Rookie middle linebacker Casey Matthews was cornered at his locker for about thirty minutes this afternoon. He got the chance to answer more questions about his family’s NFL tradition and whether he was ready to start. These are the same questions he’s been getting since he got here.
Earlier in Andy Reid’s time with the media, he had talked about Matthews getting better each week.
“You know what, Casey has done a nice job”, Reid said. “What you saw with Casey was improvement every game that he played and Juan hasn’t slowed down with him. He’s asked him to be the primary signal caller; he attacked that innate learning ability of his and tested it. Casey was able to retain and make all the calls and still, at the same time, get better every week playing football, and that’s a tribute to the kid.”
It does seem that the more plays he sees the better he will get. This is especially true when battling screens and draws. They are plays that are stopped when the linebackers and defensive linemen recognize them quickly. Teams are going to run a lot of screens and draws because of the way this defensive line is going to get after them.
The more plays Matthews gets the easier it will be for him to recognize plays and read formations. I just think Matthews hasn’t seen a lot of plays in his professional career. He played a half in the second game and struggled. In the third game he played about two and half quarters. In the third game, he played three quarters.
In the practice sessions at Lehigh, he didn’t get many “Live” plays throughout the entire camp. A “Live” play is where you’re in full equipment and there’s tackling.
I think he’s done a good job of deciphering everything they’ve been giving him to learn about calling the defense and moving people around to where they’re supposed to be, but I don’t know if this young man is ready because he hasn’t had many reps.
The Rams are going to try to get him isolated on Steven Jackson in the running game and in the passing game. They’re going to run right at the Birds because the Eagles are a small, speed defense. The key for Matthews will be recognizing the play, getting off blocks then making tackles.
If he fails at any of them, big 245-pound Steven Jackson will be running full speed down the sideline toward the goalline.
My biggest concern for Matthews is the Rams deciding to pound the ball at him until he can’t take any more. I think he’ll be alright because they’re not asking him to play full time.
When he talked Matthews sounded confident and eager to get the season started.
Reid made a point to mentioning another rookie linebacker, Brian Rolle and the fact that’s been playing very well. Rolle is going to be on the field quite a bit on second and long and third and long. If Matthews struggles you will see Rolle moved in more and more.
Oh God please tell me he didnt say that.
What do you do with rookies?
You bring them up to speed, whether it’s a long way to go or close enough.
Including myself, nobody knows what’s going to happen in any given season, let alone a rookie LB’s career.
Enjoy the ride, hopefully off into the sunset…
no wmonell – they either come in hall of famers or you show them the door. You’re making excuses if you’re suggesting there is anything in between. Everything you will ever know about an NFL player can be determined in the preseason of his rookie year. Period. And if they aren’t hall of famers at that point, the coach should be fired. That simple
Oh that’s right, it is that simple.
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I say, Let’s “Rolle” with it already..
Why doesn’t Reid wait for the regular season to make that statement. I can’t wait for his I have to do a better job and put them in a better position to make plays redundancy BS.
Big – Don’t you think he’d rather wait till hell freezes over? The media asks the questions and he’s gotta answer. Come on man, you know that by now!
For those who believe the preseason doesn’t matter, read ?Jaarard’s statement.
But Garrard is declining to pile on, saying he looks at his own poor performance in practice and the preseason as the reason he’s currently out of a job.
the score means nothing but individual performance does.
Songs, notice he also said practice though. And Watkins et al (whole team to be real) missed out on crucial practice this year. You can deny it or belittle it all you want but it’s a fact.
There’s a difference between a veteran starting QB and a rookie too.
Look, I was exagerrating if I said the preseason means absolutely nothing. But in terms of determining a high draft pick’s career – it’s pretty close. Look how long many teams – from the Eagles to the Pats, and most like the worse teams too – take with their high draft picks. It’s presumptuous to call a guy a bust before a real NFL game. PERIOD. Do you call a person’s life a failure if the kid smells a little a few hours out of the womb?
Not to change the subject.. who is picking Arizona’s QB kolb for their fantasy team… Anyone… I bet he put’s up some decent #’s
Doing research from 2009 Draft has revealed this ..
Again, I will list only players who started from Day 1 their Rookie Season
not who comae on half-way thru the season or were rotational players
I come up 5 players out of 32 Selection who were productive and were starters from Day 1 (which is a 16% Success Rate)
#1) Jason SMith – SL Rams (Selected #2 Overall)
#2) Mark Sanchez – QB NY Jets (Selected #5th Overall)
#3) Brian Orapko – OLB Redskins (Selected 13th Overall)
#4) Jeremy Maclin – WR Eagles (Selected 19th — I am not eve a 100% sure if he’s started Week #1 as a Rookie)
#5) Alex Mack – C Browns (selected 21st)
And this is it, and some players who came on late in their ROokie seasons and really blossomed thier 2nd Season (BJ Raji on Packers,Clay Matthews on the Packers, H Nicks , K Britt to name a few, but none of these players played much or started their ROokie Seasons from the get go..
Here are some real busts (in my opinion) in this 2009 1st Draft Class
#3 DE Tyson Chandler (KC Chiefs)
#6 OT Andre Smith (Bengals)
#7 WR D Heyward-Bey (Oakland Raiders)
#10 WR M Crabtree (49ers)
#11 DE/OLB A Maybin (Bills – and out of Football already)
#12 RB Keshown Moreno (Broncos)
#16 OLB Larry English (SD Chargers)
#18 DE Robert Ayres (Broncos)
I will dig in to 2008 Shortly abnd report findings
Honestly, I’ve got visions of Mr. Jackson giving a warm “Welcome to the NFL, Rookie,” to Matthews, but I think we still win the game.
Reid said Mattews is getting better, so he better start packing his bags. Anything that comes from his mouth, is as useless & meaningless as teets on a bull! He’s an arrogant, egotistical, condescending, f*ing, liar! And has the nerve, to have a shitty attitude, on top of it. What’s he gonna say, after the game Sunday, when Steven Jackson runs through the matador, ” I gotta put him in better spot to make plays.”?
F U, Andy!
G:
I won’t bet against the rookie just yet. But Stephen Jackson has made a few MLB’s look pretty bad. Chances are Jackson will have a good game against Matthews, but I’m quite sure Matthews will grit his teeth, bow his back and come out firing after this Sunday. Here’s hoping that he rises to a very tough challenge on Sunday though.
if Jackson owns Mathews, but the Eagles win, and Mathews goes on to improve throughout his rookie year and beyond, I’m happy.
Jackson makes lots of tacklers looks foolish on occasion, He’s a tough SOB when 100% healthy and one of the reasons he’s a Pro-Bowler.. Hit Jackson low and get some help from your teammates.. The Key to limiting S Jackson is to get him moving laterally and not for him to get his shoulders squared up (similar to Brandon Jacobs and most all big backs..) where he’s chugging north and south and then he’s a load for anyone to bring down….