[Stormin' Norman]

Originally Posted by Buddha

Washington is a really good run defense and a below average pass defense. Chicago was a decent run defense and an average pass defense (until yesterday, and their numbers will obviously show a drop).

Neither is a really great defense. Against each, Stafford had a good game. Not great, not amazing, he didn't singlehandedly win either game. He played well.

Do you believe the Lions would have defeated the Redskins with Daunte Culpepper was QB?

Well, I don't have a problem giving Stafford credit for his success. However, I choose to see his success in the proper context: ie.: he had GOOD games, not great games, and he certainly didn't single handedly win anything.

I think I've been pretty fair to Stafford. I think you've been a sycophant. Nothing wrong with that if that's what you want to be, but to say you don't have rose colored glasses when it comes to Stafford is to deny reality.

Do I have lofty expectations for Stafford? Absolutely. Does that tint my observations of what he has done? No. What I expect Stafford to become is irrelevant to his play of today.

A talent like Shaun Smith? Really? You mean the guy who is so talented he's currently not on any NFL roster? That guy? Yeah, I imagine that Hill was so good he could beat out a guy who's not on anyone's roster at the moment. He must be the next Mean Joe Greene.

Again, you completely misunderstand (or intentionally misrepresent) exactly what I was saying.

Shaun Smith is a very intriguing physical specimen, especially for the weakest defensive line unit in the league (the Lions). For the Lions to feel like they could afford to get rid of a large, athletic defensive linemen (even with character concerns and a four game suspension pending) says something about Hill.

As I said in my last post, Hill's ability to start for the Lions as a rookie does not mean he is destined to be an all time great, or even a Pro Bowler. It does mean, however, that he is a player capable of out playing veteran lineman and that is impressive for a fourth round pick out of Stillman.

Not to ME it doesn't...

Not to anyone it doesn't.

He's been ok! OK! He's not Lawrence ****ing Taylor for God's sake!

I never said he's a bust, I said it's not a big deal that he's starting over sub-par NFL players! He's shown flashes, that's an accurate assessment, IMO.

I never said he was LT, but for you to dismiss his success (as you have done) to criticize the talent evaluations abilities of the current administration should be enough for anyone to question your objectiveness.

How much time has he seen so far?

None, which, as you must know, is completely irrelevant.

There you go! It's good to see you coming to your senses.

All you had to do was read what I have already written.

ANNNNNNNNNNNNND STOP!

I agree with that. He has looked at times this season like a good NFL quarterback.

To me, that separates him from the 2% of the league that isn't named Jamarcus Russell and Derrick Anderson.

The kid has talent, we've seen some of it. He's also got weaknesses, the same weaknesses he had at Georgia. If he can improve on those weaknesses, he might be Phillip Rivers or Jay Cutler. If he can't, he'll be Jeff George.

And I believe the biggest thing separating Cutler from George (and, to a lesser extent, Cutler from Favre) is all mental. Jeff George is a self centered ego maniac as he proves every time he complains that no NFL teams are calling him for his services. Cutler has a similar ego, but learned hot to be a leader while playing for the black hole that is Vanderbilt football.

I don't see how you can say that a guy with a QB rating of 55 isn't a weakness on the team. FIFTY-FIVE! He's had two productive games (which were good games, not great games) and he's had four VERY subpar games. VERY SUBPAR.

Stats don't tell the story.

Again, ********. I look at Stafford as a rookie with potential. You look at Stafford as more talented right now than Peyton Manning.

Who is being more realistic?

I felt replying with gross hyperbole with gross hyperbole was appropriate.