SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Marvin Jones Jr. was deep downfield, a step past everyone. It’s a play the Detroit Lions had completed over and over again last season. It’s the type of play Matthew Stafford is known for – the quarterback with the exceedingly strong arm capable of finding any receiver in almost any spot on the field.
But this week and last week, something about Stafford has been off. He hasn’t quite been the same when he has looked deep, taking away the vertical portion of an offense that had the potential to be lethal with Jones on one side and Kenny Golladay on the other.