Mike O'Hara

Lions, fans need patience with Stafford

It is OK to have doubts about Matthew Stafford.

It is fair -- more than fair, really -- to question whether Stafford will be the solution to the Lions' half-century search for a franchise-leading quarterback.

Quarterbacks get a heaping share of glory and gold. It goes with the position. So do the doubts.

It doesn't make you a traitor to your team or a quarterback-baiting wacko to wonder if any young quarterback will be a long-term winner.

The Lions' 1-7 record at the halfway point of their season clouds the judgment of all areas of the team -- including the quarterback. The won-lost record is the ultimate barometer.

My take on Stafford: his talent and demeanor will make him a big-time player and winner. But that's just my take, and it doesn't come with a guarantee.

With the season half over, this week's Monday Countdown focuses on the quarterback position, how the Lions compare to last year in key areas, and the league's best and worst.

There is also an incisive comment made last week by Gunther Cunningham, the Lions' defensive coordinator, that sheds light on an overbearing mindset inherited by head coach Jim Schwartz and his staff.

The countdown

We start with Stafford:

1. Manning vs. Stafford: Peyton Manning is the standard for all quarterbacks drafted first overall. He was drafted first overall by the Colts in 1998 and is a certain Hall of Famer.

Manning had a rough beginning. In his first six starts, he threw six TD passes against 14 interceptions.

That is almost identical to what Stafford has done in his first six starts -- five TD passes, 12 interceptions.

Manning took every snap as a rookie. Stafford has missed two starts because of a knee injury.

In his last 10 games, Manning showed his Hall of Fame potential -- 20 TD passes against 14 interceptions -- on a team that finished 3-13.

I doubt -- there's that word again, "doubt" -- if Stafford will match Manning's finishing stats. An even split of TD passes to interceptions will be acceptable.

2. Colts' building plan: Manning inherited Marvin Harrison as a primary receiver. In Calvin Johnson, Stafford has a big, talented target.

The Colts' 1998 record gave them the fourth pick in the 1999 draft. They took running back Edgerrin James. That gave them a Hall of Fame-caliber trio of Manning, Harrison and James.

In 1999, the Colts were 13-3 -- and they were led by the young offensive stars.

Manning was third in the NFL in passing yards, behind Steve Beuerlein of Carolina and Kurt Warner of the Rams. Harrison led the NFL with 1,663 receiving yards. James won the rushing title with 1,553 yards.

I doubt sincerely if the Lions -- or any team -- will come close to matching that in 2010.

3. Faith in Stafford: The Lions' coaching staff obviously has it. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan doesn't call plays to protect the rookie. Granted, he doesn't have a runner to take pressure off, either.

Early in Sunday's 32-20 loss at Seattle, Fox network color analyst Charles Davis made this comment: "This is a rookie whose setback has been injury, not necessarily his play."

It was a reference to the knee injury that kept Stafford out of two games.

In his blog in The Detroit News, John Niyo raised the question of whether Stafford's knee is fully healthy. Great point.

In his two games back from the injury, Stafford appears to be less accurate late in the game. Perhaps he lacks strength and endurance because of the injury.

The answer: keep playing him. It's part of being a pro quarterback. He has to learn to compensate.

4. Losing mentality: In a conversation late last week, Cunningham was asked about breakdowns late in games. Against the Rams, the defense gave up its first touchdown in seven quarters on the last possession. It was crunch time, and the defense failed.

"It's all the compilation of losing for years around here," Cunningham said.

Cunningham's point was clear. A decade of losing gives the players no basis for confidence to come through in the clutch.

5. Rookie crop: The first 10 minutes of Sunday's game could have been a highlight reel for the Lions' top three draft picks.

Stafford had two TD passes. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew, drafted 20th on the first round, had his first TD catch as a pro. And safety Louis Delmas, the first player drafted on the second round, had an interception.

It was a breakout game for Pettigrew, with seven catches. The model for Pettigrew is Mark Bavaro, a monster blocker and receiver for the Giants in the 1990s.

6. Feeling the draft: The Lions are on the clock, with a top five pick well in hand for 2010. Ndamukong Suh, a defensive tackle from Nebraska, has size (6-4, 295 pounds), quickness and explosive power.

If he's on the board, he's the favorite to be a Lion.

Subject to change, of course.

7. Lions' offensive comparison: After eight games, here's how they compare to last year's final 16-game stats, on a per-game basis:

Total yards: 293.5 vs. 268.3 -- a gain of 25 yards.

Rushing yards: 104.4 vs. 83.3 -- a gain of 21.1.

Passing yards: 189.1 vs. 185 -- a gain of 4.1.

Offensive TDs: 1.5 (6 passing, 6 rushing) vs. 1.75 per game -- a decline of .25.

Sacks allowed: No change -- 3.25 per game both years.

8. Lions' defensive comparison:

Defensive TDs allowed: 26 (7 rushing, 19 passing) or 3.25 per game vs. 3.5 last year -- an improvement of .25 per game.

Total yards allowed: 373.0 vs. 404.0, an improvement of 31.

Rushing yards allowed: 109.9 vs. 172.1, an improvement of 62.2

Passing yards allowed: 263.1 vs. 232.3, 30.8 more than last year.

9. Special teams comparison :

Forget stats. Coverage and breakdowns are still gruesome.

10. Line of respect: The Lions don't get much respect anywhere, Las Vegas included. The early line for Sunday's game at Minnesota favors the Vikings by 16 points. It will be the seventh time in nine games that the Lions have been underdogs by 10 points or more.

The NFL's best

1. Saints (8-0): They've cracked a little the last two weeks but haven't broken.

2. Colts (8-0): Ditto.

3. Vikings (7-1): Coming off a bye, with a three-game lead in the NFC North.

4. Patriots (6-2): Their points differential is plus-110.

5. Cowboys (6-2): They've shown rare heart in a four-game winning streak.By

The NFL's worst

28. Chiefs (1-7): Two late TDs made Sunday's loss to Jacksonville look respectable.

29. Redskins (2-6): Another week, another drubbing.

30. Rams (1-7): One win, over the 1-7 Lions.

31. Lions (1-7): Five straight is the NFL's longest active losing streak. They've also lost 16 straight on the road.

32. Browns (1-7): The housecleaning has begun -- but the stench remains.

Contact Mike O'Hara at mike@mikeoharasports.com