Kiper on Clay Matthews!

[tanked_as_usual]

what are the pats going to do with a 240lb LB who can't cover......

didn't they already have that with monty biesel?????

 

[patchick]

There's plenty to like about Matthews, but where the heck is the resemblance to Vrabel? Vrabel was more massive and less agile, a pure Big 10 DE who set the all time Ohio State record for sacks in a season. It's starting to look like Vrabel is just the default comparison for every big white OLB.

When they compare Barwin they at least have the TE thing to go on, not to mention their faces. One of these things is not like the others:

 

[Ungeheuer]

Matthews is probably more of an inside linebacker. He's like Vrabel in the sense that he's big and athletic and white, but he's more like a hugely oversized DB, like a Roman Phifer type only bigger. Barwin is probably more like Vrabel -- he's Vrabel's size, anyway (maybe a little bigger) and is more of a power pass-rusher type.

I really like Matthews, though. I think he would really help this team. So would Barwin. But Matthews might be a guy you'd pick in the first round, just because he gives you the option of playing inside and out. I don't think Barwin could ever play inside even in a pinch. But Matthews is big enough to play outside linebacker and set the edge, if he had to.

The Pats could end up with both of them -- Matthews at 23, Barwin at 34. I'd be happy with that.

 

[cstjohn17]

I am dead set on OLB with #23. I was thinking Matthews is probably the best bet there as well since most other candidates are DE to OLB projects. Comparing Matthews to Vrabel is far fetched though. Vrabel played DE in college, weighs 20 lbs more, and has far less question marks.

Not to mention Vrabel actually had some college production. One of my personal missions is to debunk the myths of how the "Patriots System" is responsible for the production of certain players. Vrabel and Bruschi were great college players, not scrubs. Some of Vrab's highlights are below.




Mike Vrabel - Official New England Patriots Biography
- note to patriots.com webmaster, it may be time to update the player pages



College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vrabel set Ohio State career records with 36 quarterback sacks and 66 tackles for losses … Earned first-team All-America honors from Walter Camp and American Football Coaches Association as a senior … Also was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for second-straight season … Recorded 48 tackles (31 solos) and tied for team lead with nine sacks during senior campaign… Voted unanimous first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of Year as a junior … Started every game at strong side defensive end and led the conference with a Buckeye season-record 26 stops for losses of 133 yards … Tied conference single-season record and broke his own school record with 13 sacks … Earned All-Big Ten Conference and Academic All-Big Ten first-team honors during sophomore season … Started every game at strong side defensive end … Set school season-record with 12 sacks … Served as a reserve defensive end but appeared in every game as freshman.

 

[patsfan13]

I am dead set on OLB with #23. I was thinking Matthews is probably the best bet there as well since most other candidates are DE to OLB projects. Comparing Matthews to Vrabel is far fetched though. Vrabel played DE in college, weighs 20 lbs more, and has far less question marks.

:agree: his size doesn't compute with OLB in BB's 3-4. Look at our core OLB's Willie Mac, Colvin, Vrabel, AD. ALL were DE in college. Anyine seeing a pattern here?

C Barwin...

 

[patchick]

Hey, does Clay Matthews remind anybody of Wayne Chrebet?

 

[BradyManny]

I just hear Mel Kiper on ESPN saying that Clay Matthewsreminds him of Mike Vrabel. He said it 3 times or more.

So if the God of draft gurus says that Matthews is another Vrabel, is there any doubt as to what the Patriots should do.

A recommendation from Kiper....I dunno if thats a good thing.

 

[dryheat44]

Hey, does Clay Matthews remind anybody of Wayne Chrebet?

I dunno, but Josh Freeman definitely reminds me of guys like Donovan McNabb and Vince Young.

 

[WhiZa]

Hey, does Clay Matthews remind anybody of Wayne Chrebet?

He looks more like He-man

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Hey, does Clay Matthews remind anybody of Wayne Chrebet?

More like a PATSNUTMe post in his babes forum...not that there's anything wrong with that!

 

[reflexblue]

More like a PATSNUTMe post in his babes forum...not that there's anything wrong with that!

Hey Box could i have your opinion. Who would you rather have Matthews or Sintim. I would rather take Sintim myself.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Where did you get that garbage. Sounds like your quoting a draft guide or article. If so, please state the article or publication.

This from NFLDRAFTSCOUT:

Analysis

Positives: Ascending player who may be just scratching the surface of his potential. Well-built athlete whose dedication in the weight-room is obvious in his physique. Reliable open-field tackler. Versatile defender who flashes as a natural pass rusher off the edge. Good speed upfield and has the balance and burst to redirect his rush. Good initial hand punch to pop the blocker and disengage. Good effort and speed in pursuit. Instinctive defender who played well in space as a traditional linebacker. Excellent special teams player. Twice named co-special teams player of the year (2005, 2006). Excellent bloodlines. Father, Clay, played 19 seasons at linebacker and made the Pro Bowl four times. Uncle, Bruce, made the Pro Bowl 14 times and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007. Grandfather, also named Clay, played for the 49ers in the 1950s. Pac-10 Academic All-American with a 3.06 GPA in international relations.

Negatives: Has less than a full season as a starter and only 10 career starts -- all in 2008. Surrounded by so much talent at USC that holes in his game could have been disguised. Lacks the bulk to remain at defensive end. Prefers to run around blocks rather than take them on. While he improved as the year went on, remains a work in progress in disengaging from blocks. Suffered broken left thumb against Nebraska, then fractured a metacarpal later in season, then had to have surgery after the bowl game as it did not heal properly.


