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Chances Branden Oliver keeps starting gig even after Matthews returns? (1 Viewer)

Does he keep the starting gig?

  • Yes, he looks like a stud, mathews can't stay healthy

    Votes: 30 18.5%

  • They split carries, with the intention to keep both fresh due to playoff aspirations

    Votes: 81 50.0%

  • No Matthews regains starting job when he returns

    Votes: 51 31.5%
  • Total voters
    162
D

DeaLerZ

Footballguy
Lets face this guy looks like the real deal. Although he is small in stature, 5' 7"-5' 8" 208lbs which is actually pretty beastly, and he looks like it on the field. Difficult to bring down, constantly falling forward because of his low center of gravity. Very shifty. Against the Raiders from my observation he was making something out of nothing quite a bit. It wasn't until the end of the game on the last drive that their appeared to be bigger holes to run thru, or whether the Chargers started to use him correctly, and the Chargers showed huge trust in him feeding him the ball I believe 5x in a row. Not to mention he is great in space and is a good passing catch back. Gotta love Khalil Mack's view of him as well as a RB ( http://blog.sfgate.com/raiders/2014/10/07/olivers-rise-no-surprise-to-mack/ )

“He’s no secret to me,” Mack said. “He’s the best running back I faced in college, and it was in practice every day.”
Click to expand...
Week 5 Highlights- http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-york-jets/0ap3000000406352/Week-5-Branden-Oliver-highlights

Week 6 Highlights- http://www.nfl.com/videos/san-diego-chargers/0ap3000000410187/Week-6-Branden-Oliver-highlights

Thoughts?? News? Inside information??

 
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I'm not particularly worried about that. Mathews isn't even back to running, yet, let alone cutting, juking, or having 300-lb defensive linemans jumping on him. He sustained a serious injury and will be brought along slowly. The next month is all Oliver, IMO.

I'm more worried about the rag-tag San Diego offensive line than I am about Mathews. They are on their 3rd starting center, and even when fully healthy were not close to a top tier unit.

 
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Fixed the poll answers for you. :)

Does he keep the starting gig?
  1. Yes, he looks like a stud, mathews can't stay healthy I own Oliver
  2. They split carries, with the intention to keep both fresh due to playoff aspirations I own both or neither
  3. No Matthews regains starting job when he returns I own Matthews
 
I own Mathews in a league.

With that out of the way, I think they split. IRL, if I'm Mike McCoy and Oliver keeps up what he's been doing, I preserve them both for a playoff run. Worked well for them last season, using the running game to their advantage. Beat the Bengals on the road and hung within a TD of the Broncos in Mile High holding the rock and the clock in check.

Why change that?

 
bicycle_seat_sniffer said:
Hi there, CHarger fan and Oliver owner

When mathews is 100% he will be the bellcow, and Oliver will take the COP/3rd down role.

Just IMO
Click to expand...
This was what I was thinking and the reports I saw suggested the same. BUT if Oliver keeps putting up 100 yard games and they are winning, why rush Matthews back and why change it?

 
B Maverick said:
bicycle_seat_sniffer said:
Hi there, CHarger fan and Oliver owner

When mathews is 100% he will be the bellcow, and Oliver will take the COP/3rd down role.

Just IMO
Click to expand...
This was what I was thinking and the reports I saw suggested the same. BUT if Oliver keeps putting up 100 yard games and they are winning, why rush Matthews back and why change it?
Click to expand...
Mathews was very good at the end of last season. That could factor into their decision.

I'm an Oliver owner and I hope he keeps playing well and forces the coaches to give him 15 or so touches a game. But I do worry that even if he does the team likes how well Mathews played at the end of last season and will want to get him back into that role.

 
While Mathews may get banged up, he is still more talented and experienced. I like Oliver but he is will fall into a role when Mathews is back.

 
I think they'll split carries, with the hot hand getting the majority of touches, but the Chargers like to run the ball a lot, so there should be more than enough touches for both.

 
I don't doubt that Mathews will "start" once he's back. However he will need to produce to warrant getting the lion's share of touches in the backfield if Oliver keeps producing. Meaning if you're a Mathews owner, you're probably hoping Oliver starts putting up some stinkers. IMO that's unlikely with 2 more good weeks looming (KC is 4th worst in YPC allowed, and the broncos game will likely be a shootout).

