Matthews play on 3rd and 1

[swede]

It seems to me Mathews beats on the opposing lineman's arms rather than pushing or grabbing. I wonder if as the game goes on the guy across from him is in such a world of hurt, he either can't or doesn't even want to stick his arms out there. Also Clay seems to be playing faster than everyone else.

Did you see the pre-game television coverage from earlier in the season that showed Clay working out with an MMA coach? During the offseason he learned to use martial arts techniques to attack the arms and hands of opposing linemen.

What a beast.

[denverYooper]

I hate to be a wet blanket but it really looked to me like that play was as much Witten's fault as it was a testament to Matthews's quickness. He looked slow getting out of his stance and then inexplicably turned to the right while Matthews was blowing his doors off to the left. Does anyone have a link to a replay?

It wasn't just getting there. It was what happened when he did. Barber went backwards and down in a flash. During the replay Collinsworth's reaction was...... "good lord"!!

Raji was in almost as quickly. He parted a double team like he was busting through old saloon-style double doors and was only a split second after Clay.

Look at these 2009 GB first round draft picks at work!

[Guiness]

thanks for the vid DY.

I know Barber's dropped off this season, but he's still a load to be knocked back like that.

And further props to Raji, who shrugged through that double team like it wasn't there, and likely would've had Barber for lunch anyways!

edit: is that Pickett or Jenkins (number 7x) getting put on his can in the backround? I think it's Pickett.

[Brandon494]

thanks for the vid DY.

I know Barber's dropped off this season, but he's still a load to be knocked back like that.

And further props to Raji, who shrugged through that double team like it wasn't there, and likely would've had Barber for lunch anyways!

edit: is that Pickett or Jenkins (number 7x) getting put on his can in the backround? I think it's Pickett.

If you look closely right when Barber gets the ball Raji is right in his face and tries to juke out of the way. Little did Barber know Claymaker was right in the area he was trying to juke too. Pretty much Barber didn't have his feet under him but still looked badass seeing Clay knock him back.

[hoosier]

That's a funny clip. I would have liked to see the expression on Raji's face when he blew through that double team so quickly only to discover that somebody else had beaten him to the RB. And, yeah, Witten was absolutely clueless out there.

[Deputy Nutz]

Witten should be flogged for that kind of effort. Clay Mathews is a heck of a player, and he does get off the ball extremely quick, but Witten has no excuse for standing straight up and giving just a terrible effort.

Witten and Micheal Jenkins should be fined for their lack of effort in last night's game. Quitters

[vince]

Here's the snap on the interception for TD. Yeah, I'd say Clay gets off the ball quickly.

[pbmax]

Witten should be flogged for that kind of effort. Clay Mathews is a heck of a player, and he does get off the ball extremely quick, but Witten has no excuse for standing straight up and giving just a terrible effort.

Witten and Micheal Jenkins should be fined for their lack of effort in last night's game. Quitters

Wasn't Jenkins the player with the rib injury that required an injection?

Doesn't excuse it, but it would explain mailing it in on that play.

That might be the difference between a players coach and a disciplinarian. If you can't practice, or hit and tackle, should you be in the game even of your other skills are extraordinary?

Although with the injuries they have back there, a replacement might have been hard to find.

[Bossman641]

Witten should be flogged for that kind of effort. Clay Mathews is a heck of a player, and he does get off the ball extremely quick, but Witten has no excuse for standing straight up and giving just a terrible effort.

Witten and Micheal Jenkins should be fined for their lack of effort in last night's game. Quitters

Wasn't Jenkins the player with the rib injury that required an injection?

Doesn't excuse it, but it would explain mailing it in on that play.

That might be the difference between a players coach and a disciplinarian. If you can't practice, or hit and tackle, should you be in the game even of your other skills are extraordinary?

Although with the injuries they have back there, a replacement might have been hard to find.

Replacements hard to find? Tell that to Charlie Peprah, Howard Green, and the rest of the Packers' replacements.

[steve823]

Re: Matthews play on 3rd and 1

Seldom does one play deserve its own thread but......

