Rams 'Refreshed' QB Matthew Stafford Reveals Reasons for 'Frustrating' Season
The year of 2022 started off about as well as it could've for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Highlighted by strong playoff performances en route to winning the Super Bowl, Stafford's first two months were off to a flying start.
But the elongated season led to a shortened offseason, during which the now-35-year-old Stafford battled through elbow injuries.
The regular season didn't go much better, as Stafford threw 10 touchdowns to eight interceptions across nine starts, ultimately having his year cut short due to a spinal cord contusion.
Los Angeles trudged through a disappointing 5-12 season in which other stars, such as receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald, also suffered season-ending injuries.
This offseason, the Rams have fought salary cap troubles and were forced to move on from defensive stars in cornerback Jalen Ramsey outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, among others, leading to lowered preseason expectations from some outlets.
However, the same can't be said for Stafford - now over three months removed from the conclusion of the 2022 season, the 14-year veteran's optimism is back in full force as Los Angeles begins its offseason programs.
"I think the part that I'm more excited about and is more fun for me is just being able to be as refreshed as I am coming back into this building," Stafford said Monday. "Just building the relationships with coaches, players, whoever it is ...
"That puts me in a good mood, gets me excited to be here and kind of helps me make sure that my attitude, my energy level is at the correct place every single time I come in here, and I feel like it's there right now.”
Stafford added that there's "plenty to be talked about" regarding ideas and formations that can be added to the playbook but stressed that he's focused on keeping his attitude in its current state.
This is particularly important for Stafford now having experienced the painful 2022 offseason and resulting on-field campaign - of which he dubbed "frustrating" as he "wasn't able to do what I wanted to do."
It was an unavoidable side-effect of the "great" Super Bowl run, as Stafford pointed out, but the point remains that in his eyes, his energy and attitude are both better off now than last April.
"We handed the ball off on every play or whatever - I didn't throw all offseason," Stafford said of last year. "That's kind of frustrating for a guy that likes to do that so it's kind of nice that I'll be able to go out there and have a much more normal offseason experience and be able to be out there and do what I love to do.”
With personal and team frustration now in the rearview mirror, Stafford's Rams are eager to bounce back in 2023 ... and mentally, they certainly seem "refreshed" enough to do exactly that.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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