Detroit Lions Tickets - Ready To Roar On Offense

The Detroit Lions have only won two games over the course of the past two seasons

. They experienced a winless 2008 campaign that was extremely tough on players and fans alike, but sometimes an organization needs to bottom out to build itself back up again. The Indianapolis Colts had to bottom out to get Peyton Manning, and the Lions bottomed out and landed Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford. That is not to say that Stafford is the next Peyton Manning, but his selection could be viewed as a turning point in Detroit Lions history.

With a new regime in place from the general manager to the head coach, the Lions used the number one overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft to select Stafford, a player that had been considered a potential top pick since his high school days. Equipped with a rocket arm and great poise, Stafford looked like he could be the franchise savior that the organization needed. Going into 2009, the demand of Detroit Lions tickets increased and has been steadily doing so since. The Lions won a mere two games last season but showed significant promise, especially on offense. 2010 could be the year the Lions again begin to roar.

Stafford's rookie season stats won't jump out at you. His 13 touchdowns and 20 interceptions are not all that impressive, but the tale is not completely told in the season stats. Stafford played in just 10 games last season due to injury, so the 13 touchdowns are actually fairly solid. When considering the lofty interception total, keep in mind that Manning threw 28 picks as a rookie. Stafford was handed the reins to an offense very early in his career and was given a lot of leeway; he was bound to make his fair share of mistakes, but they were accompanied by some highlights as well.

The defining moment of Stafford's rookie season came in a Week 11 matchup with Cleveland. Detroit fell behind big in the first quarter, but Stafford led his team back, capping it off by tossing a last-second touchdown pass with a separated shoulder. Stafford showed real toughness and grit in the victory, establishing himself as a leader in the process. He finished the contest with 422 yards and five touchdowns.

Stafford has the benefit of throwing passes to arguably one of the most physically gifted receivers to ever put on pads, Calvin Johnson. Johnson struggled with some injuries in 2009, but looks poised for a monster 2010 campaign. His vertical speed and leaping ability is a perfect fit with Stafford's cannon for an arm. These two players could be one of the dynamic duos of the league for years to come. Opposing defenses won't be able to focus solely on Johnson in 2010 either, as they did for good chunks 2009. The team brought over wideout Nate Burleson, a solid receiver in his own right, to play opposite Megatron and draw some attention away from the potential All-Pro.

Stafford's weapons don't end there. The Lions also did well to land running back Jahvid Best in the draft this offseason. Best slipped to the latter part of the first round mainly because he was coming off a concussion that sidelined him for a good portion of his final collegiate season. However, Best is a comparable player to Buffalo's C.J. Spiller, who was taken in the top 10. Best is a speedy back that gives the team a home run threat, but his most attractive attribute could be his ability as a receiver out of the backfield. In Best, Stafford will have a good check-down option that can really make things happen after the catch. The Lions also brought in pass-catching tight end Tony Scheffler to pair with the versatile Brandon Pettigrew.

With all of these weapons at Stafford's disposal, as well as a developing offensive line, the Lions could be one of the more surprisingly potent offenses in the National Football League in 2010. They're young, but they're also extremely talented and hungry to improve as a unit. Do not sleep on the Lions this season and hope that your favorite team doesn't either.

by: Pat Smith

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