Stafford voted Lions Chuck Hughes Most Improved Player

The Lions’ front office and coaching staff never had any doubts about Matthew Stafford’s talents as he struggled to stay healthy the first two years of his career.

Injuries robbed Stafford of 19 games his first two seasons, but the Lions never lost faith in their No. 1 pick.

“Obviously there’s a reason that we drafted him and there’s a reason that we stood behind him,” said Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. “I’d say this: I don’t want to say we’re just scratching the surface, because it’s hard to say that when you throw for 5,000 yards, but it’s only the beginning.

“It’s only beginning for this team, it’s only beginning for our offense, it’s only the beginning for Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and everybody else. Going to the playoffs, and starting, being injured — all those different things. You know, he was up to all of it and I think that’s a good feeling as we move forward.”

Stafford played in all 17 games for the Lions this season and was voted the Lions Chuck Hughes Most Improved Player Award by his teammates.

The award is presented to the player who, because of hard work and determination, showed significant development and improvement during the past year.

It was never a question of talent with Stafford, it was durability, and he’s put those concerns to bed. I’m not sure anyone, even the the Lions, was expecting the kind of season Stafford had in 2011, though.

Stafford set Lions’ single-season records for passing yards (5,038), touchdowns (41), completions (421), attempts (663) and quarterback rating (97.2).

“I see him as one of the top quarterbacks in the league,” said Lions general manager Martin Mayhew. “I don’t think anybody’s holding out and still evaluating that. Five thousand yards, 41 touchdowns – he’s a great, young player. He’s 23 years old and he’s a franchise quarterback, so I was really thrilled to see what he did.”

With a healthy Stafford for 16 games during the regular season, the Lions won 10 games for the first time since 1995 and qualified for their first playoffs in 12 years.

Stafford became just the seventh quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 4,500 yards, 35 touchdowns and win 10 games in a season. The other quarterbacks on that list include: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner and Drew Brees.

Stafford also became the second youngest player behind Marino to throw for 5,000 yards in a season.

The most impressive thing about Stafford’s season was that he was at his best when the season was on the line. He threw for 1,511 yards and 14 touchdowns over the final four games of the regular season when the Lions were fighting for a playoff spot.

“To play Oakland and be down and have to drive 90-some yards to win it, he made those plays; to go touchdown-for-touchdown with the Packers and just run out of time in that game; then to play like he did on the road against the Saints (in) the playoff game,” Mayhew said of Stafford in a interview last week with Sports Radio 790 in Atlanta. “He’s an outstanding player. Nobody in this building ever doubted his abilities or his ability to stay healthy.”

The award is given in memory of Chuck Hughes, a Lions reserve wide receiver who played two seasons with the Lions in 1970 and 71. Hughes is the only NFL player to have died during action on the football field, having suffered a fatal heart attack during the Lions’ game against the Bears October 24, 1971.