Sports

KRYK SLANTS: Yeah, that’s how good Matthew Stafford can be

New Rams QB spectacular in first sport after 12-year run in Detroit

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Matthew Stafford all the time could have his haters. A portion of Detroit Lions followers will go to their graves believing the 2009 No. 1 total draft choose was overrated, and under-achieved within the Motor Metropolis.

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Positive. Arguments could be made.

What I’ve heard and realized over 10 seasons of overlaying the NFL, nonetheless, is that expertise evaluators across the league typically don’t maintain the identical important opinions of Stafford.

In 12 seasons as a Lion, Stafford threw for 4,000 yards eight occasions. His critics stated that was largely as a result of Lions groups trailed a lot of the time; Detroit misplaced 90 of Stafford’s 165 begins.

Earlier than he turned the Las Vegas Raiders GM in 2019, Mike Mayock for just a few years provided his mid-season, league-wide assessments for Postmedia readers.

As soon as throughout an interview, unprompted, Mayock simply began gushing about Stafford — that though his Lions groups may lose a lot of the time, the native Texan nonetheless was held in excessive regard across the league, and if he ever turned accessible both by free company or the commerce market, you watch, there’d be a rush to amass him.

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Nicely, the Los Angeles Rams rushed to amass him in January, as soon as phrase bought out that Stafford was empowered by the Lions to hunt a commerce vacation spot. The Rams gave up two first-round draft picks in addition to their very own No. 1 total draft-pick-QB, Jared Goff from 2016 to land Stafford.

Such hefty commerce capital proved Mayock’s level, proper there.

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And on Sunday night time, in his first sport as a Ram, Stafford immediately proved what he may do when he performs on a soundly coached workforce that possesses a stellar defence, an excellent offensive line, a viable run-game menace and a number of harmful broad receivers (inside and out of doors, deep and brief).

The 33-year-old Stafford, in a phrase, was spectacular within the Rams’ authoritative 34-14 win.

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How does 20-of-26 (77%) for 321 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions or fumbles and a near-perfect, league-best-so-far 156.1 passer ranking seize ya?

“He solely threw it 26 occasions however he definitely made probably the most of these performs,” Rams head coach Sean McVay stated. “I believed he did an ideal job. To have the ability to get all these guys concerned (six), the aim is de facto to activate all 5 eligible (receivers). He did a pleasant job of having the ability to go the place the protection dictated. I believe that’s a very powerful factor.”

What impressed McVay most about Stafford?

“I believe it was simply his regular demeanor all through the course of the sport. Identical to you had hoped you’ll see, that you simply had seen in apply, and that you simply had seen from afar.

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“There was a glance in his eye. He had confidence in his teammates. He anticipated to play properly … I beloved all the pieces that he did tonight.”

Stafford’s workforce is 1-0 for under the seventh time in his profession. Don’t count on him to get cocky; 5 of his 12 Lions groups ended September with a successful document, however solely two made the playoffs, with each of these exiting within the opening, wild-card spherical.

Stafford sounded ecstatic afterward, and never with regard to his personal play, however that of these round him.

“It was superior,” he stated. “It was an entire workforce win. Clearly, our defence did an ideal job getting the ball again for us, three or 4 occasions.

“(There was) a whole lot of anticipation for this sport. For me it’s a brand new expertise … a brand new place, new stadium, new followers. The entire deal. However this workforce has embraced me and I actually recognize that … It felt good to go our there and play with them tonight.

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“I’m fortunate to be part of it.”

FIVE FAST FACTS

Baker Mayfield accomplished all eight of his play-action passes for 151 yards at Ok.C., per Subsequent Gen Stats … Getting into Monday night time Philadelphia led the NFL in speeding with 173 yards … Patrick Mahomes accomplished a Sunday-league-high 78% of his third-down passes vs. Cleveland … Aaron Rodgers accomplished a Sunday-league-low of 29% of his third-down throws vs. New Orleans … Minnesota punted eight occasions at Cincinnati.

DEAL WITH IT

The west is the very best. Jim Morrison stated so greater than 50 years in the past, and also you didn’t consider him, huh?

All seven groups that play in both the AFC West or NFC West received their openers on Sunday: Kansas Metropolis, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos within the AFC; Seattle, San Francisco, Arizona and the Rams within the NFC.

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Las Vegas, the one different west-based NFL workforce, opened Monday night time vs. Baltimore with an opportunity to make it 8-for-8.

Conversely, the east is the least. Solely two groups throughout the AFC East and NFC East received in Week 1, and there needed to have been at the very least one except Miami (the victor) and New England performed to a tie, as that was an all-AFC-East matchup.

The opposite japanese exception? The Philadelphia Eagles, who destroyed the Falcons in Atlanta.

TAKING A KNEE

If there’s one constructive from the Buffalo Payments’ dismal 23-16 home-field loss to Pittsburgh, it’s that they misplaced by solely seven factors.

The Steelers fully dominated play within the second half in all three phases, but received by only a landing. In any other case, the one attainable constructive for the Payments after halftime was that they positively stunk.

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Aspiring Tremendous Bowl individuals don’t play like this. Maybe at no time final season did the Payments play so poorly, for therefore lengthy a stretch inside any sport.

