Who likes excuses? You? Well, today’s your lucky day then! Clay Matthews has a bunch of them for you!
Grizzly Matthews has heard your griping about his production — or lack thereof — and Grizzly Matthews wants to tell you why he isn’t producing.
In case you were unaware, Grizzly Matthews has just 18 tackles and one sack. The former is the lowest total through the first six games since his rookie season and the latter his lowest ever.
So why, Grizzly Matthews?! Why?!
Excuse No. 1: Hey, nobody else is producing either!
“I mean, I can always get better,” Matthews said. “That goes without saying. But at the same time, sometimes you have to take a step back. I know a lot of times I’ll be judged based on my sack production, but if you look on this team, I think the most any one guy has is 2 1/2 (Mike Daniels).”
You don’t say?
Excuse No. 2: But somewhere, some big-name, highly-paid offensive player isn’t producing!
“I think everybody’s pretty spread throughout. With these offenses you see around the league, you see some of these big-name guys who are struggling, for lack of a better term, as well. But I don’t think you can put a number on how you influence an offense coming into each game and what they throw at you.”
Good theory…
Excuse No. 3: Confuse them with gibberish!
“I know you guys are looking for someone to blame,” Matthews said of the Tannehill run. “That’s kind of how the zone-read works, is kind of forcing them into one way or another and having those players react off it. It’s not ‘One guy is to blame,’ it’s having responsibilities to it.”
Interesting.
Excuse No. 4: Somehow, this stuff still isn’t quite clear!
“It’s hard to explain. We’re doing everything we need to this week to kind of make it as black and white as possible, as far as ‘This is this and this is that.’ That way there is no confusion throughout the game or in general.”
Ah, this IS this and that IS that. Yes. Yes.
So there you have it. It’s now clear why Grizzly Matthews isn’t producing.
It isn’t the groin injury, the scheme, his usage or the beard. It’s just, well… see above.
As it relates to playing the read option. It usually takes three players to stop the run portion. Dive, Pitch (wide run) and keep. Matthews probably is assigned to the keep or pitch most of the time. So is Matthews in the right place or is someone else missing? I usually only see one D Player in the picture and that is usually Matthews looking out of place. Where is the second or third guy? I guess it is just fine as long as they do not show up and get there ugly mugs in the screen shot?
The sacks will come. There have been many close sacks by more than just Matthews. The sack totals will come into place for all the front seven over the course of a season including Matthews.
3 things we learn from Total Packers.
Rodgers is sensitive.
Matthews is overrated.
Monty is a bitch.
All this negative talk! You need to accentuate the positives- he got paid, he doesn’t inject HGH because he’d get caught… er it’s an unfair competitive advantage and the lantern jaw and other deformities that it causes are unhealthy… , and he hasn’t injured his hair.
Oh yeah, and he got paid, as in more than the entire starting defensive line combined. Did I mention the important part about getting paid?
Don’t forget about getting a FATHEAD.
Release the Kra…never mind.
How can you say Matthews isn’t producing? He’s producing more television commercials than anyone else in the NFL (except maybe Aaron Rodgers).
I also hear that when he is sick, he usually has a productive cough.
He doesn’t appear to have the same first step he had his first two years. To much living the life is what this sounds like to me.
Stick to the comedy, Hollywood. Football analysis is your weakness.
Could be the vast amount of money and the possible juicing that have eroded his passion for the game . . .
I had hoped that he would have lasted a few years longer, but it looks like he is already on the downside of his career. I don’t blame TT for paying the man, but we now must have the most expensive sack total in the entire NFL.
I’m going with the injured excuse. What made him awesome was his unstoppable motor. He played with a lot of heart. If he’d simply lost a step, he’d be getting there late, but he’d be getting there. He’s not chasing down RB’s from behind. He’s not getting pressures and/or hits to the QB. He’s not dynamic. He’s just not mobile right now. When/if he heals, I expect the Claymaker back. I say give him a week or two off and let Perry and Neal step up.
Focus on football when your in your career and commercials during your retirement.
Well said. Couldn’t agree more.