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The quarterback doesn't seem concerned.
"There was definitely some fun challenges for me,Cheap Jerseys," he said of the time he's spent working with Caldwell and Lombardi.
"I still think he's one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and I think he's going to prove it this year."
"Our head coach has been to Super Bowls, has won Super Bowls," he said of head coach Jim Caldwell, who won Super Bowls as an assistant coach in Tampa Bay and Baltimore and was hired after Detroit fired Jim Schwartz at the end of a 7-9 season.
The Lions play their preseason opener Aug. 9 against visiting Cleveland.
Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who spent the past five seasons as Drew Brees' quarterbacks coach in New Orleans, also should help as the Stafford looks to reverse a run that has seen his yardage and completion percentage drop slightly in each of the past two seasons.
When the Lions throw, they still have All-Pro wideout Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, who won the Super Bowl last season with Seattle. The Lions drafted tight end Eric Ebron in the first round and re-signed tight end Brandon Pettigrew. Lombardi, who comes from Saints coach Sean Payton's pass-heavy scheme, should have plenty to work with.
"Learning a new offense, new coaches: That part of it is fun. It's a challenge but we're excited about it."
The Lions threw a lot in past seasons, mostly because they were one of the NFL's worst running teams. The addition of free agent Reggie Bush before last season,NFL Cheap Jerseys, coupled with the emergence of tailback Joique Bell, could mean less pressure on Stafford.
But that accomplishment got lost in the closing stretch of a disappointing season.
Stafford's teammates also have confidence in his ability to bounce back.
He finished last season with 17,457 yards passing to surpass Hall of Famer Bobby Layne's team record, but he threw five interceptions during a late three-game skid that dropped the Lions out of playoff contention.
"There's pressure on him every single year," guard Rob Sims said. "But he's really stepping up.
Notes: The Lions took the field Tuesday afternoon with 89 men on the roster. The team is expected to have a full squad of 90 players by Wednesday. . The team will practice in Detroit tomorrow,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, but not at Ford Field. Wayne State,NFL Jerseys Supply, Bell's alma mater, welcomes the Lions on Wednesday evening for a public practice. ... Several coaches from Rose Bowl champion Michigan State,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, including defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, attended Tuesday's practice. ... Caldwell said Friday afternoon's practice will be the team's first in full pads.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Matthew Stafford became the Detroit Lions' all-time leading passer last season.
"Having those guys around the building means a lot to us,Wholesale NFL Jerseys. It's something we haven't had in the past."
He's still looking to regain his form from his only playoff season, when he ended 2011 with 5,038 yards and 41 touchdown passes with just 16 interceptions. He's thrown more interceptions each season since. The arrival of a new coaching staff could be just the thing. |
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