He had to compete with Daunte Culpepper for the starting job as a rookie, and injuries kept him off the field most of last year, but there's no doubt the Lions are Matthew Stafford's team now.
Although the NFL lockout limits what teams can do this off-season, Stafford has played a pivotal role in trying to keep the offense fine-tuned for the fall.
He brought rookie receiver Titus Young to Georgia for a throwing session shortly after the draft and helped organize two sets of player-led workouts at Birmingham Detroit Country Day. Stafford is one of about 18 Lions who have attended all seven practices. On Thursday, when not taking the offense through a play script, he spent one-on-one time with Young and fellow second-round pick Mikel Leshoure.
Leshoure said Stafford walked him through the concepts of the offense with simple pass protections and basic running plays. Stafford and Young spent about 10 minutes throwing after the workout, and when Young stopped to talk to reporters, Stafford played gatekeeper and cut the session short so Young could keep his appointment with a realtor.
"They're part of our team now, and potentially very valuable parts of it, so it's on me to try and teach them up as much as I can," Stafford said. "I like doing it. Me teaching them keeps me sharp as well. I've got to be on my P's and Q's to teach them the right stuff at the right times. That's good for me to be thinking like that."
