Football Mayock says Lions should not draft Stafford

chop · 03-09-2009, 06:36 PM

Mayock: Lions should avoid drafting Matt Stafford

by Tom Kowalski Monday March 09, 2009, 7:54 PM

Mike Mayock, the draft analyst for NFL Network, was a guest on WJR tonight, joining hosts Ken Brown and Mike O'Hara. Here are some highlights from that interview (and the Detroit Lions fans who are hoping the team drafts Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford might be a little disappointed with Mayock's opinions):

--- Mayock said he believes that 2009 will be an average draft class without much star power in the top 10. He believes the draft is deep at outside linebacker and tight end but weak at guard and inside linebacker.
--- Mayock pointed out that of the last 11 underclassmen quarterbacks to be drafted in the first round, only two have been successful - Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rogers. Mayock pointed out a laundry list of failures - Heath Shuler, Ryan Leaf, Vince Young, Alex Smith and, so far, JaMarcus Russell.
Mayock said that if the Lions make a mistake at quarterback with that pick, "they won't recover for five years.''
Mayock spoke very highly of Stafford, saying he has great arm strength and is a good athlete, but also said "There are some things about him that bother me. If I was the Lions, I'd take (Aaron) Curry or one of those left tackles (Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe).
"If you have any doubts about the kid, in my opinion, you have to pass. I told everybody last year that Matt Ryan was the guy. I have questions about the guy this year.''
--- Mayock said he sees some similarities between Stafford and Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, especially arm strength, but he sees one big difference. Mayock said Cutler played for a "horrible'' Vanderbilt team but always had his team in a position to win. Stafford, meanwhile, played with two elite receivers and an NFL-caliber running back and "sometimes he looked like Superman and sometimes he looked average ... I say 'Why?'''
--- Brown and O'Hara brought up the possibility that if the Lions drafted Curry, they might move him to middle linebacker but Mayock immediately shot that down. Mayock said Curry is the prototype SAM linebacker and shouldn't be moved.

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf...void_draf.html

skky man · 03-09-2009, 06:51 PM

I read an article several weeks ago that said some of the georgia coaches were frustrated that Stafford athleticism didn't carry over to the field! Not that he is good but after three years they had hoped for more! I don't see a clear cut top QB in the draft. Sanchez is good or he wouldn't have been a USC, but he never beat out John David Booty either.

KCUnited · 03-09-2009, 06:55 PM

Detroit would be better off taking Curry, in this week QB class, they should go the safe route and take a cannot miss player like Curry. But that would royally **** us. /Guy in KC sitting on hold waiting for 610 to come back from break.

Ebolapox · 03-09-2009, 06:59 PM

Le Sigh. the true fan fear runs stong in this crowd.

Mecca · 03-09-2009, 07:33 PM

Fear, recover for 5 years, you mean opposed to the 40+ year drought they are in now?

Building into an 8-8 team being anyones desire is pretty sad.

StcChief · 03-09-2009, 07:35 PM

It's Detriot.... who's to say Rams are completely content with Bugler, though they likely take a LT to replace Pace.

Mecca · 03-09-2009, 07:35 PM

When a team hasn't won in years and isn't close isn't that when you should be willing to take a risk?

Chiefnj2 · 03-09-2009, 07:37 PM

The Jaguars beat writer, Vic, wrote about how impressed teams were with Stafford's "blackboard interview" where players are asked to diagram plays and then read formations. He said he was really quick in identifying defenses and calling plays.

Reerun_KC · 03-09-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Detroit would be better off taking Curry, in this week QB class, they should go the safe route and take a cannot miss player like Curry. But that would royally **** us. /Guy in KC sitting on hold waiting for 610 to come back from break.

CrazyHorse · 03-09-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

When a team hasn't won in years and isn't close isn't that when you should be willing to take a risk?

Sounds like a team that's taken too many risks.

jspchief · 03-09-2009, 08:14 PM

Mike Mayock is no Mecca, that's for certain.

StcChief · 03-09-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyHorse

Sounds like a team that's taken too many risks.

or not enough. Like the fine line between 1 too many/1 too few.

Brock · 03-09-2009, 08:30 PM

Detroit would take 5 years to recover? They're still trying to recover from Barry Sanders retiring.

duncan_idaho · 03-09-2009, 08:31 PM

Glad to see I'm not the only person who questions why Stafford didn't consistently play like a superstar with that kind of talent around him.

I actually hope Stafford falls to the Chiefs' spot, though. Then the trade-down options are pretty fantastic.

Nothing would make me happier than watching Stafford go bust in San Francisco, either.

