Clay Matthews

[KYPack]

Mathews is a rookie LB with weak shed technique, eh?

That's only happened a few thousands time before. Hawk had very poor shed when he came in the league. Lots of rook LB's have the same problem. That's because you can get away with poor shed in NCAA ball, but you will get your ass handed to you in the NFL doing the same stuff.

Mathews will have one of the league's best position coaches in Greene. He'll teach him the proper way of getting off the blocks. Most rookies try to fend with one hand and burst away from the blockers. That won't fly in the big leagues. You've got to use both arms, hands up and ready and drive up from both knees. That also earns you a bust in the mouth many times, but that's why the give you big checks, now.

I hope this kid suceeds. We need a star, not "JAG".

TT went "all in" on this one.

I like it, but I'm nervous about the whole deal.

[pbmax]

I was higher on Matthews. I think that he's the only legit day 1 starter at WOLB.

He and English were 2a and 2b (behind Curry) as to my favorite 3-4 OLB's.

Barwin and Maybin were next.

English and Clay have things you can't measure (tough, relentless, drive, football IQ). Connor and Maybin are perfect specimens with a ruler and stopwatch, but don't quite have the "it" factor about them that Clay and Larry have.

I was resigned to the fact though that I couldn't have Clay or Larry in this draft.

So you think its Matthews weakside and Kampman/Thompson/Popp strongside?

A while back, someone with the team mentioned whether they would flop ILB according to offenses strength. Does anyone remember or know if this will apply to the OLBs?

[sheepshead]

Mathews is a rookie LB with weak shed technique, eh?

That's only happened a few thousands time before. Hawk had very poor shed when he came in the league. Lots of rook LB's have the same problem. That's because you can get away with poor shed in NCAA ball, but you will get your ass handed to you in the NFL doing the same stuff.

Mathews will have one of the league's best position coaches in Greene. He'll teach him the proper way of getting off the blocks. Most rookies try to fend with one hand and burst away from the blockers. That won't fly in the big leagues. You've got to use both arms, hands up and ready and drive up from both knees. That also earns you a bust in the mouth many times, but that's why the give you big checks, now.

I hope this kid suceeds. We need a star, not "JAG".

TT went "all in" on this one.

I like it, but I'm nervous about the whole deal.

I still say the key addition this year is the entire defense coaching staff. I dont think we're as far away as the casual observer might have us.

[RashanGary]

At this point he looks like a major project.

I agree. Seems like most 3-4 OLBs have a lot to learn though. None of the Steelers guys hit the field until years 2-5 in their development. It's not an easy job to learn.


They have to be tacticians with their hands, almost like a lineman. They have to be skilled pass rushers, like defensive ends. They have to be able to run and take angles like linebackers and they have to be able to pass cover on top of it all. It's a big load for anyone. He's also 22. He's got a big frame and plays bigger than his size already but has room to grow.

I'll agree that he's got a long way to go, but show me an OLB in this draft that can handle the point, rush the passer and cover right now. There isn't one there.

[Waldo]

I was higher on Matthews. I think that he's the only legit day 1 starter at WOLB.

He and English were 2a and 2b (behind Curry) as to my favorite 3-4 OLB's.

Barwin and Maybin were next.

English and Clay have things you can't measure (tough, relentless, drive, football IQ). Connor and Maybin are perfect specimens with a ruler and stopwatch, but don't quite have the "it" factor about them that Clay and Larry have.

I was resigned to the fact though that I couldn't have Clay or Larry in this draft.

So you think its Matthews weakside and Kampman/Thompson/Popp strongside?

A while back, someone with the team mentioned whether they would flop ILB according to offenses strength. Does anyone remember or know if this will apply to the OLBs?

I doubt they flip the outsides.

Kamp has stated several times he prefers to play over the RT.

Which does fit the skill set better, most teams running strength is on the defensive left, often the worst run blocker on the line is the LT.

