Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford on Cooter's return: I don't make those calls

If the past nine seasons have taught Matthew Stafford anything, it’s that change happens in the NFL.

“It’s almost inevitable,” Stafford said Tuesday. “I think the goal is to play well enough to not have those changes. Obviously, we didn’t in the past. But I think the biggest thing is to move forward.”

The Detroit Lions, of course, went through major change this offseason.

They fired Jim Caldwell as head coach, replaced him with Matt Patricia, welcomed a staff of mostly new assistants, and revamped their defense from a team that won nine games and barely missed the playoffs last year.

About the only area spared an overhaul was the one Stafford traffics most heavily in – the passing game.

Stafford, of course, is back for a 10th season as Lions quarterback, with his entire receiving corps in tow (save for tight end Eric Ebron), and Jim Bob Cooter as offensive play caller.

Stafford went public with his desire to keep Cooter in January, and he said the same privately to Lions brass at the outset of the coaching search.

He declined to share details of offseason conversations he had with general manager Bob Quinn or president Rod Wood on Tuesday, in his first public comments since Patricia’s hiring (and Cooter’s retention), but reiterated the importance of continuity.

“Guys, it’s not like I’m making those decisions, and to tell you the truth, they asked me an opinion, you guys ask me a question, I’m going to answer it honestly,” Stafford said. “Whether that means anything to anybody else in the building that doesn’t make much of a difference. I was just saying what I said to be honest and it ended up being that Jim Bob stayed.”

Both Stafford and the Lions offense made noticeable improvements after Cooter took over for Joe Lombardi as offensive coordinator midway through the 2015 season. Stafford upped his completion percentage and cut down his turnovers, and the offense as a whole transformed from a dink-and-dunk operation in 2016 to one of the league’s best downfield passing attacks last year.

More: Lions coach Matt Patricia to new team: We're better than 9-7

The Lions, despite a complete inability to run the football, scored more points last season than all but six other teams, and their 16 passing plays of 40-plus yards tied for most in the NFL.

Stafford said he's "excited" to see what impact LeGarrette Blount will have on the running game this fall.

“Big, physical guy," Stafford said. "Does a really nice job in the red area. Scored a lot of touchdowns in his career rushing the football, and that’s an area we can improve in. But I think as far as his experience in games that he’s played in, for as long as he’s played and at the level he’s played at is going to bring a lot to that room, to our offense and to our team.”

Beyond a revamped running game, Stafford said it’s “to be seen” what other changes the offense undergoes this fall.

While Cooter returns for his third full season as coordinator, the Lions have a new offensive line coach, Jeff Davidson, and will be taking his direction from Patricia.

"I think having the same offensive coordinator, probably the majority the same," Stafford said. 'But I’m sure there’ll be differences. We’re always looking to find ways to be better. I think if you just look at it statistically form the past year, I think we can be better in a number of areas. And we’ll put a lot of time and effort and focus into that this offseason and hopefully it’ll come to fruition kind of during the season, and it’s a long process getting there."

Individually, Stafford said he wants to cut down on turnovers this fall after committing 17 last season. Seven of those turnovers came on lost fumbles, tied for most in the NFL with Jameis Winston and Tom Savage.

"I can always be better," Stafford said. "Obviously, I think I turned the ball over probably too many times last year, got the ball knocked out of my hands or threw it to the other team too many times. Every offseason you’re looking at those and hating watching them again and trying to find ways to make sure they don’t happen again. So that’s a huge one. Obviously, a big one always in the NFL is turnovers so I can always be better doing that."

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!