Stafford solid during pro day

ATHENS, Ga. – In the pantheon of recent elite college quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford was everything NFL teams expected him to be at the University of Georgia pro day on Thursday.

Stafford threw 50 passes in all, showcasing every route NFL teams typically hope to see. Interestingly, he put the passing script together, eschewing preparation that is typically left up to college coaches or passing gurus. Four passes were overthrown, and a few others required adjustments from his receivers, which were comprised of current or former Georgia players whom Stafford had played with previously. While it couldn't be termed a perfect workout, a sampling of the 70 NFL scouts, coaches and executives termed it a solid performance.

Stafford gets ready to throw a pass on Thursday.

(John Bazemore/AP Photo)

"We're happy with what we saw," said Seattle Seahawks president Tim Ruskell, whose team owns the No. 4 overall pick in next month's NFL draft. "He's obviously done it on the film and he's done it over a period of years. Everybody would have a different impression of that, but he's a great kid. He had a nice workout."

Stafford spent much of the day milling around and watching other players perform before adjourning to another field to warm up for his workout. At one point during his warm-up session, he took two steps forward and heaved a perfect 60-yard pass – a feat that went almost unnoticed as the majority of coaches and executives were still gathered around an adjacent field.

But Stafford didn't waste any time showing off his arm on the big stage, starting his workout with a blistering set of out-routes and then moving quickly through the entire route tree. Like the workout of former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell two years ago, it was heavily predicated on flaunting Stafford's considerable zip, which one executive termed "as good or better than probably 27 or 28 quarterbacks starting [in the NFL] right now."

Stafford looked particularly sharp on intermediate passes and illustrated some good touch and accuracy on deep throws, despite a wind that kicked up from time to time. He also completed a set of reverse rollouts to his left, showing he could be accurate on the move. Among his miscues, three were on sideline patterns in which he threw high and fast.

"He was a little pumped up on those [misses], trying to gun it," an NFC executive said. "He redlined it and it got away. Those aren't a problem. If they were ground-balls, then it's a problem. … It was all exactly what you thought you'd see after you see him on film."

One thing now appears to be clear: With a little more than a month left before the draft, a consensus appears to have formed on Stafford. He is worthy of the No. 1 pick, with an overabundance of arm strength, and with some small mechanics and mental issues that have to be polished. Several months ago, one NFC general manager compared Stafford to the potential development of Russell, in that he'll have to learn to rein in some of his arm strength at appropriate times in hopes of increasing his accuracy and consistency. And like Russell, executives have also voiced the concern of getting him to take measured risks and not depend on his arm to overcome bad decisions.

Stafford didn't appear to have any illusions about the performance, knowing that it's just a small bit of information that will accentuate a large body of work in college.

"It's different because this isn't real football," he said. "In the heat of the game, there are bodies flying, you've got guys covering people. This is how well you can throw in your shorts to a guy in a t-shirt over there with nobody guarding him. It's important, I guess, for people to see physical attributes, but it's not real football. … For me, they have enough film on me throwing the ball in college."

That didn't stop Georgia from hosting a packed house. Every team in the league was represented, including a smattering of general managers. The Minnesota Vikings sent vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman, while Atlanta had both head coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff in attendance. Teams also were on hand to see the collection of other Georgia talent, including running back Knowshon Moreno, who ran a lukewarm 4.60 in the 40-yard dash. Moreno showed up at 210 pounds – seven pounds lighter than at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, where he ran similar dash times.

The Detroit Lions, who have the No. 1 pick in the draft and are in need of a franchise quarterback, were represented by general manager Martin Mayhew, quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton and senior personnel executive James Harris. Harris and Mayhew both declined to talk. Mayhew, who spent part of the afternoon chatting up Georgia coach Mark Richt, termed it "a good pro day" before waving off any other questions.