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PFF voted Rishard Matthews as our secret superstar.

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by djphinfan, May 26, 2014.

  1. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/05/26/secret-superstars-2014-dolphins/

    ''But 2013 was a different year for Matthews. Gibson, brought in to garner significant playing time, suffered a mid-season knee injury that saw Matthews take over the No. 3 receiver role behind Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline. Playing over half of the team’s snaps in every game since Week 9, Matthews tallied 331 receiving yards over the last half of the season, earning a +5.2 grade on the year.

    Matthews flashed serious potential in a breakout game against Tampa Bay, though few would notice with the Martin/ Incognito scandal in full swing. While the Dolphins would go on to hand the Buccaneers their first win of the season, it wasn’t for a lack of effort on Matthews’ part. He quietly went on to record his first career 100 yard game, catching 11 of the 14 balls thrown his way. Aside from raw yardage totals, Matthews picked up two touchdowns and seven additional first downs in the process as the Bucs’ secondary looked helpless to stop him.

    The rest of the season would be less spectacular for Matthews, but a look into our Signature Stats shows some bright spots. A lone drop on a crossing pattern in Week 17 would blemish Matthews’ otherwise perfect season catching the ball as he earned the fourth-best Drop Percentage among wideouts who saw at least 44 targets on the year. His 37 receptions from the slot were 15th-most, and while that’s not spectacular, it’s impressive when you consider 44 receivers spent more time in the slot than Matthews.''
     
  2. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    I see nothing but an average #4 in Matthews. The sooner we uograde the bertter.
     
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  3. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    So very strong, such great natural hands, young, I dont see how landry will beat him out at the slot..

    lets hope he takes it to another level and actually pushes hartline.
     
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  4. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    the stats relative to reps dont agree, neither does the eye test.
     
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  5. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    if gibson comes back healthy we should be in very good shape with our 5..pretty interchangeable, and not a lot of fear if there is an injury 2 thru 5
     
  6. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    The only 4th string WR in 2013 to have a better statistical season than Matthews was Jarrett Boykin of the Packers.
    Good luck finding an upgrade for a #4 receiver. Matthews is the least of our problems.
     
  7. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    If Miami were faced with a year where carrying 6 wide receivers is a realistic possibility, it might be this year. I mean, do we really need a 4th tailback on the roster? Gillislee only saw a handful of snaps in what, 1 game last year? If one of the two between Landry and Hazel can return kicks and punts, does that lop Thigpen off the roster? Say it does. You could be carrying: 3 backs - Moreno, Miller, someone (Gillislee, Darkwa, Thomas), and 6 receivers Wallace, Hartline, Gibson, Matthews, Landry, and Hazel or Binns. You're still at the same number of players among those two positions as the roster was in 2013, not counting the tight ends, which Miami carried 4 and sometimes 5 into games with. Not all active, but on the 53 man roster.

    I'm still wary of Brandon Gibson coming off his injury, and I'd be very inclined to see just how much Matthews and/or Landry could press Hartline for playing time on the perimeter.
     
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  8. CitizenSnips

    CitizenSnips hmm.

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    He was the #3 most of the season due to gibsons injury, let's not skew the facts here.
     
  9. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    With Jarvis here, the only thing we need to upgrade is our #1 spot. Everyone else moves down a spot and we're good.
     
  10. Larry Little

    Larry Little Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I see something special in Jarvis Landry. And, I don't use the word 'special' lightly. I think he'll eventually become our #1 WR. Another Hines Ward. Matthews has no chance against him, IMO.
     
  11. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    s
    Not skewing the facts. Other teams had one of their top 3 wide receiver's out and had to have their 4th guy step up (Seattle, Indy, San Fran, Cincy, etc.), yet Matthews did better than them. Matthews only started 5 games and logged 448 yards receiving. Imagine what 16 starts in the slot could have looked like.
     
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  12. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    - Cover32.com


    Now imagine him with a competent offensive coordinator. Talent was not the issue last season...pointed out once again, it was coaching. Talent won't be the problem this season either.
     
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  13. RickyBobby

    RickyBobby VIP DIY

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    And GB didn't have injured WRs?
     
