Ryan Mathews....Peaking at the Best TIme? (1 Viewer)

[Tau837]

First of all, good post with good stats.

Second of all, we now have two OCs that have used Mathews (basically) the same way.

I think it has more to do with Ryan's limitations.

I think it has more to do with circumstances.

Norv:

2010 - Rookie. Got full workload in game 1, got hurt in game 2 and Tolbert came in and played very well, RBBC rest of the way. Got hurt again in week 9 and missed the next 3 games. Performed well when healthy. No doghouse issues.

2011 - Great season. 1546 YFS on just 272 touches. Averaged 4.9 ypc and 9.1 ypr. Significantly outperformed Tolbert. No doghouse issues.

2012 - Primed for bellcow role but broke collarbone in preseason.

Up to this point his first coaching staff was very happy with his play and planned to make him their feature RB. So I think this largely disproves your statement.

But the team had to play Ronnie Brown in his early absence and continued to give him a role when Mathews returned. Mathews fumbled in his first game back and went into doghouse and shared the workload the rest of the way despite playing reasonably well. (The OL was decimated by injuries, so his performance was better than his numbers. I've posted on this previously.) Then he broke his collarbone again. Some suspected A.J. Smith directed the doghouse treatment for some reason. Either way, it was stupid coaching/management by a coach and GM who were on their way out.

2013 - New regime. Mathews isn't "their guy" but Woodhead is. Is that because of Mathews' limitations or because of bias? Either way, Mathews is performing well, and the recent trend is that he is seeing more snaps and utilization. SameOldSongAndDance has posted about that recently, either in one of the Mathews threads or in the snap counts thread, or both. It makes sense that he is trending up, based on the stats I posted earlier and based on his recent performance on the field.

 

[Tau837]

With regard to last season's performance, here is an old post that helps explain why his numbers are worse than his actual performance:

Everyone knows the San Diego OL was awful last season, but they may not recognize how bad it was down the stretch and how that affected Mathews.

Mathews missed the first 2 games last season, but in his first 7 games (weeks 3-10), he had 112/475 rushing (4.24 ypc) and 26/167 receiving (6.42 ypr). That is 19.7 touches per game and a 16 game pace of 1467 YFS. That was #12 in touches and #13 in YFS among all NFL RBs in that span, despite the fact that he was returning from injury, the lousy OL play, and the Chargers overreacting and misusing him after his first game fumble. Not great by any means, but not disastrous either.

Then, in his last 5 games (weeks 11-15), he had 72/232 rushing (3.22 ypc) and 13/85 receiving (6.54 ypr). His touches dropped about 15% and his 16 game pace for YFS dropped to just 1014. During those 5 games:

- Starting LG Tyronne Greene missed all but 40 snaps.

- Starting RT Jeromey Clary missed 2 entire games and played just 2 snaps in another game.

- Starting LT Michael Harris missed 1 entire game and played just 20 snaps in another game.

In the first 10 weeks, Greene and Clary had played all but one snap between them, and Harris had played full time LT except for the 4 games Gaither played. So they were a bad OL to begin with, and they fell apart down the stretch. This obviously hurt Mathews' production before he ultimately got hurt again.

Entering this season, the Chargers have added Fluker and Starks and lost Vasquez, and it seems reasonable to think the OL will be healthier. That should help Mathews.

 

[duaneok66]

thanks. Good information in the last two posts.

 

[Slapdash]

Hard to peak when Woodhead is being used on the goal line... :(

 

[RBM]

How annoying

 

[RBM]

He looks really good. Deserves some TD love.

 

[Slapdash]

Missing on the goal line again. Do the Chargers coaches think he'll catch on fire if he touches it? WTF?

 

[thehornet]

Missing on the goal line again. Do the Chargers coaches think he'll catch on fire if he touches it? WTF?

um maybe woodhead is a just a better overall back?

 

[Nucker101]

Missing on the goal line again. Do the Chargers coaches think he'll catch on fire if he touches it? WTF?

He hasn't gotten GL for a long time now..he also sits out on 2 minute drills, passing downs and at times when they run the hurry-up. In PPR he just isn't going to have many big games, he relies solely on rushing yardage for production which really limits his upside in PPR.

