Any quarterback at any level is at a bit of a disadvantage when working with a brand new offensive coordinator. There is a new playbook, new terminology, and it takes time to really feel comfortable with the offense.
http://gty.im/835655726
Detroit Lions‘ quarterback Matthew Stafford is not only dealing with a new OC in 2019 but he is also dealing with something much more important than football.
Stafford’s wife Kelly is recovering from brain surgery, which she had just over a month ago. There have been some ups and downs but Kelly seems to be making progress, as she has noted in her Instagram updates.
Because of the timing of the surgery, Matthew has been forced to worry about his job and his wife at the same time.
That being said, on Tuesday at Lions’ OTAs, he told reporters that when he is at the Lions’ facilities, he 100% committed to football.
From Detroit Free Press:
“When I’m here, I’m here,” Stafford said. “There’s maybe some time before practice in the locker room or something, just checking in, making sure everything’s OK. But when I’m out here I’ve got to be locked in. I feel like (I’ve had) a lot of practice at my position being able to kind of compartmentalize what’s going on. And if I’m out here thinking about something else it’s going to be an ugly day for the offense so I’m trying to do everything I can to be locked in.”
Stafford is focused on learning the offense a quickly and efficiently as he can so he is ready to lead the Lions to a successful 2019 season.
“Obviously we didn’t win as many games as we wanted to last year, to a man probably didn’t play as good as we could, myself included, no question,” Stafford said. “But I’m motivated every year I come in, whether it’s by the past or really just looking forward to the future, I want to go out there and win games. I want to play as good as I can possibly play and if I play really well it’s going to help our team have a chance to win. So that’s what it’s all about at this point and I’m just trying to do everything I can.”
