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Mathews On Short Leash (1 Viewer)

Its time to sell Ryan Mathews. He's one fumble away from permanent doghouse. Can you trust him for the remainder of the year not to fumble the ball? Its too risky... I'd trade him after this week.

 
Ryan Mathews will lead the NFL in rushing yards in week #5, and starts from here on out... right up until he gets dinged up again.

 
Its time to sell Ryan Mathews. He's one fumble away from permanent doghouse. Can you trust him for the remainder of the year not to fumble the ball? Its too risky... I'd trade him after this week.
You really think Battle can be the lead back on a playoff team. Norv obviously feels the hot seat but he either has to put the ball in Rivers hands and risk his INTs or Matthews hands and risk fumbles b/c if Battle is the starter, Rivers will have to throw more and Turner doesn't exactly exude confidence in his QB either.
 
I'm trying to buy him. Not sure what's going on there in SD or if he bounces back but I think it's worth a shot to try and swoop in pretty cheap. They have no wrs, play in the worst division in football and have a nice schedule. It's worth the risk so long as you don't overpay IMO.

 
To me, this is a very simple situation.

Look back at the preseason. Mathews was being hyped as a "bell cow" back that was going to be in on every play, get all of the carries and catch a ton of balls as well. This sparked the expected injury prone conversations based on his inability to stay healthy over the years. Regardless, Turner publicly praised Mathews and said this was the year he puts it all together...blah blah.

Whether you believe any of that is inapposite. What is important is that the Chargers obvioulsy believed it and believe in Mathews.

I don't know what exactly is behind all this silliness. Maybe Mathews did sleep with AJ's wife or something. Who knows. But what I do know is that Mathews is a very talented back that the Chargers were touting all preseason long. He had a bad fumble inside the 10 yard line at a critical spot in his first game back and for whatever reason, the Chargers are bashing him over the head with it.

In the end, the Chargers have to realize that even with the fumblitis, Mathews is the more talented back and its not even close. His presence on the field gives them a far better chance to win and the Chargers know that. They have to.

As a result, once he gets back to seeing more carries, he will reaffirm his role as the lead back for the team. He will, however, most likely lose the lion's share of goal line carries because of his fumbling issue. He really needs to work on that with the coaching staff to try and minimize the fumbles moving forward.

If healthy, Mathews will be a very solid RB1 moving forward. He just needs that shot to get back into the role, which I expect to happen against the Saints this weekend.

 
The stats say that the starters' job certainly looks like Battle's to lose right now.
:lmao: Love the stat butchering on tiny samples used to draw conclusions.
Luckily Battle was barely able to beat out Tashard Choice at 9th. Clearly the Bills need to sit Fred Jackson. Also, Ronnie Brown ranks number one for receiving RBs, I guess the Battle/Brown combo would be epic.
Well, what you need to know about DVOA, it that it is heavily biased by the team in the case of running backs. So, it is not always a great tool at comparing RBs on different teams. They have different blockers, QBs, etc.Houston RBs, for example, almost always have higher DVOAs than Arizona RBs, no matter who the running back is.However, DVOA is very good at comparing RBs on the same team, because in that case you are controlling for the individual team situation.In your example of Tashard Choice, it is interesting that CJ Spiller is the number one DVOA back in the league. DVOA would suggest that Choice is a worse performing back in Buffalo's system.Another example is Shonn Greene vs Bilal Powell. Shonn Greene has a -30DVOA vs 12 Powell. That would suggest Powell has been better.I've never seen a RB hold on to his job with DVOA when there was another RB on his team with a significantly better DVOA. I use it to predict when a change is going to occur. Hence, I have Powell on my bench, but haven't considered Choice. Spiller has clearly been the better back.That is the thought process. I picked up Battle because DVOA as well as the actual use of Battle by Turner has suggested he could get a lot more carries this year.
That's good and all but comparing Powell and Greene is a little different than Battle and Mathews this early in the season. Both Jets backs have played in all four games and have been subbed in and out for each other throughout the games--we've gotten a decent chance to see how well they perform in similar situations against similar defenses. Battle has played in three games, Mathews in two, and they haven't really been subbed in and out for each other much--they've pretty much played in different game settings/against different defenses so far. Also, Battle's DVOA was probably greatly helped by his game against an awful Titans rush defense in which Mathews didn't get any carries and his 55 yard scamper against a Falcons defense up 24 with a few minutes to play. My two cents: I think they need at least a couple more games and more action in similar situations before you can really compare their DVOA.
 
This thread is going to be littered with "lmao" emoticons come Sunday when Mathews breaks out while Battle watches from the sidelines.

