Jeff George Syndrome?

The destiny of each NFL franchise is up for grabs this Saturday. The decisions that are made during Saturday's draft are going to chart the path of your team for several years to come. If you look at the most successful franchises in the NFL they all are outstanding talent evaluators and draft really well. This is the week when the pre-draft chatter and predictions get ratcheted up a notch. It looks like the Lions are projected to take Matthew Stafford the QB from Georgia. Would that be a prudent decision that could have the Lions back on track as a franchise, or just the latest in a series of disastrous Lions' choices that led them to the first 0-16 record ever?

I tend to think it would be the latter. I think its a symptom of a trend in the NFL that I just don't understand. The scouting report on Stafford reads something like this. The kid has a GREAT arm and can make all the NFL throws, but is inconsistent with his accuracy and decision making. My question is, why is the first part of that scouting report enough to outweigh the second part? In the title of this post I evoke the name of the legendary Jeff George. The greatest workout quarterback of all time (pretty impressive mullet as well). His time in the NFL was just a series of recurring second chances due to his great arm. It doesn't matter how well you can throw the football if you don't throw it in the right place. His mediocrity is a testament to how overrated arm strength is for an NFL quarterback. Now lets talk about a quarterback who actually won something, Joe Montana. This guy didn't have the big arm that scouts are so enamored with. However he always made great decisions and put the ball where it needed to be. That is what makes a great quarterback. I would argue that arm strength has the least to do with your success in the NFL. Ok so lets bring it back to the Lions and their monumental decision coming up. They are a team that lost 16 last year, so they need a whole lot of help everywhere. They can't afford to miss with this pick. Stafford might turn out to be a fine QB, but if his inconsistencies from college continue to manifest themselves at the next level, they are in trouble. This doesn't take into account the fact that their young QB would be stepping into a horrible situation with minimal chance to succeed. With this pick I think they need to take a player they can plug in right away, that will have an immediate and lasting impact on their franchise. That means either going with Jason Smith, the OT from Baylor, or Aaron Curry, the LB from Wake Forest. Curry from all accounts is as close to a can't miss prospect as there is in this draft. The Lions' defense is just as awful as their offense, and they could surely use a playmaker like him. However, I think the best pick would be Smith. He is a guy that you can build your offensive line around for the next ten years. He doesn't have nearly as many question marks or bust potential as taking a QB. The Lions also could address linebacker with their other first round pick at #20(Cushing, Maualuga, or Matthews from USC or Lauranitis from Ohio State). Then with a solid base of young productive players(especially along the offensive line, Smith and Gosder Cherilus RT they drafted last year) it puts the Lions in the position to target a QB next year either in the draft, free agency, or a trade.

So it comes down to this, do the Lions get mesmerized by the big arm, or do they make a pick that will start the slow and steady turn around of their franchise? If history tells us anything, they will gamble on Stafford. I hope it pans out for them, but I just don't understand the logic of taking a guy who has question marks about the most important skills an NFL QB possesses.