Clay Matthews returns to practice field

[HarveyWallbangers]

More JT love.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/47732357.html

"He's a natural pass rusher," McCarthy said. "His experience playing defensive end really will help him this year as it carries over to the outside linebacker position. He's as natural of an athlete that you'll see out there at that position as far as dropping and doing all the different things. I know our defensive staff, particularly Kevin Greene and Dom Capers, are very excited."

He said part of the reason he was improving rapidly was because Greene - the assistant linebackers coach - picks a weak spot for each linebacker every day and makes it a focal point for a practice. Whether it was vision or hand placement, Thompson has had a daily goal.

[Freak Out]

yes i really dont know how that pic got there i did not send it ... but it is me ... i love me

If you have....err..more photos of them you can probably get early access to the garbage can.

[KYPack]

not every transition/developmental player is gonna work out.

I wouldn't call him transitional or developmental. Clay Matthews was one of the FEW 3-4 prospects on his level of talent that actually PLAYED the position that he'll be playing in the NFL.
As far as NFL-readiness, I don't think he's any more or any less ready for the NFL than almost any other player in that draft. Look at his measureables. He was among the top at his position. Yes, he has lots of room to grow and lots of untapped potential, but I think he's just as NFL ready as any. I'll admit that that part is just my opinion, aside from the factual measureables thing.

You say that TT is hot for him as if it was yet another "Ted Thompson head scratcher" - but he was taken, give or take, where most thought he was going to be taken. It's not like he was Ted's little secret. If we didn't trade up for him, he'd likely would have been gone in the next 5 or so picks. Again, speculation, but it's supported by draft value analysis.

People have spoken about some Rats posters being so knowledgeable, they outta be coaches. My vote for a guy that could be a coach is for Skin, cause he got me fired up in this thread.

Since the draft, I keep hearing about Clay Matthews and how he will start at ROLB. My first reponse is, how do we all "know" that? If Matthews is such a great ROLB, wouldn't he have been an automatic starter in college? Because at SC, Clay Matthews III started only 2 games at LB in his whole career. Not only did he not start at LB at all in 2008, he wasn't even a starter on defense until the second or 3rd game. Matthews started the final 10 games of his 50-game Southern California career at right defensive end in 2008 and vs. Nebraska and Washington State at strong-side outside linebacker in 2007.

Now I know the way SC deploys it's "elephant" end has similarities with a 3-4 LB. but it ain't the same, let me assure you that. A college DE has minimal pass responsibilities other than pass rushing. This kid will have to learn a lot about pass coverage as a 3-4 LB.

Now I know the kid has all the physical talent in the world. But he is woefully inexperienced at the LB position. Many young LB's will tell you that LB in college bears little resemblance to LB play in the NFL. I really feel he will need a year under his belt to be able to be a factor in our defense.

[Deputy Nutz]

Skin as a coach, that is funny.

Anyways, again, everyone is caught up in who are the starter during OTAs. Even if there is a depth chart listed a certain way heading into the regular season you are going to see Capers use a lot of different packages lots of formational subs. I wouldn't be suprised if say for an example that Thompson is the starter on the right side to enter the year, but only plays 35% of the snaps, Poppinga getting 35%, and say Chillar getting 20% and Mathews getting 10% on the right side per game. You don't have a clear starter on the right side, so right now I think it is all up in the air. I would rather have a 6-4 255 pound athletic Thompson starting than a small leaner Mathews, or Poppinga who roams around at 240. Thompson is a big 255 if he had to lose 10 pounds.

Again it doesn't matter, I realize it is the off season, but you are going to see Kampman on the line with his hand down on more than an occasion, with maybe someone like Mathews coming in on the left side, or coming in as a rotational guy on both sides.

Who knows I could give you a 100 differen scenarios at this point, but I wouldn't get my head all wrapped around the depth chart in the beginning of June.

[KYPack]

Skin as a coach, that is funny.

(Snip)

Again it doesn't matter, I realize it is the off season, but you are going to see Kampman on the line with his hand down on more than an occasion, with maybe someone like Mathews coming in on the left side, or coming in as a rotational guy on both sides.

Who knows I could give you a 100 differen scenarios at this point, but I wouldn't get my head all wrapped around the depth chart in the beginning of June.

I'm serious. Skin has got me fired up. He got my nose wide open and filled me with a burning desire to win!

Yer right of course. Over the years, I've seen many June "starters" cut come September. I think they will work Matthews in. They will figure out what he can do and how much he's learned and spot in in situations in which he can be succcessful.

There cases of rooks playing a new postion and starting for an NFL team on D, but they are rare. Barnett did it, if I'm not mistaken.

I'd like to see Thompson grab the job and Matthews pick up enough to help us on both sides, R&LOLB. What happens to Popp depends on a whole lot of factors, most of which aren't known now.

[bobblehead]

If CM can not beat out Poppinga the Packers are looking at a potential bust.

TT drafted CM to start.

Poppinga isn't the guy he's currently competing against. Jeremy Thompson is. I'm not ready to proclaim anything about Thompson, but he certainly has the athleticism to fit the scheme. Most don't, but there have been plenty of guys like Thompson who have come out of nowhere to become really good players.

Jeremy Thompson is AK's backup and future starter should AK not return.

Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk and Brady Poppinga started as rookies. Is it too much to expect the same from CM?

You are referring to the barnett that got confused in coverage on 4th and 26 his rookie year? Or the Poppinga that looked confused in coverage his entire 2nd year? You are not making a strong case for starting a rookie here.

[rbaloha1]

If CM can not beat out Poppinga the Packers are looking at a potential bust.

TT drafted CM to start.

