DETROIT – The change hasn’t been transformational, but incremental. Every week, Matthew Stafford looks a bit sharper, a bit more comfortable and a bit more relaxed in the Detroit Lions offense.
There’s a reason for that, too: Jim Bob Cooter.
The relationship between the offensive coordinator, Cooter, and his quarterback, Stafford, has been developing over the past two seasons. It grew even more when Cooter was promoted to take over for Joe Lombardi earlier this season.
And it’s now turning Stafford into a sharp, consistent quarterback. In an offseason that will have a ton of questions – from what will happen to the front office, coaching staff and key players – one thing that is starting to come into clarity is this: The Lions need to put trying to retain Cooter on their want-to list.