when you look back on it now Butler and Tate were the disaster thats what the pats got back from the packers for the Trade down, it's not the fact that Matthews is a all pro pass rusher that hurts so much cause im not sure he would have the same impact with the pats but the fact that both Tate and Butler are gone after only 2 years kinda sucks
Just give it a freaking rest about the Clay Matthews talk plzzz.
A) He was graded as a 3rd round talent whose's skills was only as a pass rusher.
B) There were rumors of HgH/steroids use by USC players AT USC. Seeing how his best friend was busted a year later for steroids, I wouldn't be surprised if he actually used performance enhancing drugs during his junior and senior year at College at USC.
C) Even at USC during his senior year, he was a semi part time starter.
D) Yesterday, I watched the recent SB between the Packers and Steelers on the NFL network. I decided to pay attention to Clay Matthews when the Packers were on Defense. I saw him getting owned by the Steelers 2nd TE- Matt Spath (or something like that..All I know is that he went to Uni of Minnesota). The Steelers, for the most part, were running to the right side...towards Clay Matthews. They ran for around 76 yards against him. He would get washed up in blocks to the insides, sometimes got pancaked by their 2nd TE and would, for the most part, loose outside contain on a run play. Oh, the Packers run D had better success when the Steelers ran to their left against the Packers 34OLB-Frank Zambo.
Remember the NFL sounds of him in the SB saying " Hey they (steelers) are looking at me. I have a feeling that they are running at me"
Well, Teams always take advantage of the other opposing team's weakness. Yes Clay is a great pass rusher but the Steelers knew he was a bad run defender. Frank Zambo, the other 34OLB, was an
UDFA Rookie. You tell me, if a team had an option to run the ball, who would it be against-an UDFA rookie or a 1st round 2nd year player??
Yet the Steelers ran at Clay. That fumble wasn't caused by Clay. It was Ryan Pickett. He pushed the pocket back, and hit the ball carrier and the ball was almost out. All Clay did was, by chance, knock the ball out. Yet he got all the damn credit.
So, let's review.
-Clay was rated as a 3rd round talent who jumped up during the Senior Bowl.
-He played among (USC played a 34 Leo) Brian Cushing, rated as a 1st round pick, Malaguga (sp?) rated as a mid to late 1st round to early 2nd rounder, and Kaluka Maiava, rated in the mid to late round (who went in the 4th round early). Didn't know if he was a product of the system, a great player who was a semi starter or a product of great plays by his front 7.
-There were talks about performance enhancing abuses among the USC players.
-Clay was a semi starter during his last year in College.