Redskins Sign Jerome Mathis

fleetus · Post by **fleetus** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:38 pm

Gibbs4Life wrote:I like the Mathis signing, it gives us more speed at KR and Wr, another toy for Zorn and Campbell, in the west coast offense you don't really need great hands because youre getting 5 and 6 yard dump offs then if you have break away speed.... Touchdown. Mathis will make the team.

The greatest WCO WR ever was a guy who did it with intelligence, great hands and great route running and had average (at best) speed. Remember Jerry Rice? WCO is about timing, route running and hands. Speed won't help much when you're running a slant that cuts between the MLB and SS. Route running and the ability to take a hit will better serve in that situation. IMHO.

Those passes, short and long, will come fast, low, high, in front and behind, because they are such quick timing routes. Meanwhile, the defense is constantly blitzing or faking the blitz and dropping into short zones. So the QB will make a split second read and the WR will make a split second adjustment and the ball may be thrown into a hole where the WR will need to make a tough catch while running full speed horizontally. Sorry to be so critical, but speed is over-rated I think.

riggofan · Post by **riggofan** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:25 pm

JLC has a huge complaining post about this on Redskins Insider now too. I just don't see this stuff as being massively severe. Its not like Chris Henry or something.

I might not say this guy sounds like a real "character" guy. But why do our football players all have to be model citizens and role models? I can't stand that.

Anyway, I don't see anything here to make a big deal about. Who knows if the guy will even make the team come August?

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:39 pm

riggofan wrote:Anyway, I don't see anything here to make a big deal about. Who knows if the guy will even make the team come August?

That's the key factor in this, IMO. I understand where JLC is coming from, and my intuition is to agree with him on this. However, we'll have to see how this plays out in training camp.

CanesSkins26 · Post by **CanesSkins26** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:54 pm

The character issue is getting out of hand imo. I'm not saying that you sign guys like Henry or Pacman, but it's virtually impossible to assemble an NFL team without having some players that have so-called "character issues." People are making a much bigger issue out of this than it really is.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:36 pm

So he's from Hampton and because of that he's a thug? I'm from Langley Park, that means I walk around with a machete and wear a big "13" on my chest? Ridiculous... The dog thing, well, my dog did the same thing but it wasn't a pit. The beating a woman thing, don't like that but if the lady dropped the charges maybe there's more to the story? Fios made a great point when he said the Redskins probably did their research on the dude. I think if he stays healthy, he'll be valuable on special teams. I like Rock but testing that position might make Rock play harder and develop more skills.

SkinsFreak · Post by **SkinsFreak** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:44 pm

riggofan wrote:JLC has a huge complaining post about this on Redskins Insider now too. I just don't see this stuff as being massively severe. Its not like Chris Henry or something.

I might not say this guy sounds like a real "character" guy. But why do our football players all have to be model citizens and role models? I can't stand that.

Anyway, I don't see anything here to make a big deal about. Who knows if the guy will even make the team come August?

The more I read from JLC, the more that guy makes my gut turn. He just wants to take everything he can and turn it into a reason to bash the Skins. I can't stand him. I have no idea why Dan Snyder even lets him into Redskins Park. If I was Dan, I'd banish him from the Park forever, and actually, knowing Dan's relationship with the Post, not sure why JLC hasn't been banished yet. The dude never has anything positive to say and simply gets his rocks off by bashing the organization. He isn't even that informed. The dude is a low-life imo. It would be pretty funny if every interviewee ignored him and didn't call on him for questions.

Many, many players, in all sports, have some kind of character issue, especially in this day and age when the media attacks anything that may have a slight appearance of not being politically correct. Mathis' wife dropped the charges and Mathis' dogs breaking out of a fenced yard is hardly his fault. Okay, maybe he should have had a better fence, if that's the argument you want to take on that one. But it's not like Mathis, himself, deliberately did something wrong on his own accord with regard to the dogs.

I agree with a few others here, this is getting blown waaaay out of proportion.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:52 pm

I have no problem with guys being "tough" and "hard". This is the NFL and it is a very rough, hard-hitting sport.

That being said, the NFL has a "Code of conduct" and this is really simple to understand.

It is a privilege to be a part of the NFL and that means simply abiding by their rues, not society's rules, those that are implied by the NFL. IF you cannot behave yourself in an appropriate manner or want to have a little fun but in doing so you happen to violate the NFL's rules then you will hear from them. IF you continue to do this, in my opinion the NFL should ban you - there are a lot of other players out there that can live, have fun and play in the NFL.

I'm all for giving players a chance but if you want to "live on the edge" and if you think you are entitled to behave in a manner that the NFL considers inappropraite - I sincerely hope the NFL kicks you out of the game.

Back on topic - there are a lot of overblown stories surrounding these players and hopefully that is the case here. I think the FO guys would not be taking a chance on Mathis if they thought he was close to being on the NFL bad list.

On a slightly different note - The same goes for all those fans that cannot behave during a game and make it difficult for parents to take their kids to the game.

If you cannot behave at the games, don't go!

riggofan · Post by **riggofan** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:12 am

Well, I like JLC's blog. He's a good reporter, and you have to admit he is right about a lot of the inside information he gathers. I like that his blog reveals a lot of redskins info beyond the cliched stuff the team puts out in press releases.

Still, his reaction to the Mathis signing just seemed wild. Must have been a slow news week.