[pbmax]

Mathews is a rookie LB with weak shed technique, eh?

That's only happened a few thousands time before. Hawk had very poor shed when he came in the league. Lots of rook LB's have the same problem. That's because you can get away with poor shed in NCAA ball, but you will get your ass handed to you in the NFL doing the same stuff.

Can you improve shed demonstrably by improving hand technique? My guess is the answer is yes. I hope so.

Because if we have a personnel dept that can find guys who might have weaknesses, identify them and have them fixed by coaches, then we will look and play like geniuses.

[KYPack]

I'll agree that he's got a long way to go, but show me an OLB in this draft that can handle the point, rush the passer and cover right now. There isn't one there.

Curry, mebbe?

[RashanGary]

You listen to Thompson and Greene and they say this guys best quality is his ability to take on blocks. They say he's a natural leverage football player that can stay on his feet when others can't. He's also a big framed kid. He played DE and LB at USC. He's not going to be 240 forever. He's a ROOKIE!! Never played a down. Never saw an NFL weight program. Never went though a real, fulltime football season without extreme practice restrictions. These kids are not finished products.

[gbgary]

Let's hope he stays healthy.

i'm more concerned about raji staying healthy than matthews. being in the trenches with all cut-blocks and the like.

[RashanGary]

I'll agree that he's got a long way to go, but show me an OLB in this draft that can handle the point, rush the passer and cover right now. There isn't one there.

Curry, mebbe?

I know a little bit of Curry. I'm speculating here, but listening to Ted Thompson and Greene talk about Matthews and reading what I've read about Curry, I'd venture to guess we have the better pass rusher right now and the better point of attack run defender. Curry is a chase and drag down 4-3 LB. Matthews is a tough hybrid that can also cover.

[Fritz]

Wait a minute, now I'm the one who sounds like Floyd the Barber.

You are old for using this simile and I am old for getting the reference.


Fritz and Ras, are you with us? I know KYP and Shadow are in on the joke.

Sure, Andy.

[pbmax]

You listen to Thompson and Greene and they say this guys best quality is his ability to take on blocks. They say he's a natural leverage football player that can stay on his feet when others can't. He's also a big framed kid. He played DE and LB at USC. He's not going to be 240 forever. He's a ROOKIE!! Never played a down. Never saw an NFL weight program. Never went though a real, fulltime football season without extreme practice restrictions. These kids are not finished products.

He came to school as a 205 pound safety. I don't think he played a typical DE.

[RashanGary]

Listening to Ted Thompson, he talks in terms of football skill. When Sitton came out, I was immediately a fan based on what Thomson said. Thompson said he was relentless blocker that didn't lose his battle. I don't know about you, but when I picture that, I picture a pretty fuckin good offensive lineman.


When he talked about Matthews, he said he was a natural, leverage defender that could hold the point and stay on his feet better than his peers. He said the tape was spectacular.


Thompson doesn't come out and say these types of things about every player. Patrick Lee, for example, didn't get a positive word from TT's mouth. Thompson trusts his scouts and I'm sure some picks are mostly on that, but you can tell when Thompson loves a guy. Thompson loves this kid. Thinks he's special. My biggest source of my opinions come from Thompson. He's cryptic and boring, but if you listen he says a lot from time to time if you know his patterns and when he's deviating.

[Waldo]

You listen to Thompson and Greene and they say this guys best quality is his ability to take on blocks. They say he's a natural leverage football player that can stay on his feet when others can't. He's also a big framed kid. He played DE and LB at USC. He's not going to be 240 forever. He's a ROOKIE!! Never played a down. Never saw an NFL weight program. Never went though a real, fulltime football season without extreme practice restrictions. These kids are not finished products.

He came to school as a 205 pound safety. I don't think he played a typical DE.

He played elephant OLB at USC (3-4 WOLB).

[RashanGary]

Some places I read called him a DE/LB. Maybe that was their way of saying 3-4 OLB.