Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford will be out for blood in 2020

It’s been a turbulent offseason for the Detroit Lions, and we are just getting started.  Who will be the teams’ starting quarterback come week one of the 2020 season?  I have my guess, and he’ll be out for vengeance mark my words.

When the Detroit Lions kick off the 2020 regular season, I’m fully confident Matthew Stafford will be under center, leading the offense down the field.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Stafford plays with a chip on his shoulder after an offseason filled with trade and draft rumors.

Don’t be surprised if Stafford follows up a stellar (statistical) 2019 campaign with the most efficient season of his eleven-year career.  Before being shut down with a back injury, Stafford was on pace to lead the league in touchdown passes (38), top-five in passing yards plus he wasn’t turning the ball over as much as he had in years past.

The franchise quarterback came out dealing with his newly appointed offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.  Bevell was a significant upgrade to Jim Bob Cooter, who Stafford lobbied for when Matt Patricia took over as the team’s head coach.  Patricia obliged, but one can only assume Stafford had been sick of learning a new system after new system.  Entering his tenth season, he likely wished for a familiar face within the new coaching regime.

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Jim Bob Cooter regularly called an abundance of underneath short passing routes, much too often short of the line to gain.  With Stafford under center having one of the strongest arms in the entire league, why are you consistently calling three and five-yard routes on third and seven?  I don’t know if I will ever get over that.

Although the Detroit Lions used plenty of play-action play calls under Jim Bob Cooter it often ended with two hitches, two football pats from Stafford, and finished with a check-down to a running back short of the marker.  It had to be the most frustrating play calling that I can recall in years.

Darrell Bevell changed all of that last season.  Bevell’s downfield passing attack fits Stafford’s arm talent perfectly.  Bevell’s system eventually will define Stafford if all goes to plan.  Expect big things.

The man known for NOT giving Marshawn Lynch the football on the one-yard line in the Super Bowl is determined not to let that define him as a coach.  What better way than to help turn the Detroit Lions around?  Sure he’s not the head coach, but I don’t hear many people bickering about the offensive production last season.

Expect Matthew Stafford, who is regularly quiet when it comes to the media to come out firing darts in 2020.  You don’t think he hears the Tua Tagovailoa draft chatter?  Of course, he does.  He clearly knows about the absurd trade rumor Bob Quinn smothered about the organization fielding trade offers for his services.

Now he has to deal with this from Michael Silver…

Are you kidding me?  Just when Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia seemingly squashed the trade rumors, this comes out?  I don’t believe it.  Not because I’m a ‘homer’ or ‘closed-minded,’ it’s just out of character.

How many times have we heard Stafford complain or call out the organization publically?  Exactly.  He usually keeps to himself, maintains a relatively low profile, and his wife Kelly posted on her Instagram account regarding the first rumors, “Well, if Detroit is done with us.”  Not WE ARE DONE WITH DETROIT.

That’s a big difference, folks.  With all due respect to Michael Silver, who is much more connected than I, I believe this is some more blowing smoke.  Regardless it should fuel the Tua to Detroit draft rumors, which is excellent for the Lions; it will continue to build the ever so valuable draft stock.

Since then, Kelly Stafford posted a series of messages on Instagram claiming the Stafford’s love Detroit and aren’t going anywhere.  Quickly after that, Michael Silver then posted this;

After an offseason of ill-advised rumors expect Stafford to have an ‘I’ll show you’ type season in 2020.  I expect an improved roster, along with everyone being crisp and familiar with the Bevell system.

Don’t let Stafford’s skewed 8-55 career record against playoff teams scare you away.  Sure, plenty of those games a franchise quarterback needs to find a way to win, but the Lions organization/front office has been atrocious for much of his time under center.  Expect a determined Stafford to start to right the ship in 2020 with much to prove.