Three Degrees Of Pat Caputo

Three reasons I think Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will put up big numbers during the 2010 season:
1. He is a year older, a year stronger, a year wiser. A quarterback makes his biggest jump forward between his first and second seasons for those reasons.
2. The Lions defense should be improved. There should be fewer situations when Stafford is pinned back deep in his own end. Also, the Lions will not likely fall behind big as early and as often this coming season, meaning opposing defenses won't just be expecting Stafford to pass.
3. The Lions have a tight end in Tony Scheffler, who is athletic enough to split the middle of a zone defense. They also have an excellent possession receiver in Nate Burleson. They had neither last season. It was either Calvin Johnson or bust during Stafford's rookie season.