 

[chook]

TD from the 3. Mathews might be starting to have some value once again.

 

[shadyridr]

Sell high

 

[LargeMouthBass]

For Ryan Mathews' value... Mike McCoy >>>>>> Norv Turner

 

[Nucker101]

TD from the 3. Mathews might be starting to have some value once again.

Were all of the other available backs injured or tired? I'm shocked that finally a coach actually gave him a GL carry. Good for him, he's the most talented runner on the roster as he was last year.

 

[Slapdash]

Missing on the goal line again. Do the Chargers coaches think he'll catch on fire if he touches it? WTF?

um maybe woodhead is a just a better overall back?

Mathews is the better runner and can catch the ball well too. Woodhead has the edge catching. No reason you couldn't use both out of the gun.

 

[lardonastick]

TD from the 3. Mathews might be starting to have some value once again.

Were all of the other available backs injured or tired? I'm shocked that finally a coach actually gave him a GL carry. Good for him, he's the most talented runner on the roster as he was last year.

His teammates were VERY happy for him.

 

[Tau837]

Missing on the goal line again. Do the Chargers coaches think he'll catch on fire if he touches it? WTF?

um maybe woodhead is a just a better overall back?

Mathews is the better runner and can catch the ball well too. Woodhead has the edge catching. No reason you couldn't use both out of the gun.

Mathews is also a better pass blocker, as has been discussed in this thread. He absolutely deserves more snaps in passing situations.

 

[the_Truth]

TD from the 3. Mathews might be starting to have some value once again.

Were all of the other available backs injured or tired? I'm shocked that finally a coach actually gave him a GL carry. Good for him, he's the most talented runner on the roster as he was last year.

His teammates were VERY happy for him.

I noticed this as well. The big uglies were quick to come over and congratulate him. Good to see.

 

[T.Rex]

Coaching staff is warming to him. Again he looks really great

 

[duaneok66]

Hey JWB -

Nice calls in this thread.

 

[Coeur de Lion]

um maybe woodhead is a just a better overall back?

Matthews has a higher YPC, more yards / reception, fewer drops, and a better pass blocking % -- it's also completely obvious on the eyeball test which guy is more effective with the ball in his hands.

Woodhead is a good complementary receiving RB, but Matthews has the ability of be a 3 down difference maker if used that way. The guy can play.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

holy smokes a goalline TD

 

[Leonidas]

Matthews is unstartable. no tds, no catches and no fantasy value.

I started Mathews to the tune of 100+ yards from scrimmage and a TD this week.

I have received more out of him than the price paid already.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

I think he is earning the coaches trust, he fumbled a couple times early in the year and had been in the doghouse and Woodhead has his role. Hopefully for Ryan the tide is turning a little bit

 

[Tau837]

Hey JWB -

Nice calls in this thread.

 

[Tau837]

I think he is earning the coaches trust, he fumbled a couple times early in the year and had been in the doghouse and Woodhead has his role. Hopefully for Ryan the tide is turning a little bit

He has fumbled once this year, unless you are referring to preseason.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

I think he is earning the coaches trust, he fumbled a couple times early in the year and had been in the doghouse and Woodhead has his role. Hopefully for Ryan the tide is turning a little bit

He has fumbled once this year, unless you are referring to preseason.

I could be wrong but I thought he fumbled in the red zone vs Philly and did so in week1 vs houston as well

 

[Tau837]

I think he is earning the coaches trust, he fumbled a couple times early in the year and had been in the doghouse and Woodhead has his role. Hopefully for Ryan the tide is turning a little bit

He has fumbled once this year, unless you are referring to preseason.

I could be wrong but I thought he fumbled in the red zone vs Philly and did so in week1 vs houston as well

His only fumble this season was in the Philly game.

 

[LargeMouthBass]

Norv Turner's an #####.

He's letting McGahee be the primary ball carrier averaging 2.9 ypc.

Are you telling me Ryan Mathews couldn't have done better than that being SD's primary back?

Coaches can really kill a guy's career...

 

[RBM]

Looked good again today. Coaching staff smartened up and gave him some love at the stripe.