There’s a pattern we’re seeing with the Eagles. They’re looking very closely at quite a few linebackers, but they’re not first round linebackers they middle round linebackers, which means the Birds will address the offensive line and cornerback needs in the first and second rounds, then do something to improve the linebackers on the roster afterward.
According to Aaron Wilson of NationalFootballPost.com, the Eagles will talk to Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews, who is the little brother of Packers Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews, today. Like the other linebackers the Birds have brought in to talk to, Matthews will likely still be on the board for the second, third and fourth rounds. The Birds obviously are interested in finding out more about the Oregon Duck after seeing him on tape and watching his run and jump.
His numbers don’t jump off the page. He stands 6’1″ and he weighs 232 pounds. He didn’t workout at the NFL Combine because he injured his shoulder, so his Pro Day numbers are the ones which scouts and NFL player personnel people are checking out.
He ran an okay, but not outstanding 4.78 in the forty-yard dash. His standing broad jump was 9’5″ and his vertical leap was 32’1″.
Matthews measurables aren’t exceptional but he is a very, good football player because of his instincts. He makes big plays which is really what the game is all about and something that the Eagles haven’t been getting from their linebackers.
The youngster had three interceptions this season, along with three sacks to go along with 73 tackles.
This is music to my ears, I came on here a few weeks ago and said the eagles need to take a look at this kid, his insticts are undeniable. I believe he underacheived in college and when he comes to the nfl will show the same fire as his brother does. He already said he’s on the same off season workout as his brother so lookout! I think we may have a beast on our hands if we draft him, k.I.m the family line, all great players the genes are strong.
My **Sleeper Pick** 2nd-4th round
We seen what just a fast LB can do (ernie sims) nothing but run around like a fool out of control hitting his on teammates. Someone on here said ernie was a dominant LB haha this isn’t madden, ernie has no instincts just speed. We have enough speed on this team we now need a LB with instinct, someone that can make plays, when was the the last LB that intercepted the ball consistently? Or made consistent sacks for a loss? Forced fumbles? Not in a long time so this kid C.Matthew will upgrade our LB core and take it to another level. And what I feel the eagles will try to do is use him how the packers use his brother, a maniac off the edge/ pass rushing LB yet plays the LB position second to none has instincts off the charts. I feel Casey has that in him too..
My **Sleeper Pick** 2nd-4th round
did the eagles hire a KKK member or something? cause theres way too many white guys they’re working out.
Easy Vricchini,
FanSince60 will be sending over the Race-Rrelations Police with the funny looking hats over to your place..
This is not Clay Matthews. I repeat, this is not Clay Matthews. They need to address the secondary, dline and oline with early round picks. Our LB core is not great but they aren’t poor either. I would like a playmaker there but if they aren’t getting him in the first round and he’s not going to be a starter might as well not worry about the position for the first day of the draft. Just my thoughts.
Yeah Paulman, he’ll probably be upset if someone said this guy is the next Clay Matthews or (dare I say it) Brian Urlacher. He sure wouldn’t be compared to Ray Lewis even if he’s just as good.
I think he’s a late 3rd/4th Round pick myself..
I would like to see the Eagles bring in OLB KJ Wright from Miss State
who at 6-3 245lbs could be the type of big,athletic OLB to play the WILL or SAM
positions .. He also was a 2 year teammate of Eagles LB J Cheney so they have a good experience of playing with each other which could be a nice little bonus…
looks like a weakling I want players who look tough
why does andy reid try this smarter than everyone else routine? it doesn’t work
I agree EaglesBirdGang, The kid can play! I would take him of Ernie Sims any day! He made the huge play against Cam Newton in the Championship game, coming from behind and forcing the fumble. He will be a stud in the NFL!
Good scouting departments will eval this kid and stick on their board at the appropiate place.
But it doesn’t matter….some team (ex:Raiders) is going to draft him too soon hoping he is just like his brother.
runthe – if you really think looks make for good NFL players, I find it hard to trust anything else you say.
And what are you referring to when you say ‘smarter than everyone else routine’? They brought in an LB prospect for a workout? How is that ANY KIND OF ‘routine’? Every team is working out players this time of year? What are you talking about? I really get the sense that you’d say that for any guy they brought in, just a default, thoughtless criticism.
runthe – would you perfer ‘stupider than everyone else’ or ‘rolls dice to decide draft picks’ or just does what EVERY team does – try to collect information, scout guys, and make picks. That’s all they ever do.
I’ll be surprised if Casey Matthews turns into a bust. His father, his uncle, and his brother have all been probowlers. Even his grandfather was a NFL player. It doesn’t take a genius to pick this kid – he is a safe pick in round 3, IMO.
If nothing else, I bet he can make a decent back-up and Special teamer
You can’t just draft players based on who their brother is….Now, I think he will be a good player but I dont picture him anywhere as good as Clay Mathews.
