Comments on: Is Matthews A Liability Against The Run?

By: jeremy

jeremy — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:20:59 +0000

Most teams are more effective rushing to the right because the best run blockers play there. The best pass protectors usually play on the left.

Anyway, who gives two shits if they run for 5 yards per carry on the right. Rodgers throws for 8.3 yds per pass; let them run.

By: iltarion

iltarion — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 21:46:34 +0000

No, it was a great break for the Packers that the Steelers stuck with their strength of running right. Matthews is a play maker. You keep going at him; eventually, he’s going to make a play.

The Steelers had their best success running when we only had two defensive linemen on the field. We can always throw in the big boys if we need to stop the run.

By: FrozenFanatic84

FrozenFanatic84 — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 21:39:22 +0000

Great points Martinez! Statistics can always be manipulated to say anything people want them to say! If anything teams should be afraid to run to Matthews side of the field!

By: Vijay

Vijay — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:19:06 +0000

In a zone pressure scheme like the Packers have, I believe its the D line who will have to continue to improve in this regard. jolly was an expert at stuffing the run and Pickett is pretty fair at this as well. They need to help Matthews by balancing the support he gets against the run in order for him to make more plays. If they pull the O-Line and double him, its tough for anyone to set the edge and control the run game. Don’t forget that Pittsburgh is an elite offensive running team and that their scheme and lineman excel in run production vs. pass. When you face elite competition, all you can really hope for is to limit production by the opposition and try to neutralize their strengths. I think Clay does a fine job in run support but yeah, more big boys who can stuff the run would help his cause too.

By: martinez

martinez — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:14:36 +0000

it is documented by our talented friends at espn that rashard mendenhall ran the ball to the right 127 times for 623 yards this season. Up the middle he ran it 74 times for 209 yards. and to the left 92 for 278 yards. The steelers just like to run that direction because thats where they are most effective, it says nothing at all about Clay’s ability to stop the run. Who wouldn’t want to run behind Flozell’s fat ass all day? Clay was double teamed, held, tripped and it was the other linebackers and linemen to flow to the football and make the stop.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:15:30 +0000

Did anyone else notice that in the picture above Clay is being held? I realize holding happens on almost every play, I just find it kind of ironic.

By: DevilDon

DevilDon — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:43:25 +0000

I don’t think it’s a lack of CMIII’s ability to stop the run as much as that’s how Pittsburgh runs it. You can’t convince me Zombo is that much better against the run that the Steelers were scared to run his way, it was their way of trying to “tire” the Claymaker. It didn’t work.

By: ay hombre

ay hombre — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:31:54 +0000

Well said. He’s a little on the small side for stopping the run…but getting him to quit? That’s pretty laughable. Props once again to Dom for making a gutsy decision to make Clay predominantly Big Ben’s shadow…and it worked too. You know Ben wanted to run all day and you know why? Because he’s not an accurate passer. How many times did they throw the WR screen that game? It had to be close to 10 times.

But yep…I’ll give up those yards all day in exchange for a couple big plays, and no doubt CMIII will improve in this area.

By: Two Jet Winston

Two Jet Winston — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:19:50 +0000

The key to running on the Packers seems to be holding Matthews.

By: Sacram3ntal

Sacram3ntal — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:16:02 +0000

They absolutely went to the well once too often- Matthews was never going to quit, and the rest of that footage is pretty sweet.

He tells everyone the run is coming his way, starts yelling at Pickett to spill it, maintains the outside edge (while Pickett actually occupies two blockers) and the rest is history.

Now, he’s given up run yards to his side all year- he gets caught up inside and can still have trouble disengaging laterally once in a while.

But, no way is Matthews just a one-dimensional “pass-rush specialist”: he’s made numerous plays agaisnt the run in the backfield, he’s great at reading the play, awesome at running down the play when its going away from him, is a very good tackler and has excellent instincts and speed.

He’s a 2nd year player, and is only going to get better- I was honestly taken aback at how adept he became over one off season at handling double teams, for example.