If Mathews is underwhelming in his return or if the run game as a whole struggles, fans and coaches alike will start to wonder why they didn't just stick to what worked by featuring Oliver. (especially if the Chargers beat Denver w/ Oliver having a good game)

In what was supposed to be a "prove it" year for Mathews, the only thing he's proven so far is that he is who we all thought he was.

 
San Diego is a serious playoff threat if they use Oliver and Mathews as a thunder and lightning combo like the one we witnessed with Chuck Muncie and Little Train James. With Rivers throwing and 2 backs performing like they should it could be unstoppable. All we need is for ryan "Unbreakable" Mathews to realize that he is auditioning for his new team in 2015.

 
tombonneau said:
Fixed the poll answers for you. :)

Does he keep the starting gig?
  1. Yes, he looks like a stud, mathews can't stay healthy I own Oliver
  2. They split carries, with the intention to keep both fresh due to playoff aspirations I own both or neither
  3. No Matthews regains starting job when he returns I own Matthews
Click to expand...
:lol:

I voted 3 but not because I own Matthews, I just felt like the OP owns Oliver and decided to make this thread to sleep better at night.

 
ImTheScientist said:
tombonneau said:
Fixed the poll answers for you. :)

Does he keep the starting gig?
  1. Yes, he looks like a stud, mathews can't stay healthy I own Oliver
  2. They split carries, with the intention to keep both fresh due to playoff aspirations I own both or neither
  3. No Matthews regains starting job when he returns I own Matthews
Click to expand...
:lol:

I voted 3 but not because I own Matthews, I just felt like the OP owns Oliver and decided to make this thread to sleep better at night.
Click to expand...
actually i own both of them in a few different leagues.. and just was looking to have a good discussion

 
Oliver owner here.

They'll split until Matthews gets hurt again. Matthews will get the bigger workload. As much as everybody wants Oliver to be the better player Matthews>>Oliver. Matthews hasn't exactly been durable though.

 
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I realize that Oliver's been solid, but I think the shiny new toy effect is in play here. Ryan Mathews is a pretty talented back when healthy, even more so than Oliver IMO.

 
If you had the choice between owning Mathews or owning Oliver, who would really choose Mathews? I don't see it. Oliver looks fantastic X 2 games now. Mathews is always hit or miss, and injured too much of the time.

 
I can't imagine that it doesn't linger on SD's staffs mind the loss of Matthews in the playoff game and how bad that hurt them. They'll attempt to keep both healthy and may still mix in the Brown's.

 
Oliver owner here. I figure Mathews takes over the starting role when he is healthy again. Oliver will still get about 40% of the touches. Oliver goes from a RB1 to a RB2.

Mathews will likely be hurt again around week 12 which means Oliver will go back to being a RB1.

 
tunamelt warrior said:
If you had the choice between owning Mathews or owning Oliver, who would really choose Mathews? I don't see it. Oliver looks fantastic X 2 games now. Mathews is always hit or miss, and injured too much of the time.
Click to expand...
Ryan Mathews has always performed well when on the field. You can certainly beat him up for durability, but when playing, he's a damn good RB. If I am choosing between a healthy Mathews or Oliver in any given game, I'll choose Mathews. Oliver has been outstanding, but lets keep this all in context... he ran well against a Jets team that lost 2 DT's during the game, and looked to be checked out early on in the game, and a below average Raiders team. It's 2 games. He may keep it up, I certainly won't rule that out, but I wouldn't be so quick to bury Mathews. He's had a lot of really good games in his career, if good games are what we are judging these two by.

I'm guessing it's a a similar split to Mathews/Woodhead once Mathews is back, something along the lines of 60/40 Mathews, making both RB2/Flex range plays in ppr

 
Just when are we going to see a "healthy" Ryan Mathews? And by healthy I mean Mathews at 100%.

The guy hasn't been running in a month. The Chargers O-line has been depleted since his departure. Perhaps some Chargers fans could shed some light on this, but it doesn't look like it will be the same line that Mathews ran behind last year. Will his lack of familiarity with the current O-line be a detriment? It's quite possible that Oliver's low CoG style lends itself better to maximizing yardage behind an underperforming O-line.

