Clay Matthews

[3irty1]

The scheme allows for Matthews to runaround and make plays.

Matthews displays good feet and the ability to read and diagnose plays. My concern is when Matthews is required to take on fullbacks and tight ends.

Many of Matthews highlight plays are against lower tiered Pac-10 teams. Matthews is not going to be able to slice thru blockers in the NFL. Mano to Mano concerns me.

The comparison to Greenway was interesting. IMO Greenway was the better prospect due to the ability to take on blockers. Forget the 40 time and combo numebers--Greenway plays faster.

Lets hope Matthews develops the way Greenway is displaying.

We need Mathews to be a totally different type of player.

[Partial]

Have you seen Matthews highlights? He looks like he is playing at an entirely different speed. I think he's going to be a good player. Not as dominant as I feel Maualuga is going to be, but he will be a very nice, solid, few pro bowls on years when the team is good type player.

He's by far and away my favorite of the picks.

[Lurker64]

The thing about Matthews that sets him apart from all of the LBs that he's being compared to is that Matthews plays like a crazy man whose hair is on fire. Absolutely fearless and relentless. You just don't find a lot of guys that play like that, and if there's a way to get someone to play like that via coaching, I don't believe anybody has discovered it yet.

Kevin Greene should be doing everything in his power to mold Matthews into his own image, if he can do that he should be a hell of a player. A lot of the confidence I have in Matthews is who his LB coach. If anybody can teach him how to channel his boundless inner fire through technique to become a fearsome pass rusher, it's Greene who did this better than anybody.

[The Shadow]

Have you seen Matthews highlights? He looks like he is playing at an entirely different speed. I think he's going to be a good player. Not as dominant as I feel Maualuga is going to be, but he will be a very nice, solid, few pro bowls on years when the team is good type player.

He's by far and away my favorite of the picks.

I noticed the same thing on the tapes i saw.
On more than a few plays, it was like he was shot out of a cannon!

[mission]

Have you seen Matthews highlights? He looks like he is playing at an entirely different speed. I think he's going to be a good player. Not as dominant as I feel Maualuga is going to be, but he will be a very nice, solid, few pro bowls on years when the team is good type player.

He's by far and away my favorite of the picks.

You're really still on that dominant Maualuga thing huh ...

I agree on Matthews, though ... he really looks like he's playing at a different speed and even if it's inferior competition, i find it promising. He doesn't play down to his competition's level.

[RashanGary]

I agree, Partial and Shadow. There is a certain, "in your face quicker than you thought" quality about that guy.


I remember watching Hawk and thinking he reminded me of Barnett, but a little stronger. I knew he could play because he looked like an NFL LB I was used to. As it turns out, that's exactly what he is. Barnett the 2nd, maybe a little stronger.

Matthews is very different. The best play I saw of him, he ran a stunt inside. The center tried to set up to block him but Matthews got there so quickly, the center couldn't set up. He pried right through him on his way to sacking the QB. He plays fast, strong and intense football. I get the feeling he's going to come up with some monster sacks this year. I'm guessing 5 sacks, but he won't blitz nearly as much as Kamp so 5 would be a very good number for him.

[RashanGary]

http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/play/nfl/ApphU1C5teyuGQ82Ad5dXfV6jvQJ8YQt

In the beginning of this clip, Matthews absolutely destroys a couple run blocks on the edge. Obviously he's going to have to keep working hard to get stronger for the NFL, but that is the type of run defense you need from an edge player in this 3-4 defense.


This is the exact opposite of the chase and drag tackles we're used to seeing from Hawk and Barnett.

[Partial]

I was watching some videos today and I noticed that San Diego virtually never sends Merriman or Phillips into coverage. They either contain and play a small zone, or they are rushing the passer/defending the flat.

I also noticed that DeMarcus Ware is used in coverage a little more, but again, primarily he and the opposite OLB are rushing the passer.

I really think the whole 'cover like a safety' thing is blown out of proportion. Kampman is capable of getting his arms up and defending his zone, and if he loses a little weight, will likely have the kind of speed to disrupt the pass to the flat.

I think we'll be fine at that spot, and I suspect both of these guys are rushing the passer basically every pass play.

[Joemailman]

On plays where they are not rushing the passer, it is likely there will be a blitz coming from one of the ILB's or the safety, so the amount of time they need to provide coverage should be limited. The key is to keep the opposing QB guessing on where the pressure will be coming from. Unlike last year.

[Deputy Nutz]

The reason why Kampman has been so successful is because of his explosion off the ball and his ability to leverage his opponent. He does a great job of staying low of the ball and getting under the offensive tackle. I suspect these characteristics are going to be compromised when he is in a two point stance. He is an extremely hard worker so he might be able to change his game, but he has never made his living at spin moves, or outside inside moves, he makes first contact with unbelievable pad level and rips through and turns the corner on the tackle.

Pass rushing from the OLB position simply will not utilize the same technique

[HarveyWallbangers]

He's quite the athlete. Nice catch at 1:14 of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI7dA3UttUM

He looks way more athletic than Cushing and Rey.

[The Shadow]

Can't wait to see him in Green and Gold.

[Fritz]

I was watching some videos today and I noticed that San Diego virtually never sends Merriman or Phillips into coverage. They either contain and play a small zone, or they are rushing the passer/defending the flat.

I also noticed that DeMarcus Ware is used in coverage a little more, but again, primarily he and the opposite OLB are rushing the passer.

I really think the whole 'cover like a safety' thing is blown out of proportion. Kampman is capable of getting his arms up and defending his zone, and if he loses a little weight, will likely have the kind of speed to disrupt the pass to the flat.

I think we'll be fine at that spot, and I suspect both of these guys are rushing the passer basically every pass play.

Don't know why, but that line made me chuckle. I just picture Kampman being asked to cover a zone area in the flat...he recedes a step or two, then suddenly starts jumping up and down, flapping his arms, hoping he's disrupting the pass to the flat...I wonder if Winston Moss will teach that technique.

I don't know why. That picture just made me laugh.