Matthews play on 3rd and 1

[Little Whiskey]

thanks for the pic, Vince. wow Clay was quick off the ball. look at the WR at the bottom of the screen. when did the cowboys aquire randy Moss? someone's taking the play off!

[Brandon494]

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.

yea I said this two days ago on the first page.

[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.

yea I said this two days ago on the first page.

Yes, you did. I checked this claim for veracity and you did.

You didn't make use of an ellipsis, but I grant you full marks anyway.

The thing about this play is Witten's lazy whiff and Barber's adjustment because of Raji are not obvious, but the swift move and crushing hit by Matthews are gaudy and memorable.

I will still remember this play forty years from now and babble to the nurse about it as he changes my Depends.

[mraynrand]

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

yeah, It's Pickett - and I think that's the play he re-injures his ankle...

[Noodle]

Not sure why you'd dog Pickett on that play -- Dallas executed a pretty good double team on him.

His bad luck to have the only Dallas linemen who seemed to give a crap and want to block double up on him.

Bum ankle couldn't have helped much either.

[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

No, it was Raji.

Ya I know. I don't think Green could get penetration like that.

[mission]

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.

Ya I know. I don't think Green could get penetration like that.

Probably not usually, but he did get 4-5 yards deep and almost tackled the RB on a botched reverse attempt against the Jets. I swore that was Raji when I first saw it... couldn't believe Green could get back there so quick.

I guess they say he's actually more of a finesse type of guy, if that's possible to say about a 365 lb guy. Not as tough as the weight would suggest and can get pushed around at times.

[mraynrand]

Not sure why you'd dog Pickett on that play -- Dallas executed a pretty good double team on him.

His bad luck to have the only Dallas linemen who seemed to give a crap and want to block double up on him.

Bum ankle couldn't have helped much either.

If you're talking to me, you've got the wrong guy. I thought it was too bad the Packers didn't leave Pickett inactive to give him three weeks of rest for that ankle. Even though he gave great effort and made a couple of plays, you could see he wasn't 100%

[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.

Ya I know. I don't think Green could get penetration like that.

Probably not usually, but he did get 4-5 yards deep and almost tackled the RB on a botched reverse attempt against the Jets. I swore that was Raji when I first saw it... couldn't believe Green could get back there so quick.

I guess they say he's actually more of a finesse type of guy, if that's possible to say about a 365 lb guy. Not as tough as the weight would suggest and can get pushed around at times.

Is he a finesse player or does he simply possess the quickness of a brontosaurus?

[mraynrand]

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.

yea I said this two days ago on the first page.

Yes, you did. I checked this claim for veracity and you did.

You didn't make use of an ellipsis, but I grant you full marks anyway.

The thing about this play is Witten's lazy whiff and Barber's adjustment because of Raji are not obvious, but the swift move and crushing hit by Matthews are gaudy and memorable.

I will still remember this play forty years from now and babble to the nurse about it as he changes my Depends.

In 40 years they will have a mechanical bladder...and probably a mechanical nurse for that matter...like Tony Starks' computer in Iron Man. No need for Depends...

[Noodle]

If you're talking to me, you've got the wrong guy.

No, my bad for using "you" right after your post. I was responding to PBMax's observation. I was with you on wishing Pickett could have had the night off.

Let's hope the big fella gets all welled up this week.