  14. RickyBobby

    RickyBobby VIP DIY

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    In the future, I think I might be happy with matthews, Landry, and Clay being part of our core
     
  15. 77FinFan

    77FinFan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I'm not sure he has the physical tools to be a #1, but that doesn't mean he can't work up to being a receiver who is always on the field.
     
  16. 77FinFan

    77FinFan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I would love to see somebody replace Thiggy.
     
  17. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    wow, thats some call Larry..Rishard is big, fast and strong, with great hands, but if you think the kid is special, im not gonna argue, i see some physical limitations but maybe hes a genius on the field, idk.
     
  18. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    i see a very talented player as well, especially in the hands...we now are seeing some of the scheme abuse to this player...makes sense doesn't it.
     
  19. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

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    My only real issue with Matthews was that he wasn't a viable redzone or EZ target like Gibson was. When we lost Gibson our scoring dropped almost 4 points per game the remainder of the season. Gibson and Tannehill had a great rapport and he was on pace to lead the team in receiving TDs.

    Current receivers:
    Mike Wallace
    Brian Hartline
    Brandon Gibson
    Rishard Matthews
    Jarvis Landry
    Matt Hazel
    Armon Binns
    Kevin Cone
    Ryan Spadola
    Damian Williams
    Stephen Williams
     
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  20. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I don't think you can call his use "terribly wrong", but I think he certainly had a disadvantage of being thrust into the role. I don't think he got that much work in the slot before Gibson went down- He certainly didn't on the field in 2012.
     
  21. Larry Little

    Larry Little Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I know, those are big words. By all means... hold me to it. :up:

    The moment we drafted Landry, I didn't know much about him. After all, Beckham was the consensus top WR from LSU. After listening to LSU fans rant on and on about Landry, and how they'd take Landry over Beckham, I did some more homework on the guy and now, I'm in full man-crush mode. He was LSU's #1 WR two years in a row. His first-down percentage is unreal. His hands are insanely good, and he plays with as much heart as I've ever seen. He runs, catches, blocks, and tackles (when he played special teams) with everything he's got. He's the toughest WR I've ever seen, and his body control when the ball is in the air is remarkable.

    He is Zach Thomas in a possession WR's body.

    I think he's the type of player we've been missing on offense. He's going to make everyone around him better. I texted my best buddy that we may have just selected the best WR in Dolphins history in Landry. I think he has that type of potential.
     
  22. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I believe Rios was already waived.
     
  23. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    do you think defensive instincts and smarts like thomas had can relate to production from the receiver position on offense?

    It will be interesting to see how far instincts,toughness, leadership and great hands can get you at the nfl level..
     
  24. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

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    Yep, you're right. He was released same time as Jordan Rodgers. We also waived DB Deion Belue, and offensive linemen David Hurd and Michael Ola.
     
  25. Larry Little

    Larry Little Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I wouldn't call it 'defensive instincts'. I would call it preparing and playing with exceptional passion, coupled with ability that is difficult to measure. Heart, competitiveness, leadership, drive, passion. WR, LB, or any position... it doesn't really matter. Interestingly enough, I saw film where Landry lined up at MLB in high school. He excelled at that, too.

    Usually measurables are a sound way to predict if a guy is going to succeed or fail in the NFL, but that is not always the case. Some guys fall outside the prototypical range, but when the ball is snapped, they are just outstanding football players. I think Landry falls solidly into that category.

    Absolutely true. However... I think we've already seen that those things you mentioned can get a player very far. That's why I made the Zach Thomas comparison. :wink2:
     
  26. Larry Little

    Larry Little Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    By the way... I'm sorry I hijacked the thread. I also think Matthews can be a very good WR.
     
  27. 77FinFan

    77FinFan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I sure wouldn't mind if one of our guys was like 6'3" or so. Oh well.
     
  28. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    The eye test? The man was invisible on the field in all but one game.

    He's hot ****ing trash.
     
  29. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    he's a 7th round draft pick, lets have some perspective..he's most certainly not hot bleeping trash..

    maybe ryan was so rushed he couldn't get to the progression that was matthews, i rememeber a handful of incredible clutchplays.
     
  30. 54Fins

    54Fins "In Gase we trust"

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    When Gibson went down is when Clay showed up as our secret weapon.
    Matthews had his moments but never shined after the the TB game.
     