People have to stop judging players by numbers, does anyone remember Mike Mamula? blew everyone away away with his NUMBERS, we all saw how that turned out, if you can get this kid with your 3rd pick it should be a no brainer, as irish eagle said, this kid comes from good stock and he has shown he can play and has something that doesnt show up on stats, Attitude & Insticts,
Duranco20, he’s a can’t miss prospect he can play the LB position, I watched him all year at oregon if he wasn’t making a play her was always around the ball. I admit he did underacheive in college but a lot of players have.
Irish, I agree he won’t be a bust
Pheags88, the genes are pretty strong, but as I watched him all year he showed a lot of aggression and playmaking ability, some things you can’t teach and instincts is one of them
Andrew P, good points I totally agree you can’t always go by stats in college.
My **Sleeper Pick** Casey Matthews 2nd-4th round
He looks soft that is what i am saying. I want players that are bruisers and look like they eat dirt. When it comes to players who give the pounding I want them to be feared. No one fears anyone who belongs on a tommy hilfigers ad. They fear the guy who looks like he belongs in a police line up.
And to address your other comment schiller the reason i say that andy trys to be smarter than everyone else is because he tried this with the andrews sisters. Now he is going to try out the brother of our shitty tight end? makes no sense. all i remember of clay matthews was him dropping the ball. now go back to bed with eskin
For the record, Mike Mamula was not a bust, he had a decent 3-4 year Career.He was not worth the spot where the Eagles selected him, bbut that’s not his fault.. He was a servicable player and probably should be have been a late 2nd/early 3rd Round Pick.
The Eagles have made many of these type of selections like Bunkley and Patterson come to mind… Good Players but not not worthy of the Top 15 Players chosen of the 1st Round… Trevor Laws, the 44th Player chosen a couple of years back. what has he contributed over his 3 year career.
Lots of reaches but that’s they way it is.. You hit on some (D-Jax,L McCoy) and you miss on others..Think of 5th Round selections like T Cole, Celek.
Solid 3rd Round Picks in Herremans,Bradley .. Picks and players will work themselves out.. Good players last and play 6-8-10 years , underachieving players don’t..
run, I hate eskin, so you’re way off there. And I’m not blindly defending the Eagles FO, I’m pointing out that your statement is silly. So you think that they’re bringing him in for a visit only because he’s Clay Mathews’ brother? And not because he might look like a good prospect himself? That’s absurd. The only thing you can use to base that assumption of is the fact that they are brothers. They didn’t bring in byron westbrook for a visit did they?
And what do you mean about clay mathews dropping the ball? I don’t get that one bit. The man was one of the best defenders this past year if not THE best.
And for the love of god, who cares what a player looks like. I’d take a pretty boy that plays great football over a tough looking bum who sucks at the sport anyday.
This kid casey matthews has a high motor, all the matthews have is one geer, go go go and blow thing up, he’s a good prospect
My offseason wishlist, Sign Asomugha if possible, if we can’t get asomugha draft peterson or jimmy smith. Draft cabe camini (I feel we don’t really need a olineman but he’s too talented to pass up if he’s there) and draft casey matthews.
So G, group, does Howie draft 3 linebackers like he did DE’s last year and hope that one will stick???
Some news around the NFL that will likely change some Team’s Draft needs and impact the availalbility and selection of Players in the 1st Round
Cowboys (#9th Overall Pick) – Everyone knows the Cowboys need help at OT,CB and Safety, but will all the issues that WR D Bryant is having with the law and $$$ and his lack of maturity, you may see Jerry Jones surprise everyone and go after a Top WR like a AJ Green if he were to drop or a Julius Jones.. (I actually see the Cowboys trading down from this position unless Prince Amukara is on the board at #9)
Miami Dolphins (#15 Overall pick) Conventional wisdom and mock draft have them selecting RB M Ingram since current RB’s R Brown and Williams are both free-agents), I just don’t see taking a RB that high with a team that has questions at QB, Now this week Chad Pennington tore his ACL playing basketball and this could be it for his career with all the other injuries to his shoulder,elbow,etc,etc.. Now all of a sudden, they need to address the QB position and may be very interested in a Kolb,McNabb or a Palmer..and be willing to trade this pick..They have spent big $$ on WR B marshall, LB Dansby and others the last year or two and have a sagging attendance and finished last season with a 1-7 Record at home, they need a new face of the Franchise and draft a workman like RB Ingram is not the type of excitment fans will be looking for..
TB Bucs (20th Overall pick) is really going to impact the Eagles
All-Pro CB A Talib in serious legal trouble and he may end up going to Jail as a suspect in a shooting case.. Tampa may now be very interested in Drafting the best CB available (Jimmy Smith) instead of the other postions that they were originally looking at.. Their only other CB of real experience is the 35 year old Ronde Barber who is a good player, but getting old..
With some players getting into trouble or having injuries,and no free-agency at this time watch for teams to change their Draft Boards around to help identify their needs based on whose available..
If his names wasn’t matthews would you be excited about a 6’1″ 232 lb LB ?…….seems a bit too small to me..but hey
I don’t get paid to make evaluations…so I can afford to be wrong….
High Motor? HaHaHa. Where have I heard that before?