That play by Matthews on 3rd and 1 was insane. That could be the best 3rd and 1 stop I've ever seen. WOW!!

And if Mathews hadn't gotten him Green was right there to nail him for a loss too.

Oops. My apologies for Raji to mistake him for Green who is 500 lbs of lard, I mean Raji at least has muscle

[pbmax]

Witten should be flogged for that kind of effort. Clay Mathews is a heck of a player, and he does get off the ball extremely quick, but Witten has no excuse for standing straight up and giving just a terrible effort.

Witten and Micheal Jenkins should be fined for their lack of effort in last night's game. Quitters

Wasn't Jenkins the player with the rib injury that required an injection?

Doesn't excuse it, but it would explain mailing it in on that play.

That might be the difference between a players coach and a disciplinarian. If you can't practice, or hit and tackle, should you be in the game even of your other skills are extraordinary?

Although with the injuries they have back there, a replacement might have been hard to find.

Replacements hard to find? Tell that to Charlie Peprah, Howard Green, and the rest of the Packers' replacements.

Just because the Packers have found them doesn't mean everyone has that depth at each position. CB is a different beast than safety. Though Green was a nice find. You don't often find decent depth at DT midseason.

[hoosier]

Re: Matthews play on 3rd and 1

Seldom does one play deserve its own thread but......

That play by Matthews on 3rd and 1 was insane. That could be the best 3rd and 1 stop I've ever seen. WOW!!

And if Mathews hadn't gotten him Green was right there to nail him for a loss too.

Oops. My apologies for Raji to mistake him for Green who is 500 lbs of lard, I mean Raji at least has muscle

No, it was Raji.

[The Leaper]

Barber never even saw Clay on that play. He was shielded from seeing Clay by Kitna...he was looking at Raji busting through and got happy feet, then Clay just unloaded on him.

It was great recognition by Clay...it wasn't so much about sheer quickness athletically, but how quickly Clay read the blocking and immediately took a run at where he figured the RB was going to be. The fact the TE decided to not block the best defensive player in the league on a 3rd-and-1 certainly helped.

[Tarlam!]

Barber never even saw Clay on that play. He was shielded from seeing Clay by Kitna...he was looking at Raji busting through and got happy feet, then Clay just unloaded on him.

It was great recognition by Clay...it wasn't so much about sheer quickness athletically, but how quickly Clay read the blocking and immediately took a run at where he figured the RB was going to be. The fact the TE decided to not block the best defensive player in the league on a 3rd-and-1 certainly helped.

Great post. I watched the clip kindly posted by DenYoop a trillion times and I think Leap describes the play well. Yet I do wanna note Clay was so fast crossing the line diagonally i.e. he had 5 more yards to cover than Raji, that any TE would have been totally stunned. So my belief is it was a combination of quick read and quick reaction. Whatever happened, I think we all agree, it was quick!

But Nutz and Leaper are right, the Dallas line are culpable of attempted murder.

[swede]

Barber never even saw Clay on that play. He was shielded from seeing Clay by Kitna...he was looking at Raji busting through and got happy feet, then Clay just unloaded on him.

It was great recognition by Clay...it wasn't so much about sheer quickness athletically, but how quickly Clay read the blocking and immediately took a run at where he figured the RB was going to be. The fact the TE decided to not block the best defensive player in the league on a 3rd-and-1 certainly helped.

Great post. I watched the clip kindly posted by DenYoop a trillion times and I think Leap describes the play well. Yet I do wanna note Clay was so fast crossing the line diagonally i.e. he had 5 more yards to cover than Raji, that any TE would have been totally stunned. So my belief is it was a combination of quick read and quick reaction. Whatever happened, I think we all agree, it was quick!

But Nutz and Leaper are right, the Dallas line are culpable of attempted murder.

I had wondered how Barber--a notorious NFL beast---could have been demolished by Matthews, driven back, and planted on his nether regions when the advantage should have gone to the running back in terms of moving forward after contact.

I think Leaper nailed it: After seeing Raji, Barber shifted his body weight to stop and find another hole, making him the Titlest II, Matthews the "Big Bertha", and the Dallas backfield the sweet spot.