  31. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    One reason we entered the season carrying only 4 WRs was because we were forced to carry extra DBs. Taylor and Davis had to be kept but were not able to play and the team still needed at least 8 healthy and able to play DBs every week. I figure if we carry the more usual 9 DBs and 9 OL, that we should have room for 6 WRs.
     
  32. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    I don't have the hope or expectations for Matthews that a lot of you do. After bringing in Landry, I think that he's fighting for the 5th WR spot. I think that if he looks good in the preseason, the team may look to trade him to a WR needy club.
     
  33. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    That is just not true. He had one exceptional game with 11 catches and 2 TDs. He had other games after that with 4, 3, 5, and 4 catches, which for the 3rd WR hardly adds up to invisible.
     
  34. ExplosionsInDaSky

    ExplosionsInDaSky Well-Known Member

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    You're being a little hard on Matthews I think. We saw a drastic improvement from year 1 to year 2. Obviously he keeps showing skills and flashes or he wouldn't be here...As a seventh round pick.
    I know we are stoked about Landry but Matthews is going into his third year and I really think he's a gem. I've thought that ever since we drafted him. He reminds me of Victor Cruz in a sense. I think Brandon Gibson is coming off of injury as is Hartline and to me....Landry, Matthews, and Hazel all have a shot at making this team.
     
  35. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    I think that distinction goes to Charles Clay.
     
  36. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think that's pretty baseless. He kept alive several KEY drives in games that Miami went onto win with clutch catches. Atlanta, Cincinnati, New England - 2 drives, and was basically the offense in the Tampa game. Everyone keys that drop he had in the Jets game and yes, it was a bad one...but is it any worse than Hartline against Buffalo? Hardly. Is it worse than Mike Wallace? No.

    I can't remember whether it was CK or rafael in Club, but one of them mentioned that if Bill Lazor is really bringing the Chip Kelly offense to Miami, the one thing that Philiadelphia has, and is why they could afford to let DeSean Jackson walk, was that their other receivers finish catches. Guys like Riley Cooper and recent draft picks Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff. Well, Matthews is that kind of guy. Jarvis Landry is that kind of guy. Brian Hartline to some extent is that type of guy. I certainly think Matthews is a fit on the roster with or without Brandon Gibson being around.

    In the following video, I'd target the catches he makes at :20, :32 (both on the go-ahead drive against Atlanta), 1:03 (game-tying drive against Cincinnati), 1:22, 1:49, 2:10, 2:52, 3:22 (huge catch against Pats on final drive in 1st half), 3:43 (go-ahead drive against Patriots), 3:52, and 4:19.

    [video=youtube;qaiPqZPXF0A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaiPqZPXF0A[/video]

    The thing to note about this video is that all of the above catches marked are catches in traffic and/or in key situations or both. Some of those, I'm not sure any of Miami's other receivers make those same catches. Maybe Hartline, but other than that...

    I think Matthews, given that he can play in the slot and on the perimeter, gives them some flexibility and a reliable target to use, much like Jarvis Landry.
     
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  37. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I see some Boldin in Matthews. He's not quite as strong, but he's close. And Matthews has more speed. By measurables Mathews has enough to be a #1. And he was exactly that in college. He was Nevada's go to guy, the guy who made the play when they needed one. But he tended to do it as a perimeter WR rather than a slot. I don't see the slot as his best position. He can use his body and strength to gain position, but he doesn't have elite quickness.

    Landry reminds me of Hines Ward. That's a bit faint praise as I see Ward as a player with underwhelming size/speed, who does everything well, but nothing great. Although I do think he has excellent hands. The vast majority of players with that profile don't excel against NFL competition who generally has superior measurables. That's just usually to big of an obstacle to overcome. But he's certainly easy to root for. If he becomes a superior route runner at the NFL level then that coupled with his excellent hands may be enough to give him success at this level.
     
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  38. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    If Landry can be to the Fins what Ward has been to the Steelers, I think that he's locked in as one of this team's best draft picks in the last 20 years!
     
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  39. dolfan22

    dolfan22 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    FWIW Chris Carter was on Mike and Mike today co hosting and was asked about the best WR from the draft, and he mentioned the usual couple of names then he said Landry and that he really liked him , a faster Boldin he said . Of course Gang Greeny was silent.
     
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  40. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    the bottom line is that its about value and worth relative to draft slot..and he was an excellent choice.
     

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