Blick · 03-09-2009, 08:37 PM

I'm with Mayock on his assessment of Stafford.

However, I don't know if the Lions can afford NOT to take a QB.

03-09-2009, 06:36 PM
chop Go Chiefs! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Michigan Casino cash: $894270	Mayock says Lions should not draft Stafford Mayock: Lions should avoid drafting Matt Stafford by Tom Kowalski Monday March 09, 2009, 7:54 PM Mike Mayock, the draft analyst for NFL Network, was a guest on WJR tonight, joining hosts Ken Brown and Mike O'Hara. Here are some highlights from that interview (and the Detroit Lions fans who are hoping the team drafts Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford might be a little disappointed with Mayock's opinions): --- Mayock said he believes that 2009 will be an average draft class without much star power in the top 10. He believes the draft is deep at outside linebacker and tight end but weak at guard and inside linebacker. --- Mayock pointed out that of the last 11 underclassmen quarterbacks to be drafted in the first round, only two have been successful - Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rogers. Mayock pointed out a laundry list of failures - Heath Shuler, Ryan Leaf, Vince Young, Alex Smith and, so far, JaMarcus Russell. Mayock said that if the Lions make a mistake at quarterback with that pick, "they won't recover for five years.'' Mayock spoke very highly of Stafford, saying he has great arm strength and is a good athlete, but also said "There are some things about him that bother me. If I was the Lions, I'd take (Aaron) Curry or one of those left tackles (Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe). "If you have any doubts about the kid, in my opinion, you have to pass. I told everybody last year that Matt Ryan was the guy. I have questions about the guy this year.'' --- Mayock said he sees some similarities between Stafford and Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, especially arm strength, but he sees one big difference. Mayock said Cutler played for a "horrible'' Vanderbilt team but always had his team in a position to win. Stafford, meanwhile, played with two elite receivers and an NFL-caliber running back and "sometimes he looked like Superman and sometimes he looked average ... I say 'Why?''' --- Brown and O'Hara brought up the possibility that if the Lions drafted Curry, they might move him to middle linebacker but Mayock immediately shot that down. Mayock said Curry is the prototype SAM linebacker and shouldn't be moved. http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf...void_draf.html
Posts: 2,964

03-09-2009, 06:51 PM	#2
skky man Starter Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $10004900	I read an article several weeks ago that said some of the georgia coaches were frustrated that Stafford athleticism didn't carry over to the field! Not that he is good but after three years they had hoped for more! I don't see a clear cut top QB in the draft. Sanchez is good or he wouldn't have been a USC, but he never beat out John David Booty either.
Posts: 199

03-09-2009, 06:55 PM	#3
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $-1621756	Detroit would be better off taking Curry, in this week QB class, they should go the safe route and take a cannot miss player like Curry. But that would royally **** us. /Guy in KC sitting on hold waiting for 610 to come back from break.
Posts: 36,996

03-09-2009, 06:59 PM	#4
Ebolapox remember, remember Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: como Casino cash: $-1780097	Le Sigh. the true fan fear runs stong in this crowd.
Posts: 26,523

03-09-2009, 07:33 PM	#5
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-712950	Fear, recover for 5 years, you mean opposed to the 40+ year drought they are in now? Building into an 8-8 team being anyones desire is pretty sad.
Posts: 115,380

03-09-2009, 07:35 PM	#6
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	It's Detriot.... who's to say Rams are completely content with Bugler, though they likely take a LT to replace Pace. __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
Posts: 25,901

03-09-2009, 07:37 PM	#8
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $6654388	The Jaguars beat writer, Vic, wrote about how impressed teams were with Stafford's "blackboard interview" where players are asked to diagram plays and then read formations. He said he was really quick in identifying defenses and calling plays. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,541

03-09-2009, 08:14 PM	#11
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	Mike Mayock is no Mecca, that's for certain. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
Posts: 27,207

03-09-2009, 08:30 PM	#13
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	Detroit would take 5 years to recover? They're still trying to recover from Barry Sanders retiring.
Posts: 47,314

03-09-2009, 08:31 PM	#14
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-2129692	Glad to see I'm not the only person who questions why Stafford didn't consistently play like a superstar with that kind of talent around him. I actually hope Stafford falls to the Chiefs' spot, though. Then the trade-down options are pretty fantastic. Nothing would make me happier than watching Stafford go bust in San Francisco, either. __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 22,442

03-09-2009, 08:37 PM	#15
Blick Veteran Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South KC Casino cash: $10004900	I'm with Mayock on his assessment of Stafford. However, I don't know if the Lions can afford NOT to take a QB.
Posts: 1,209