 
You Mathews enthusiasts aren't thinking practical football here. This guy has fumbled in almost half his NFL games played! 11 fumbles in 28 career games!!!!!!!! You can only ride your "talent" for so long until you start costing the team wins. And when you cost the team wins you cost the head coach his job. Norv and AJ are already on the hot seat.

If this guy puts the ball on the ground again he may be done in SD. I'm serious... just let another late game crucial situation come up in which he drops the ball....he wont ever see it again. ...and you TRUST him not to fumble thru the remaining season? I'm sorry I dont. Battle looked good vs KC and good late last year. The Chargers really ahve no option here because Mathews is on his last leg.

 
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You Mathews enthusiasts aren't thinking practical football here. This guy has fumbled in almost half his NFL games played! 11 fumbles in 28 career games!!!!!!!! You can only ride your "talent" for so long until you start costing the team wins. And when you cost the team wins you cost the head coach his job. Norv and AJ are already on the hot seat.

If this guy puts the ball on the ground again he may be done in SD. I'm serious... just let another late game crucial situation come up in which he drops the ball....he wont ever see it again. ...and you TRUST him not to fumble thru the remaining season? I'm sorry I dont. Battle looked good vs KC and good late last year. The Chargers really ahve no option here because Mathews is on his last leg.
When Mathews had 10 fumbles in 26 games..Turner says he expects a “breakout, big-time year” from Mathews.

Turner says he believes Mathews is capable of leading the NFL in rushing, and that “personally (I) think he’s ready to take that next step. … That means, to me, the production goes way up, and he’s more of the guy that is on the field most of the time."

Turner confirms he expects Mathews to be given "everything he can handle” in the workload department.

Turner confirms Mathews is the favorite for third-down duties.

SI’s Peter King reports the Chargers intend to "feed" Mathews "as much as any back in the league.” Turner compares Mathews to Ricky Williams.

The Chargers’ official website goes on the record as expecting Mathews to be “one of the NFL's top workhorses and a Fantasy Football favorite in 2012."

There's a lot more. So the difference between 10 and 11 fumbles is difference between going from high praise to being supplanted by a 29 year old plodder? Ball security is a very fixable issue, you can't however turn back time or magically inherit football skill.

 
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This thread is going to be littered with "lmao" emoticons come Sunday when Mathews breaks out while Battle watches from the sidelines.
Matthews 110 total yards, 1 TD.Battle 40 total yards, 1 TD. :shrug:
I hope we see something like that, I expect to see Battle handle all short yardage and GL situations and about a 65/35 overall split in favor of Mathews. Another so-so day for Mathews against the Saints will kill his value and probably kill a lot of our teams too.
 
You Mathews enthusiasts aren't thinking practical football here. This guy has fumbled in almost half his NFL games played! 11 fumbles in 28 career games!!!!!!!! You can only ride your "talent" for so long until you start costing the team wins. And when you cost the team wins you cost the head coach his job. Norv and AJ are already on the hot seat.

If this guy puts the ball on the ground again he may be done in SD. I'm serious... just let another late game crucial situation come up in which he drops the ball....he wont ever see it again. ...and you TRUST him not to fumble thru the remaining season? I'm sorry I dont. Battle looked good vs KC and good late last year. The Chargers really ahve no option here because Mathews is on his last leg.
When Mathews had 10 fumbles in 26 games..Turner says he expects a “breakout, big-time year” from Mathews.

Turner says he believes Mathews is capable of leading the NFL in rushing, and that “personally (I) think he’s ready to take that next step. … That means, to me, the production goes way up, and he’s more of the guy that is on the field most of the time."

Turner confirms he expects Mathews to be given "everything he can handle” in the workload department.

Turner confirms Mathews is the favorite for third-down duties.

SI’s Peter King reports the Chargers intend to "feed" Mathews "as much as any back in the league.” Turner compares Mathews to Ricky Williams.

The Chargers’ official website goes on the record as expecting Mathews to be “one of the NFL's top workhorses and a Fantasy Football favorite in 2012."

There's a lot more. So the difference between 10 and 11 fumbles is difference between going from high praise to being supplanted by a 29 year old plodder? Ball security is a very fixable issue, you can't however turn back time or magically inherit football skill.
Really? You saw the AJ Smith quotes right this past week? Do I need to post those? Mathews value preseason was TOP 5 RB! Aloooot of people had him top 5. He has missed a few games due to injury but with this fumbling problem, his role at worst could be delgated to 3rd downs only. THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU PAID FOR HIM, thats why I suggest trading him now. If Norv and AJ want to win games and not blow them by giving the ball to Mathews, ...theyll continue to ride Battl. He's one fumble away...watch
 
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You Mathews enthusiasts aren't thinking practical football here. This guy has fumbled in almost half his NFL games played! 11 fumbles in 28 career games!!!!!!!! You can only ride your "talent" for so long until you start costing the team wins. And when you cost the team wins you cost the head coach his job. Norv and AJ are already on the hot seat.

