Stafford is the anti-Murray, right? And his franchise has surrounded him with pieces, trying to win big during his career - all based on his big arm.
I hold fast to the idea that a team (NFL and/or college) can be held hostage by elite QB talent.
The Tennessee Vols tied all their flags to the Manning boat and never won their division. The year after he left, playing a diverse offense that utilized multiple players instead of emphasizing one - they won the national championship.
The Lions' flags are all tied to the USS Stafford and it's yielding nothing. His big arm has held his franchise's resources hostage.
But I'm probably wrong.
I think that's a matter of seeing patterns and turning it into parable.
For the Tenn/Manning part, it really comes down to Florida. The 1998 Florida offense lost its best player and just plain got worse and was on the road. Manning scored 20 in Gainesville. UT scored 17 at home in regulation with like 235 total yards and won after a crazy scramble set up a field goal and then Florida missed from 9 yards closer and was a fingertip away from a game-winning score. That Vols team was good, but it was also the team that just won ALL the close games (Manning got 1997 Nebraska in his bowl. Martin got a team without a starting QB).
Now, watching a few clips, it didn't seem like they'd gone true option or anything (might be wrong). Just seemed like they were the same I-form team but with a more mobile QB. One could argue the run over pass emphasis helped, but on that front, I'd turn it back to UF. The Gators loved to sling it around, and fielded some awesome title-contending teams, and the only one they got kinda lucky to do so. Was the pass emphasis what held them back, or was it just other better teams?
On Stafford, he came in after Johnson, and at some point had Tate, beyond that, did they build around him that well? Best back was Reggie Bush, next best receiver was ... who? Had one defense higher than 13th? I guess it's this. Detroit is mostly bad. Stafford is good, not great. If Stafford holding Detroit back, or is he one of the things keeping them not always terrible.