Poppinga isn't the guy he's currently competing against. Jeremy Thompson is. I'm not ready to proclaim anything about Thompson, but he certainly has the athleticism to fit the scheme. Most don't, but there have been plenty of guys like Thompson who have come out of nowhere to become really good players.

Jeremy Thompson is AK's backup and future starter should AK not return.

Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk and Brady Poppinga started as rookies. Is it too much to expect the same from CM?

You are referring to the barnett that got confused in coverage on 4th and 26 his rookie year? Or the Poppinga that looked confused in coverage his entire 2nd year? You are not making a strong case for starting a rookie here.

You pick out one play from a solid rookie season. The whole defense was confused on that play. Sherman needed to call a timeout to make sure everyone was on the same page.

How was Hawk's rookie year? Wasn't Hawk high in Pro Bowl voting?

The point is previous number one lb picks were instant starters. Why should CM not be expected to start barring injury?

[Lurker64]

I'm thinking that it really doesn't matter who starts at the OLB spot. "The guy who lines up in that spot on the very first play" is sort of irrelevant, since there's a lot of plays after that one. Dom's a smart guy and he'll rotate personnel as is appropriate for the situation. I think it's a lot more important that we have ~4 OLBs who are worth using in certain situations than 2 guys who are anointed with the fully symbolic and meaningless title of "starter".

[bobblehead]

If CM can not beat out Poppinga the Packers are looking at a potential bust.

TT drafted CM to start.

Poppinga isn't the guy he's currently competing against. Jeremy Thompson is. I'm not ready to proclaim anything about Thompson, but he certainly has the athleticism to fit the scheme. Most don't, but there have been plenty of guys like Thompson who have come out of nowhere to become really good players.

Jeremy Thompson is AK's backup and future starter should AK not return.

Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk and Brady Poppinga started as rookies. Is it too much to expect the same from CM?

You are referring to the barnett that got confused in coverage on 4th and 26 his rookie year? Or the Poppinga that looked confused in coverage his entire 2nd year? You are not making a strong case for starting a rookie here.

You pick out one play from a solid rookie season. The whole defense was confused on that play. Sherman needed to call a timeout to make sure everyone was on the same page.

How was Hawk's rookie year? Wasn't Hawk high in Pro Bowl voting?

The point is previous number one lb picks were instant starters. Why should CM not be expected to start barring injury?

It was just one play that will stick with most packer fans forever. Hawk, he showed flashes, but he made mistakes too. My only point was that guys don't come into the NFL ready to start. Its hard for rookies who have conflicts with school and OTA type things. The second year is when they get a full offseason to become a pro and its usually the second year where guys emerge. You start rookies when you have no other options or when they just flat out blow you away. Clay may start, but I doubt it. He is likely to play a lot of special teams and then make a splash next season.

edit: My impression of skin is a 135lb guy with AJ Hawk type greasy hair. Not the kind of guys that NFL players listen to :P But hey, he did make a lot of good points in this thread.

[KYPack]

Guess we've all picked at that GBP article...

Outside linebacker Clay Matthews hit another roadblock on Wednesday, when his problematic hamstring forced him to drop out of practice in the earlygoing.

Matthews sustained the injury in the Packers’ first organized team activity practice on May 27 and didn’t practice at all last week. He opened Wednesday’s practice as the No. 2 right outside linebacker but was on the sideline getting extra stretching before the first team (11-on-11) period.

The injury isn’t believed to be significant, but the Packers likely will proceed cautiously through at least the remainder of OTAs with a rookie they believe can be a major contributor this season.

2 hammy tweaks with very little contact?

That's a part of being a pro. Learning how to prepare and how to avoid and play with injury

[SkinBasket]

edit: My impression of skin is a 135lb guy with AJ Hawk type greasy hair. Not the kind of guys that NFL players listen to :P But hey, he did make a lot of good points in this thread.

Ahhh... to be 135 again. It's been about 20 years now. I would feel like a butterfly. To be able to grow hair again would be nice too.

[Deputy Nutz]

edit: My impression of skin is a 135lb guy with AJ Hawk type greasy hair. Not the kind of guys that NFL players listen to :P But hey, he did make a lot of good points in this thread.

Ahhh... to be 135 again. It's been about 20 years now. I would feel like a butterfly. To be able to grow hair again would be nice too.

Well you will always be a soft little butterfly to me.

[Harlan Huckleby]

are butterfly kisses part of Skinbasket's fluffer routine?

[rbaloha1]

Guess we've all picked at that GBP article...

Outside linebacker Clay Matthews hit another roadblock on Wednesday, when his problematic hamstring forced him to drop out of practice in the earlygoing.

Matthews sustained the injury in the Packers’ first organized team activity practice on May 27 and didn’t practice at all last week. He opened Wednesday’s practice as the No. 2 right outside linebacker but was on the sideline getting extra stretching before the first team (11-on-11) period.

The injury isn’t believed to be significant, but the Packers likely will proceed cautiously through at least the remainder of OTAs with a rookie they believe can be a major contributor this season.

2 hammy tweaks with very little contact?

That's a part of being a pro. Learning how to prepare and how to avoid and play with injury

Good point. Continued pulled muscles are a sign of what? CM was suspected to have you used performance enhancing drugs prior to the draft.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Good point. Continued pulled muscles are a sign of what? CM was suspected to have you used performance enhancing drugs prior to the draft.

He wasn't suspected. There was an erroneous report by a blogger, who later apologized for the story. Apparently, the blogger was told that Matthews failed a drug test at the combine--which turned out to be false. The blogger didn't have any other information that would have suggested steroid use by Matthews. (Raji had a similar erroneous report about him failing a drug test at the combine.) I couldn't possibbly know if Matthews uses steroids, but that report should not continue to be used to taint Matthews name.