If this guy puts the ball on the ground again he may be done in SD. I'm serious... just let another late game crucial situation come up in which he drops the ball....he wont ever see it again. ...and you TRUST him not to fumble thru the remaining season? I'm sorry I dont. Battle looked good vs KC and good late last year. The Chargers really ahve no option here because Mathews is on his last leg.
When Mathews had 10 fumbles in 26 games..Turner says he expects a “breakout, big-time year” from Mathews.

Turner says he believes Mathews is capable of leading the NFL in rushing, and that “personally (I) think he’s ready to take that next step. … That means, to me, the production goes way up, and he’s more of the guy that is on the field most of the time."

Turner confirms he expects Mathews to be given "everything he can handle” in the workload department.

Turner confirms Mathews is the favorite for third-down duties.

SI’s Peter King reports the Chargers intend to "feed" Mathews "as much as any back in the league.” Turner compares Mathews to Ricky Williams.

The Chargers’ official website goes on the record as expecting Mathews to be “one of the NFL's top workhorses and a Fantasy Football favorite in 2012."

There's a lot more. So the difference between 10 and 11 fumbles is difference between going from high praise to being supplanted by a 29 year old plodder? Ball security is a very fixable issue, you can't however turn back time or magically inherit football skill.
Really? You saw the AJ Smith quotes right this past week? Do I need to post those?
AJ Smith had a quote? What? When? This is totally new information! :unsure: Mathews had 5 fumbles in 180 touches his rookie year. Obviously awful. In his second year he had 5 in 272 touches. Still not what you want but not a ridiculous fumble/touch ratio like his rookie year. Beyond that he only had in one in last 5 games in 2011, 117 touches. He is improving. If AJ Smith can't see that maybe he should get his boy Meachem to try RB, at $14m guaranteed they should get some value out of him.

 
You Mathews enthusiasts aren't thinking practical football here. This guy has fumbled in almost half his NFL games played! 11 fumbles in 28 career games!!!!!!!! You can only ride your "talent" for so long until you start costing the team wins. And when you cost the team wins you cost the head coach his job. Norv and AJ are already on the hot seat.

If this guy puts the ball on the ground again he may be done in SD. I'm serious... just let another late game crucial situation come up in which he drops the ball....he wont ever see it again. ...and you TRUST him not to fumble thru the remaining season? I'm sorry I dont. Battle looked good vs KC and good late last year. The Chargers really ahve no option here because Mathews is on his last leg.
When Mathews had 10 fumbles in 26 games..Turner says he expects a “breakout, big-time year” from Mathews.

Turner says he believes Mathews is capable of leading the NFL in rushing, and that “personally (I) think he’s ready to take that next step. … That means, to me, the production goes way up, and he’s more of the guy that is on the field most of the time."

Turner confirms he expects Mathews to be given "everything he can handle” in the workload department.

Turner confirms Mathews is the favorite for third-down duties.

SI’s Peter King reports the Chargers intend to "feed" Mathews "as much as any back in the league.” Turner compares Mathews to Ricky Williams.

The Chargers’ official website goes on the record as expecting Mathews to be “one of the NFL's top workhorses and a Fantasy Football favorite in 2012."

There's a lot more. So the difference between 10 and 11 fumbles is difference between going from high praise to being supplanted by a 29 year old plodder? Ball security is a very fixable issue, you can't however turn back time or magically inherit football skill.
Really? You saw the AJ Smith quotes right this past week? Do I need to post those?
Sure, but you'd be missing my point. The fumbling was a clear issue prior to his 11th fumble. I highly doubt SD has pulled a full 180 on their position with Mathews, regardless of what Smith said. They know he's their most talented offensive weapon and their future. You'd have to be completely delusional to think Battle is a long term threat to Mathews. Again, ball security issues are something that can be fixed. Battle however, cannot fix his issues, I.E, turn back time and become more talented.
 
Nothing really new here..

Kevin Acee of the Union-Tribune San Diego anticipates Ryan Mathews handling more touches than Jackie Battle in Week 5 against the Saints.

Acee qualified his projection with, "if the game goes how the Chargers hope," suggesting it's possible Battle will play more early in the game and Mathews might figure into the same role as last week -- largely a clock killer. Backfield distributions don't always play out like teams draw them up, of course. We'd consider Mathews an RB2 in Week 5 and Battle more of a flex.
 