I can also quote Pro Football Weekly and Lindy's Draft guides that have none of that garbage about him- just the opposite.

The only thing that counts is he ONLY started in the third game of his Senior year. He was given the job of pass rusher all the time and got no significant amount of sacks. He doesn't take on linemen and shed. Sounds like a Laursanitis critique but he doesn't have the 363 tackles that Lauranitis made in college either. Or the spectacular 9 Interceptions, either First Rounder DB Vontae Davis had only 7 INTs in his career.

Matthews would be a great developmental pick where Vrabel was picked in the third round, not a first round pick...All the bloodline baloney is as valid as the heartwarming story of a former first rounder who donated a kidney to his sibling. It was a nice PR story but had no significance on his talent or play, which was sub-par.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

Hey, does Clay Matthews remind anybody of Wayne Chrebet?

That is pretty funny but with that head shot and the 4 days of growth on this face he does look like our little WR friend from NY.

I have not really had much of an opinion on Mathews from the start ever since I read about him coming in as a Safety as such a light weight. Now this kid has done wonders to get to where he is but that is alot of weight to put on but it can be done. The major knock on him is that he never started until his senior year but to start on the USC defense you have to beat out some of the best LB there are in college football. Mathew would have started if he attended another school and after he put on some weight. Just think who is going to start at LB for USC next season as their top 4 LBs (Mathews, Cushing, Malauga and Maiava)are all going to be drafted this year?? USC is a team loaded with talent which makes it hard to crack the starting lineup so Mathews not playing early in this career does not bother me as much as others.

Mathews look very fluid when I watched his pro day performance and you could see where he had played DB and has grown into his new weight. that being said I believe that he is near his max as far as weight and I see him more in the mold of Urlacher not just because he is white. He does move well for a LB and I see 4-3 teams grabbing this guy before a 3-4 team looks at him to play OLB. From the little I have seen of him he would need to gain an additional 15-20lbs to be productive in our 3-4 system as an OLB so to take him at #23 I think would not be a good move. Some things I have read say that he would best fit inside in a 3-4 but we already have Mayo (or take a year or two to develop) and do not need another IMO. We need in loose football terms "A THUMPER" or impact player to cause fumbles and manhandle OL. To find that guy is not easy and there may not be a LB in this draft which fits that profile but a conversion guy just might??

His dedication to football is evident in his progress since leaving high school – he walked on at USC weighing just 166 pounds, and his only Division I-A scholarship offer came from Idaho; now he’s potentially a first-round draft pick. From what I have seen of this kid I think he would excel in a 4-3 OLB roll much like Julian Peterson plays it. I really think this kid is going to be a good NFL player I just do not think he will fit our system or where we would need him right now. His immediate value on ST is going to help any team who gets this kid and this athletic ability have scouts looking hard at this kid....just like we are.

 

[bakes781]

He looks more like He-man

Aw man you're bringing me back to my childhood

 

[BradyManny]

I dunno, but Josh Freeman definitely reminds me of guys like Donovan McNabb and Vince Young.

LOL.

Yes, of course, every black QB who comes out must be compared to every black QB who preceded him...just as every white wide receiver is compared to Wayne Chrebet, Tim Dwight, and now Wes Welker. And they say society is more color blind these days...

 

[tanked_as_usual]

I like Mathews, he gets to the ball,,

But what I am hearing about English sounds better, and fits the size/ shape of a Pats LB. Comparisons to Lamarr Woodley, works for me.

sure.......woodley.......except that matthews is 20lbs lighter.........but that's a minor detail

 

[dryheat44]

sure.......woodley.......except that matthews is 20lbs lighter.........but that's a minor detail

And has roughly 1/20th the college production...but again, we quibble.

 

[bakes781]

sure.......woodley.......except that matthews is 20lbs lighter.........but that's a minor detail

He was comparing English to Woodley And it was Mike Mayock who made that comparison based on tape.

 

[mayoclinic]

I just hear Mel Kiper on ESPN saying that Clay Matthewsreminds him of Mike Vrabel. He said it 3 times or more.

So if the God of draft gurus says that Matthews is another Vrabel, is there any doubt as to what the Patriots should do.

OMG, he said it 3 times! Then it must be true.

FYI, this was from a Mel Kiper draft in 2006: "Another interesting spot to watch is with the Jets' second pick in the first round. They could go with Ohio State center Nick Mangold with the 29th pick, but don't be surprised if they take outside linebacker Bobby Carpenter, also from Ohio State. Carpenter is in the same mold of Mike Vrabel, another Ohio State alum. Vrabel's defensive coordinator with the Patriots last season was Eric Mangini, now the coach of the Jets. If the Jets don't take Carpenter, don't be surprised if the Steelers take him. Remember, before he signed with the Patriots, Vrabel originally was drafted by the Steelers."

The Kiper article is reproduced in the following link:

Mel Kiper's Latest Mock - Arizona Sports Fans Network

It's obviously fairly late, as it begins by saying that Houston has decided to take Mario Williams #1, which was a late decision.

So, by the principle of transitivity, Kiper says that Matthews is reminiscent of Vrabel and Kiper says Carpenter is reminiscent of Vrabel, therefore Kiper says Matthews is reminiscent of Carpenter. I'll pass.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Hey Box could i have your opinion. Who would you rather have Matthews or Sintim. I would rather take Sintim myself.

If Matthews was available in the mid-to-late second with Sintim, it would be a toss up as to which is the better value for NE's Linebacker Corps. Sintim is a 'what you see is what you get' OLB who might work out better inside. Matthews isn't as strong at the point of attack, but his athleticism makes him a great Special Teams value and former Safety experience does give BB options with defensive scheme changes.