Time heals all wounds. That and good coaching. Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie’s decision to hire Chip Kelly as his team’s head coach was a blessing for linebacker Casey Matthews, one of Kelly’s former Oregon players who had struggled in limited game day action during his first two NFL seasons.
Despite Matthews’s struggles in his early professional career, Kelly had trust in him, remembering how valuable he was in Oregon’s defensive scheme shift. Kelly and Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti collaborated to transition away from the Ducks’ old 4-3 scheme and towards a multiple 3-4 scheme. Though they recruited Matthews to be a 4-3 middle linebacker, they trusted he could adjust in the new 3-4 hybrid scheme. Oregon inside linebackers coach and future defensive coordinator Don Pellum oversaw Matthews’s development into a reputable pro prospect.
Matthews (#55) is the middle linebacker in Oregon’s even front.
Matthews is the left inside linebacker in the Ducks’ odd front.
Matthews almost won the Ducks a national championship in 2010 against Auburn. He made a tremendous play late in the fourth quarter when he forced Heisman trophy winner Cam Newton to fumble the football. This turnover sparked an Oregon drive which ended in a touchdown to tie the game at 19, only for the Ducks to give up a game-winning field goal at the end of the game.
Aliotti’s defensive players, including Matthews (outside the left tackle), crowd the line of scrimmage.
Matthews maintains outside contain, but closes in on Newton.
Matthews goes for the strip and forces a fumble that is recovered by the Ducks.
There were some warning signs that Matthews was not suited to be a day-one starter in the NFL. He ranked low compared to other linebacker prospects in nearly every athletic category, as this spider graph from mockdraftable.com shows.
Nevertheless, Matthews’s performance allowed him to become a fourth-round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and he was the first-team middle linebacker on the first day of his rookie training camp for the Eagles. There were a variety of factors working against Matthews that year besides the usual steep learning curve for a rookie. First, the NFLPA lockout made it illegal for the Eagles coaching staff to contact Matthews and help him adjust to the pro level. Second, head coach Andy Reid made the strange decision to hire longtime offensive line coach Juan Castillo as his defensive coordinator. Third, Reid allowed new defensive line coach Jim Washburn to use the Wide 9 technique—which lines up defensive ends far to the outside of the box and makes it easier for offensive linemen to attack linebackers—a centerpiece of the Eagles’ 4-3 scheme.
The Eagles’ first defensive play from scrimmage in 2011 showed how overwhelmed Matthews was as a rookie.
Matthews (#50) is the middle linebacker across from the center.
The center uses his superior strength to wash Matthews out of the play.
Instead of fighting across the center to the playside, Matthews uses bad technique to run around the center. He basically takes himself out of the play, which leads to a Rams touchdown.
After Week 2, Castillo decided that Matthews was too overwhelmed to remain the starting middle linebacker. He moved Matthews to weakside linebacker and hoped he would fare better at that position. Instead, things got worse. The lowpoint of his rookie season was when he blew a coverage assignment and left a running back wide open to catch a touchdown on a wheel route.
Matthews is the outside linebacker across from the left tackle.
Matthews moves in the running back’s direction, but takes a bad angle.
The receiver runs a slant route with the Eagles in man coverage. This clears out the left side of the field.
The left side of the field is wide open for the running back on a wheel route. Matthews is out of position to prevent a touchdown.
Matthews was benched after this game. He sparingly played some reps as a backup and special teams player in Reid’s final two seasons. It seemed plausible that the new coach would lose patience with him and he would be a training camp casualty.
However, the new coach turned out to be none other than Kelly, Matthews’s old college coach. Matthews’s scheme versatility helped Kelly transition Oregon’s old 4-3 scheme to a hybrid 3-4 in the past. By embracing a variety of roles on special teams units, as well as all four linebacker positions in the Eagles’ new 3-4 scheme, Matthews showed Kelly he still had value as a backup in 2013 and 2014.
Matthews lined up as the left outside linebacker.
Matthews (front right) makes a crucial double-team block on the 25 yard line which led to a kick return touchdown.
In 2014, a short-term injury to Mychal Kendricks and a season-ending injury to DeMeco Ryans forced Matthews back into the starting lineup. This time, however, he put his past struggles behind him and proved he can be a competent replacement.
Matthews has particularly excelled on blitzes, which gives defensive coordinator Bill Davis some flexibility in his playcalling.
Matthews is lined up across from the right guard.
Matthews attacks the A-gap on a blitz.
Matthews takes advantage of the guard’s poor leverage and makes a tackle for loss.
Matthews excels when he gets a one-on-one matchup which suits his athleticism. For instance, a one-on-one battle with a running back is a much more favorable matchup than taking on an offensive lineman.
Matthews lines up across from the right tackle.
Cedric Thornton (#72) occupies the right guard, while the right tackle is assigned to block Connor Barwin (#98).
Matthews gets into the proper position to shed the block with his hands.
Matthews gets in position to keep the quarterback from fleeing the pocket.
Matthews and Barwin share a sack.
Matthews might not be the most athletic linebacker, but he has good enough form to even win a battle against above-average offensive linemen like Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith.
Matthews is across from the left guard.
Cox briefly occupies the left tackle and allows Matthews to loop around on a delayed blitz.
It is not the prettiest battle, largely because of a size mismatch, but Matthews holds his own just enough to stay within range of the quarterback.
He is close enough to reach out and tag the quarterback for the sack.
No one will mistake Matthews for his brother, Clay, or even DeMeco Ryans, but he is an example of a player who turned his career around in the right environment. Kelly has given him every chance to show value as a versatile backup and Matthews responded by tuning out his critics. When one contrasts Kelly’s stable tenure with the dysfunction that characterized the Eagles coaching staff in 2011 and 2012, it is easy to see why it was premature to write the obituary on Matthews’s career.
Top Photo from Video
Related Articles:
Joe Kearns is a senior at the Pennsylvania State University majoring in Economics. He intends to pursue a career in the banking and financial services industries, but is also a lifelong diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan who enjoys analyzing college and pro football film as a hobby. Along with being a fan, Joe’s football knowledge comes from his days as a center, defensive tackle, and long snapper for his high school in Mt. Lebanon, Pa. Though he is a Nittany Lion, he has taken a great interest in the Oregon football team since Chip Kelly became the Eagles head coach. He loves pancakes ( and not just the breakfast food).