This thread is going to be littered with "lmao" emoticons come Sunday when Mathews breaks out while Battle watches from the sidelines.
Matthews 110 total yards, 1 TD.Battle 40 total yards, 1 TD. :shrug:
I hope we see something like that, I expect to see Battle handle all short yardage and GL situations and about a 65/35 overall split in favor of Mathews. Another so-so day for Mathews against the Saints will kill his value and probably kill a lot of our teams too.
I actually think battle will get a couple of rec and may get multiple TDs. the saints are that bad. Mathews should be fine to start too though. It will be interesting to see what happens when he fumbles again cause you know its going to happen. I wonder what will happen first...Mathews fumble or another Mathews injury? they both seem to happen quite a bit
 
You Mathews enthusiasts aren't thinking practical football here. This guy has fumbled in almost half his NFL games played! 11 fumbles in 28 career games!!!!!!!! You can only ride your "talent" for so long until you start costing the team wins. And when you cost the team wins you cost the head coach his job. Norv and AJ are already on the hot seat. If this guy puts the ball on the ground again he may be done in SD. I'm serious... just let another late game crucial situation come up in which he drops the ball....he wont ever see it again. ...and you TRUST him not to fumble thru the remaining season? I'm sorry I dont. Battle looked good vs KC and good late last year. The Chargers really ahve no option here because Mathews is on his last leg.
How many INT's does Rivers throw a game? He has 4 in 4 games this year. He almost led the league in INT's last year with 20 (only Fitzpatrick with 23 and Freeman with 22 had more), and Mathews has a problem costing them games? There is something more to this than meets the eye. I firmly believe that Turner is just going along with what AJ Smith is doing, but AJ is upset at Mathews for some reason not related to his fumbling.
 
You Mathews enthusiasts aren't thinking practical football here. This guy has fumbled in almost half his NFL games played! 11 fumbles in 28 career games!!!!!!!! You can only ride your "talent" for so long until you start costing the team wins. And when you cost the team wins you cost the head coach his job. Norv and AJ are already on the hot seat. If this guy puts the ball on the ground again he may be done in SD. I'm serious... just let another late game crucial situation come up in which he drops the ball....he wont ever see it again. ...and you TRUST him not to fumble thru the remaining season? I'm sorry I dont. Battle looked good vs KC and good late last year. The Chargers really ahve no option here because Mathews is on his last leg.
How many INT's does Rivers throw a game? He has 4 in 4 games this year. He almost led the league in INT's last year with 20 (only Fitzpatrick with 23 and Freeman with 22 had more), and Mathews has a problem costing them games? There is something more to this than meets the eye. I firmly believe that Turner is just going along with what AJ Smith is doing, but AJ is upset at Mathews for some reason not related to his fumbling.
exactly, but AJ wouldnt dare call out Rivers, after all he kept him over Drew freaking Brees. the guys a moron and should of been fired years ago
 
You Mathews enthusiasts aren't thinking practical football here. This guy has fumbled in almost half his NFL games played! 11 fumbles in 28 career games!!!!!!!! You can only ride your "talent" for so long until you start costing the team wins. And when you cost the team wins you cost the head coach his job. Norv and AJ are already on the hot seat.

If this guy puts the ball on the ground again he may be done in SD. I'm serious... just let another late game crucial situation come up in which he drops the ball....he wont ever see it again. ...and you TRUST him not to fumble thru the remaining season? I'm sorry I dont. Battle looked good vs KC and good late last year. The Chargers really ahve no option here because Mathews is on his last leg.
How many INT's does Rivers throw a game? He has 4 in 4 games this year. He almost led the league in INT's last year with 20 (only Fitzpatrick with 23 and Freeman with 22 had more), and Mathews has a problem costing them games? There is something more to this than meets the eye. I firmly believe that Turner is just going along with what AJ Smith is doing, but AJ is upset at Mathews for some reason not related to his fumbling.
exactly, but AJ wouldnt dare call out Rivers, after all he kept him over Drew freaking Brees. the guys a moron and should of been fired years ago
:mellow: ;)

 
Man, a ton of "analysts" have Mathews in their top ten...? I'd like to see ONE solid before he starts over the likes of Ridley. I sure he hope he takes over soon....

 
People don't seem to realize that Jackie Battle isn't good.
He's good, but Mathews is a lot better (assuming no fumbles).However, fantasy football is part talent and part opportunity.If Norv and company keep giving Battle playing time, he will produce.At the every least, Battle limits Mathew's upside.
 
