Beyond finding a new head coach, the plan this offseason for the Lions was to find someone to harness the skill of quarterback Matthew Stafford after a disappointing 2013 campaign. Jim Caldwell, who was hired to replace Jim Schwartz made it apparent during his introduction to the Detroit media that the Lions’ still young signal caller can still be very successful in the League which seems to be the same sentiments shared by new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
Lombardi told Yahoo! Sports (via PFT) that there’s tons of talent with Stafford and that he’s certainly not broken:
“The good news is that he’s not broken, that much is clear,” Lombardi said, via Yahoo! Sports. “There’s an awful amount of talent there. His arm is something to behold. We used to sit in the Saints quarterback room and just marvel at his passes — all the depths, the whole field in play. He really can sling it. That’s a great thing to have. I am not worried about Matthew. I am excited to be working with him, and we’ll get started soon. I can’t wait.”
The focus on Stafford is without a doubt of high importance for the new regime in Detroit since their fate in the organization relies on his success. If Stafford succeeds than the Lions’ chances at making the playoffs and beyond are significantly increased. If Stafford fails, Caldwell and his staff fail and more than likely are shown the door out of Allen Park.