The primary offender? Buffalo’s offensive line.

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Quarterback Josh Allen was beneath intense stress from Pittsburgh’s relentless cross rush all afternoon, particularly as utilized by newly paid T.J. Watt, who may properly be the league’s most impactful defender now — sorry, Aaron Donald.

Most disturbingly when you’re a Payments fan is that the Steelers utilized all that stress virtually totally with out blitzing. In keeping with the NFL’s Subsequent Gen Stats, Pittsburgh despatched greater than 4 cross rushers on solely two of Allen’s 54 dropbacks (3.7%) — the second lowest single-game blitz frequency by a Steelers defence in at the very least 5 years.

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Which means the Steelers may afford to drop seven gamers into cross protection, as an alternative of six, or 5. And Pittsburgh is a workforce that blitzed 40% of the time final season, third highest share within the league, behind solely Baltimore and Miami.

Within the first half, Allen nonetheless sometimes appeared just like the QB of final 12 months, when his accuracy on troublesome passes was otherworldly — most notably on his crisp three-yard TD zinger to well-covered wideout Gabriel Davis, which gave Buffalo a 10-0 halftime lead.

After that, what we noticed was far more second-year Josh Allen than third-year. Little of it most likely was his fault. Subsequent Gen Stats says Allen accomplished simply 1-of-8 throws for 5 yards when pressured within the second half. Ouch.

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Allen accomplished fewer than 60% on the day (58.8) together with simply 56% within the second half. He was sacked 3 times, twice after halftime. And whereas he focused his all-pro broad receiver Stefon Diggs 14 occasions and related with him 9 occasions, the longest was for simply 13 yards, 69 complete.

Pittsburgh’s fixed, fast stress all however worn out Allen’s capacity to throw deep.

It was paying homage to Buffalo’s nail-biting win over Pittsburgh final December, and particularly of its AFC championship-game loss at Kansas Metropolis in January, during which Allen was sacked 4 occasions, blitzed 18 occasions and pressured on 23% of his 50-plus drop-backs.

Possibly that’s change into the e book on defending Allen. He’s so dang good now that when you don’t stress the snot out of him, he’ll choose you aside.

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That Buffalo returned its whole beginning offensive line — LT Dion Dawkins, LG Jon Feliciano, C Mitch Morse, RG Cody Ford or Ike Boettger and RT Daryl Williams — was seen as a constructive.

Now the query have to be requested: Is it?

Payments offensive coordinator Brian Daboll may need to draw up extra max-protect performs, and extra quick-pass throws for Allen, over Buffalo’s ultimate 16 video games. Particularly in opposition to blitz-mad Miami this coming Sunday afternoon, within the South Florida sauna. Certainly, the Dolphins blitzed rookie Mac Jones on Sunday a whopping 46% of the time in New England.

Buffalo’s O-line wants assist. Massive-time. As a result of everybody’s gonna come after Josh Allen now. Laborious.

FITZPATRICK GOING ON THE IR WITH HIP INJURY

Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered a hip subluxation Sunday in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, shall be positioned on injured reserve and miss at the very least three weeks, the Washington Soccer Crew confirmed Monday.

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The 38-year-old quarterback may return no sooner than Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, by IR rule.

Taylor Heinicke will begin in Fitzpatrick’s place, head coach Ron Rivera stated, beginning with Thursday night time’s sport in opposition to the New York Giants.

“I believe our guys will rally round him,” Rivera stated of Heinicke throughout his Monday information convention. “He performs a bit of bit like his hair’s on hearth and performs a bit of bit like a gunslinger. However I believe…he’s matured a bit of bit. He understands what he has to do and the way he has to do it. I’m excited to see what’s going to occur.”

PACKERS ‘FOCUSED ON NOW,’ COACH MAINTAINS
Matt LaFleur’s Inexperienced Bay Packers weren’t distracted by all of the low season hypothesis about whether or not quarterback Aaron Rodgers would retire, maintain out or be traded, the top coach stated Monday.

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“No, I believe this workforce’s targeted on now,” LaFleur stated, when requested a few ProFootballTalk.com submit that speculated on that very concept, within the wake of Inexperienced Bay’s 38-3 loss Sunday to New Orleans.

“And sadly, typically on this league you get humbled. And definitely we bought humbled. Like I stated, it’s about how we reply to that. How we come again to work. How we keep collectively. And prepare to play in opposition to a workforce I do know is gonna be actually hungry coming in right here.”

The Packers play host to the Detroit Lions subsequent Monday night time in a matchup of winless NFC East groups, all 4 of that are 0-1.

Backup QB Jordan Love is being groomed to succeed the 37-year-old Rodgers as early as subsequent season.

REPORTS: COWBOYS TO SIGN LIRIM HAJRULLAHU TO PRACTICE SQUAD

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Former CFL placekicker Lirim Hajrullahu — raised partially in St. Catharines, Ont. — is predicted to signal with the Dallas Cowboys apply squad, stories stated Monday night time. 

The Cowboys’ beginning placekicker Greg Zuerlein missed three kicks in Dallas’ loss at Tampa Bay final Thursday. He barely kicked all low season as he recovered from again surgical procedure. 