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People don't seem to realize that Jackie Battle isn't good.
He's good, but Mathews is a lot better (assuming no fumbles).However, fantasy football is part talent and part opportunity.

If Norv and company keep giving Battle playing time, he will produce.

At the every least, Battle limits Mathew's upside.
No he's not, he's a mediocre backup quality talent.
your word against mine. Wait, and Norv's too...or is it AJ? :P .
 
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People don't seem to realize that Jackie Battle isn't good.
He's good, but Mathews is a lot better (assuming no fumbles).However, fantasy football is part talent and part opportunity.

If Norv and company keep giving Battle playing time, he will produce.

At the every least, Battle limits Mathew's upside.
No he's not, he's a mediocre backup quality talent.
your word against mine. Wait, and Norv's too...or is it AJ? :P .
I am not sure you want that back up.
 
People don't seem to realize that Jackie Battle isn't good.
He's good, but Mathews is a lot better (assuming no fumbles).However, fantasy football is part talent and part opportunity.

If Norv and company keep giving Battle playing time, he will produce.

At the every least, Battle limits Mathew's upside.
No he's not, he's a mediocre backup quality talent.
your word against mine. Wait, and Norv's too...or is it AJ? :P .
I am not sure you want that back up.
Haha, I can see that. The fact remains this: if mathews fumbles again, he is in deep poo. Besides that, the Chargers have decided that Battle can be counted if Mathews decides to get hurt or eat popcorn before a game. Of course Battle can decide he likes popcorn too, and then Mathews owners can rejoice!!

 
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People don't seem to realize that Jackie Battle isn't good.
He's good, but Mathews is a lot better (assuming no fumbles).However, fantasy football is part talent and part opportunity.

If Norv and company keep giving Battle playing time, he will produce.

At the every least, Battle limits Mathew's upside.
No he's not, he's a mediocre backup quality talent.
your word against mine. Wait, and Norv's too...or is it AJ? :P .
Coaches and GM's are wrong all the time, anyone who's watched Jackie Battle knows he's a replacement level talent. Anyone except those 2 anyway, apparently.
 
You Mathews enthusiasts aren't thinking practical football here. This guy has fumbled in almost half his NFL games played! 11 fumbles in 28 career games!!!!!!!! You can only ride your "talent" for so long until you start costing the team wins. And when you cost the team wins you cost the head coach his job. Norv and AJ are already on the hot seat.

If this guy puts the ball on the ground again he may be done in SD. I'm serious... just let another late game crucial situation come up in which he drops the ball....he wont ever see it again. ...and you TRUST him not to fumble thru the remaining season? I'm sorry I dont. Battle looked good vs KC and good late last year. The Chargers really ahve no option here because Mathews is on his last leg.
How many INT's does Rivers throw a game? He has 4 in 4 games this year. He almost led the league in INT's last year with 20 (only Fitzpatrick with 23 and Freeman with 22 had more), and Mathews has a problem costing them games? There is something more to this than meets the eye. I firmly believe that Turner is just going along with what AJ Smith is doing, but AJ is upset at Mathews for some reason not related to his fumbling.
exactly, but AJ wouldnt dare call out Rivers, after all he kept him over Drew freaking Brees. the guys a moron and should of been fired years ago
:mellow: ;)
:goodposting:
 
Chargers coach Norv Turner was noncommittal Friday when asked who he'll start at running back in Week 5 against the Saints.

"The starter, we'll find out on the first play of the game," Turner said. If the Chargers had truly had a permanent depth-chart change, it stands to reason Turner wouldn't have been so evasive and named Jackie Battle the starter as he was last week. But that's not the case. Turner did indicate that Battle and Mathews will form a Week 5 timeshare. "It’s not a big deal," said Turner. "One had 14 carries and one had 15 carries (last week), and if we can get that done again, it’ll be outstanding."
 
Picked up Battle in one league where I am hampered by a lack of RB's. With byes and injuries I will be starting him and hoping he can at least get me a score. While I don't expect a high number of carries, it's foolish to think he won't have an impact in this game. Facing the Saints is a match made in heaven for the Bolts in the rushing game. I think a 50/50 timeshare is in order, so long as SD can keep the game close. However, I don't feel good about that. I think he'll need to get his fantasy points early.

 
‏@UTgehlken

Looks like Jackie Battle will start again for Chargers. Ryan Mathews will follow and, based on game flow, could finish with more touches.

:lol:

 
What do you do here if you own Mathews and Battle? Play for TDs? Assume it's no big deal? Buying low may not have been the greatest idea ever...

 
Big ####in night for this kid. Hope he shows that he has some balls and is not so ok with getting dicked around.

 

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