DETROIT -- The Lions have done all kinds of great things to Ford Field this offseason, from hanging giant video boards in both end zones to installing a bumpin' sound system overhead. Not to mention stripping those much-derided playoff appearance banners from the rafters.

Sitting in one end zone for Detroit's annual mock game on Saturday morning, it wasn't hard to see where the Fords' $100 million went. The upgrades are real, and they're spectacular.

But there was a more subtle change as well, this one overseen by Matthew Stafford himself -- installing new play clocks.

"It was pretty cool," Stafford said. "I actually had the opportunity to kind of walk the field this morning, kind of pick where we wanted to place them. I guess they could move them around a little bit, and settled on a spot. They turned them yellow, doing a bunch of different stuff that's really awesome, helping me out."

Stafford got his first chance to work in the new digs during the mock game, and already looked comfortable. He completed 11 of 14 passes and connected with Marvin Jones on a 10-yard touchdown pass. He also was picked off by Darius Slay when he underthrew Jones deep, although later said he thought he had a free play after the defense jumped offsides.

"Apparently not," Stafford said with a laugh. "Refs are still waking up I guess. I don't know.

"But it's all good, man. It's cool. It's a lot of fun to be out here, see some of the young guys play for the first time in this atmosphere. Everybody's juices get going a little bit. Some guys a little too much and start hitting each other a little too hard. But it's good. It's good work."

Stafford was in good spirits after the sharp performance, although had less to say about his ongoing contract negotiations, which are progressing slowly.

"I'm not talking about all that kind of stuff," Stafford said. "That's for those guys behind closed doors to figure out. I'm out here enjoying this new beautiful stadium and having fun playing ball."