Matthews to start in nickel
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Matthews to start in nickel
Jonathan Tamari
The Eagles are making more changes at linebacker. Casey Matthews will be playing middle linebacker in nickel formations along with Keenan Clayton this week.
Matthews replaces Jamar Chaney. The base linebacker set of Chaney, Brian Rolle and Akeem Jordan is unchanged.
"It’s very exciting to get back out on the field other than just short yardage reps. You want to feel you’re a part of it, you’re gonna help the team out," Matthews said.
The rookie fourth-round pick entered the season as the starting middle linebacker, but clearly wasn't ready and has spent much of the season playing special teams or in short yardage packages. He said the time has allowed him to better learn the defense.
"When B-Rolle was put in I was able to kind of step back and get an actual grasp of the defense," Matthews said. "Being able to look at it like that, during camp when I was first in there everything was on the run and being able to learn on the fly it was tough. Having the eight weeks (not starting) to pick up the terms and defense as a whole, I feel that’s helped me right now be able to grasp it better."
Chaney said, "When you're 4-8 and not playing defense the way you're supposed to, they're going to make changes."
Matthews became the focus of fan criticism after his rough start. It got so bad, he said, that some home fans harassed his aunt, cousin and fiancee at an early home game.
"One of the earlier games they harassed my family and made my fiancée cry. It’s tough, it’s frustrating, but that’s how they are here," Matthews said. "If you win they’ll love you so I guess we have to turn things around and start winning again."
Once they adjusted the splits, the D got better against the run. I will give Rolle and Chaney some credit, but I would not give up on Matthews. I would play him outside, Chaney is the better MLB. the biggest problem is that only Samuel and Hanson have covered anyone this whole season, Nmamdi and Antonio suck! Allen and Page have sucked, too. Coleman will actually hit someone out there, what a concept. I have an idea, and it is a bit radical. Start Hanson and Samuel at CB and move Keenan back to safety, along with Coleman. He did play there some in college, he can cover backs and TE's and help a lot in run support, Coleman is too small to be a SS in the NFL.— Paul SoTX- When you are at rock bottom and you get moved again....it tells everyone alot about Andy and the mailboy's talent selection......the DC stinks, the talent, as in NO linebackers, and no safeties and corners who stared in man coverage, forced to play zone and a DE that is too stupid to know when he is offside, even when he is looking right at the ball, makes this one sucky defense.....thanks andy...— nuggett
- Dag, gotta get my eyes checked. The title of this article goes "Matthews to start in nickle" but I keep seeing "Eagles Are Doomed in Miami".— Atomic Fury