I think it's premature to assume that Mathews will easily duplicate Oliver's success simply because he's a more talented RB on paper. While the job will be handed back to him initially, the onus will be on him to sustain Oliver's production, and that remains to be seen.

 
tombonneau said:
Fixed the poll answers for you. :)

Does he keep the starting gig?
  1. Yes, he looks like a stud, mathews can't stay healthy I own Oliver
  2. They split carries, with the intention to keep both fresh due to playoff aspirations I own both or neither
  3. No Matthews regains starting job when he returns I own Matthews
Click to expand...
:tebow:

 
chinawildman said:
Just when are we going to see a "healthy" Ryan Mathews? And by healthy I mean Mathews at 100%.

The guy hasn't been running in a month. The Chargers O-line has been depleted since his departure. Perhaps some Chargers fans could shed some light on this, but it doesn't look like it will be the same line that Mathews ran behind last year. Will his lack of familiarity with the current O-line be a detriment? It's quite possible that Oliver's low CoG style lends itself better to maximizing yardage behind an underperforming O-line.

I think it's premature to assume that Mathews will easily duplicate Oliver's success simply because he's a more talented RB on paper. While the job will be handed back to him initially, the onus will be on him to sustain Oliver's production, and that remains to be seen.
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It's just an assumption, but with Oliver filling in so well, Mathews probably won't be back until he is fully healthy. If I were to guess, that will be after the bye. As far as the line, I was looking at more than the strong finish last year. Mathews, over his career, has been pretty damn productive no matter the line. He just never stays on the field.

I posted something similar in one of the Crowell or West threads. People here tend to be too quick with the shovels when it comes to burying veteran RB's. People wanted to declare Tate dead while he was recovering, and now he's a hot commodity, and he has a similar profile to Mathews in that he is very injury prone, but very productive when healthy. I am not heavily invested in either back, I'm just pointing out that Mathews has been a pretty good back during his career, and I doubt he will be tossed to the trash heap when healthy.

It's not really a question of Mathews duplicating Oliver's 2 successful games, but more whether Oliver can continue to perform at a level that we know Mathews can perform at when healthy. If Oliver continues to pile up big yardage over the next couple weeks, maybe I change my tune... but for now, I'm just saying pump the brakes on declaring Mathews insignificant. Again, the same mistake was being made in regards to Ben Tate.

 
Mathews retains starting job, Oliver becomes 3rd down back every drive and is an every down back 1/3 of their drives.

Mathews is goal line back.

I don't have a horse in this race.

 
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Mene said:
It's not really a question of Mathews duplicating Oliver's 2 successful games, but more whether Oliver can continue to perform at a level that we know Mathews can perform at when healthy. If Oliver continues to pile up big yardage over the next couple weeks, maybe I change my tune... but for now, I'm just saying pump the brakes on declaring Mathews insignificant. Again, the same mistake was being made in regards to Ben Tate.
Click to expand...
I don't consider these 2 questions to be mutually exclusive of one another. Yes, the Chargers would ideally like to see Oliver sustain his success over a period longer than just 2 weeks. However, should he do so, the Chargers will ALSO want to see if a post-injury Mathews can match Oliver's production. From my experience, NFL coaches don't like to mess with things that aren't broken. If the Chargers ride Oliver en route to a victory over the Broncos, surely the media will begin to ask the question of whether Oliver should remain the starter when Mathews is healthy.

I also don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Mathews will automtically enjoy the same level of success as Oliver when reinserted into the lineup. He's never struck me as the type of RB that operates well in limited space and makes something out of nothing. Like I said, talent on paper means very little going forward in this situation. It's the hot hand that's going to get the bulk of the work here.

 
tombonneau said:
Fixed the poll answers for you. :)

Does he keep the starting gig?
  1. Yes, he looks like a stud, mathews can't stay healthy I own Oliver
  2. They split carries, with the intention to keep both fresh due to playoff aspirations I own both or neither
  3. No Matthews regains starting job when he returns I own Matthews
Click to expand...
:lmao:

 
tunamelt warrior said:
If you had the choice between owning Mathews or owning Oliver, who would really choose Mathews? I don't see it. Oliver looks fantastic X 2 games now. Mathews is always hit or miss, and injured too much of the time.
Click to expand...
I would still choose Mathews. Oliver has looked great, but it is only two games, and you are fooling yourself if you believe Mathews will not be a factor once he returns. Take a look at Mathews' highlights from last season:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFPAY9WnBQ

Mathews will still have a significant role upon his return. I am not ruling out Oliver also having a significant role, but given the choice between the two, I will take the more proven commodity.

 
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