.

I fully believe that a healthy Leshoure will help send those percentages back closer to even.

I'm simply saying it wasn't all on the o-line, they've played much better than everyone likes to believe they play. But, there is od course a definite room for improvement.

[The Lion King]

I believe he is. He was my least favorite of the 3 first round QBs in that draft, I can happily say I was wrong.