Odell Beckham Jr. gives take on Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford finally won the elusive Lombardi Trophy and helped superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. revitalize his career along the way.
After getting traded from the Browns to the Rams in November to help LA continue to make a run at the Super Bowl, the former LSU star proved to be a pivotal piece. He hauled in 27 receptions for 305 yards and five touchdowns with the Rams before tearing his ACL in the first half of the big game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.
Earlier this week, Beckham took to social media to express his support for Stafford.
Remembering Matthew Stafford as a generational QB recruit
Matthew Stafford‘s combination of arm strength, dexterity and lightning-quick release made for one of the top high school talents we’ve ever seen at the position. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder effortlessly drove the football to all levels of the field. The ball shot out of his hand. Stafford paired that arm talent with outstanding feet and very good mobility outside the pocket.
On3 Senior National Recruiting Analyst Gerry Hamilton has covered recruiting in the state of Texas for two decades and saw Stafford up close on several occasions.
“The thing that stood out to me was how he could deliver the ball from any arm angle,” says Hamilton. “He was accurate under duress if he dropped his arm. If he was rolling to his left or right under duress – he made accurate throws when the heat was on him. He had the ability to extend the play. Then when he was in the pocket, his arm talent was on another level. He could be late seeing something and still rip the ball in there and the DB didn’t have time to react. He was a natural back shoulder thrower.”
Matthew Stafford was not only a pure arm talent. He was technically advanced, particularly as a senior at Highland Park.
“It’s always underrated with quarterbacks, but man, he was a great ball handler,” Hamilton adds. “He maxed out fakes and it made him really good in the screen game and quick game. He was so smooth.”
Where does Stafford stack up among Lone Star state quarterbacks Hamilton has seen in the past 20 years?
“I think he is the best natural passer of anybody in the state during that time. I don’t see how you could say anything differently. I don’t think he had the strongest arm – but he’s right there. Ryan Mallett had the strongest arm any of us have ever seen in this business. But I think Matthew Stafford was the most natural passer of anybody. The only guy that would be comparable is Kyler Murray.”