Hajrullahu, 31, kicked and punted from 2014-19 within the CFL with Winnipeg, Toronto and Hamilton. The Western College grad tried out with the Los Angeles Rams final 12 months earlier than shedding a three-man competitors, and he kicked this previous coaching camp with the Cowboys. 

Seems to be just like the Cowboys need some insurance coverage in case Zuerlein can not regain his previous type. 

JoKryk@postmedia.com

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@JohnKryk

QUARTERBACK RANKINGS

All 32 beginning QBs, after Sunday video games:

  1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas Metropolis. Unbelievable vs. the Browns.
  2. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay. Consolation in Arians’ system exhibits.
  3. Russell Wilson, Seattle. Off to a different scintillating begin.
  4. Aaron Rodgers, Inexperienced Bay. Epic Week 1 clunker. Pattern?
  5. Josh Allen, Buffalo. Barely had time to look downfield.
  6. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland. Elite 1st half. However nonetheless no TDs.
  7. Matthew Stafford, L.A. Rams. Terrific Tinseltown debut.
  8. Dak Prescott, Dallas. Ankle shmankle. What a return!
  9. Kyler Murray, Arizona. 5 TDs already. Fantasy heaven.
  10. Justin Herbert, L.A. Chargers. The child is the true deal.
  11. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh. Second-half precision.
  12. Derek Carr, Las Vegas. Performed Monday night time.
  13. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore. Performed Monday night time.
  14. Teddy Bridgewater, Denver. Give him credit score. Made performs.
  15. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee. With that D, gonna cross so much.
  16. Jameis Winston, New Orleans. 5 TDs on simply 20 passes.
  17. Carson Wentz, Indianapolis. OK. Foot appeared to carry up.
  18. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Fran. 314 yards, no picks at Lions.
  19. Jared Goff, Detroit. Good comeback strive. Now do it earlier.
  20. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati. Sharp 10 months after ACL tear.
  21. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota. Most. Enigmatic. QB. Ever.
  22. Matt Ryan, Atlanta. This rating is charitable. Jeesh.
  23. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville. 51 passes in NFL debut.
  24. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia. Can he do this vs. non-Falcons?
  25. Mac Jones, New England. Crisp, poised and promising.
  26. Sam Darnold, Carolina. Seemed fairly good in new locale.
  27. Andy Dalton, Chicago. Place-holder for Justin Fields.
  28. Tyrod Taylor, Houston. It was the Jags, however he was good.
  29. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami. One thing’s not there. Fortunate W.
  30. Tayler Heinicke, Washington. His job with Fitz (hip) out.
  31. Zach Wilson, N.Y. Jets. 14/21 in 2nd half. Can construct on that.
  32. Daniel Jones, N.Y. Giants. Simply doesn’t make large performs.

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THIS WEEK

Fast ideas on Week 2 video games (all on Sunday except famous):

  • Giants at WashingtonFT, Thursday, 8:20 ET: With Fitz out, Taylor Heinicke’s flip to outplay Daniel Jones.
  • Saints at Panthers, 1 ET: Jameis Winston impressed as Saints’ new QB. What if he has to cross so much?
  • Bengals at Bears, 1 ET: Hey, Cincinnati may go 2-0 vs. the NFC North to begin the season.
  • Texans at Browns, 1 ET: The Browns aren’t the Jags. Don’t count on Houston to maintain it shut.
  • Rams at Colts, 1 ET: Matthew Stafford certain impressed together with his new workforce. Carson Wentz together with his? Not unhealthy.
  • Broncos at Jaguars, 1 ET: Teddy Bridgewater rewarded Broncos coaches’ religion: 78% completions, 115.7 ranking.
  • Payments at Dolphins, 1 ET: Two regular-season video games in the past the Payments squished the fish 56-26. They usually’re mad this time.
  • Patriots at Jets, 1 ET: Loser drops to 0-2 to sit down in AFC East basement. Do you actually consider it’ll be New England?
  • 49ers at Eagles, 1 ET: We must get a greater concept of simply how good Philly QB Jalen Hurts is in opposition to this defence.
  • Raiders at Steelers, 1 ET: Quick week for Vegas. Pittsburgh’s defence is mighty imposing.
  • Vikings at Cardinals, 4:05 ET: What a disappointing Week 1 loss for Minnesota. An 0-2 begin appears probably.
  • Falcons at Buccaneers, 4:05 ET: Boy, Arthur Smith’s debut as Falcons head coach certain was a stinker. Good day, 0-2.
  • Cowboys at Chargers, 4:25 ET: Zak’s again. So is Justin Herbert. Two of the very best QBs within the league right here.
  • Titans at Seahawks, 4:25 ET: Strain’s on Titans, however their unhealthy defence of ’20 could be even worse in ’21.
  • Chiefs at Ravens, 8:20 ET: Ok.C. rush defence chewed up by Cleveland (5.9 yards per carry). Look out.
  • Lions at Packers, Monday, 8:15 ET: If the game-show-host-in-waiting actually is all in, now’s the time to indicate it.

BYES: None.

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