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:57 pm

Gibbs4Life wrote:I like the Mathis signing, it gives us more speed at KR and Wr, another toy for Zorn and Campbell, in the west coast offense you don't really need great hands because youre getting 5 and 6 yard dump offs then if you have break away speed.... Touchdown. Mathis will make the team.

I think hands are something you need no matter what offense you are in.

PeetyPa · Post by **PeetyPa** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:00 pm

I agreed with recievers needing to have good hands no matter what offense they are in. I still like the move though, I dont think is is the answer for our WR needs , but it helps for dept at KR. Hopefully, he can emerge and be a decent number reciever in case of injuries.

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:10 pm

riggofan wrote:Well, I like JLC's blog. He's a good reporter, and you have to admit he is right about a lot of the inside information he gathers. I like that his blog reveals a lot of redskins info beyond the cliched stuff the team puts out in press releases.

Still, his reaction to the Mathis signing just seemed wild. Must have been a slow news week.

He's also frequently wrong and there is a stark difference between not accepting the official spin, which I condone, and being purposefully negative, which JLC often is. Frankly that seems to be the Post's policy so he may just be following orders but, whatever the philosophy, his agenda is not merely to cut through the BS.

yupchagee · Post by **yupchagee** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:57 pm

PeetyPa wrote:I agreed with recievers needing to have good hands no matter what offense they are in. I still like the move though, I dont think is is the answer for our WR needs , but it helps for dept at KR. Hopefully, he can emerge and be a decent number reciever in case of injuries.

He won't make the team purely as a KR. You don't keepa player on roster for 4-5 playes a game. Unless we can help at WR or coverage units, Gunner on punt coverage?) we can't afford that roster spot. I hope he makes the team since we went to the same HS (35 yrs apart).

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:29 am

"We think he's fine physically," Redskins executive vice president Vinny Cerrato said. "The kid can really run."

An NFL source agreed, saying: "If the kid can stay healthy, he's a weapon. At a minimum salary [deal], what do the Redskins have to lose?"

Perhaps some tarnishing of what former coach Joe Gibbs would call their good name, something owner Dan Snyder claims to treasure. But Texans general manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak at last week's NFL meetings assured Cerrato that Mathis isn't big trouble.

"They both said that Jerome's a good person who just needs a fresh start," Cerrato said.

Said Mathis: "I made some mistakes in my younger days, but I'm a different person. I'm not looking at Washington as a second chance. It's more like my last chance."

http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /RSS_SPORT

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:40 am

Said Mathis: "I made some mistakes in my younger days, but I'm a different person. I'm not looking at Washington as a second chance. It's more like my last chance."

This sounds like a young man who understands his circumstance. I like the signing. Low cost, low risk. If he works out, great. If not, he's gone, with minimum impact.

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:06 am

GSPODS wrote:Said Mathis: "I made some mistakes in my younger days, but I'm a different person. I'm not looking at Washington as a second chance. It's more like my last chance."

It probably is...

riggofan · Post by **riggofan** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:46 am

Fios wrote:He's also frequently wrong and there is a stark difference between not accepting the official spin, which I condone, and being purposefully negative, which JLC often is. Frankly that seems to be the Post's policy so he may just be following orders but, whatever the philosophy, his agenda is not merely to cut through the BS.

Fios, you could be right about him being intentionally negative. I don't really know. I just prefer the blog writing - even if it is speculative at times. He usually admits when he is just guessing at things.

It seems to me like he gets a lot of his info from people not very high in the organization. The Brandon Lloyd thing is a good example. It seemed like Lloyd was not well liked by people at Redskins park, and JLC's stuff constantly reflected those opinions.

I don't really buy into the Post having some agenda against the Skins myself. The Post is into selling papers, and Redskins coverage sells papers. You have to admit there has been a lot more negative stuff to write about than positive during the Snyder era. We'd probably see a lot more glowing coverage if we'd been the Washington Patriots.

Sorry I'm sure this is getting way off the original thread topic now. I'm going to moderate myself back to work...

yupchagee · Post by **yupchagee** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:14 pm

PulpExposure wrote:
GSPODS wrote:Said Mathis: "I made some mistakes in my younger days, but I'm a different person. I'm not looking at Washington as a second chance. It's more like my last chance."

It probably is...

No. The Raiders & or Bengals will take players with far worse records.

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:28 pm

yupchagee wrote:
PulpExposure wrote:
GSPODS wrote:Said Mathis: "I made some mistakes in my younger days, but I'm a different person. I'm not looking at Washington as a second chance. It's more like my last chance."

It probably is...

No. The Raiders & or Bengals will take players with far worse records.

Actually, I don't think the Bengals will be taking any more players with personal issues...

And if he doesn't work out here, it'll be because he's either a total jerk, or he's not very good. And a jerk who isn't very good...isn't employed in the NFL.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:03 pm

Fios wrote:
riggofan wrote:Well, I like JLC's blog. He's a good reporter, and you have to admit he is right about a lot of the inside information he gathers. I like that his blog reveals a lot of redskins info beyond the cliched stuff the team puts out in press releases.

Still, his reaction to the Mathis signing just seemed wild. Must have been a slow news week.

He's also frequently wrong and there is a stark difference between not accepting the official spin, which I condone, and being purposefully negative, which JLC often is. Frankly that seems to be the Post's policy so he may just be following orders but, whatever the philosophy, his agenda is not merely to cut through the BS.

Don't forget that he's a Baltimore native. The dude is a Ravens fan at heart; I just know it. . .