I screamed from the mountaintops how overrated Clay Matthews III was last season. Packers fans protected their young linebacker the way a mother protects her children. I received beligerant and threatening comments on Twitter. And yet, I held steadfast that Matthews was one of the most overrated players in football. When Sporting News awarded him its version of Defensive Player of the Year, I called it one of the biggest travesties in sports. Instead of listening to reason, Packers fans called me a bias FIB. While I may hate the Green Bay Packers, I’ve been saying for a LONG TIME that Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in football, Donald Driver is a great football player and Charles Woodson is a Hall of Famer. Those comments, of course, the frontrunners to the north miss.
I’ve heard every excuse in the world for Matthews’ numbers being down this season. From the expanded role he has with the defense to teams double-teaming him off the line-of-scrimmage. Let’s start with the first notion of his expanded role. Through seven games, Matthews has 22 tackles. Last season, he ended with a total of 60 tackles. He’s on pace for 10 less tackles this season. If expanding someone’s role is having them make less tackles, I would think Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers may need another job. You can tabulate his sack totals on an abacus. He’s got three so far and is on pace for around seven total sacks. To put this in perspective…defensive linemen Henry Melton, Israel Idonije and Amobi Okoye from the Chicago Bears all have the same number of sacks as the pass-rushing Matthews. Teams knew that Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Thomas were coming from the linebacker spot, and yet they dominated. Matthews cannot make this same claim.
Why do I refer to Matthews as KGB? For those of you that don’t remember (and since many of you Packers fans are recent, you don’t). Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (KGB) played for the Packers from 2000-8. He was a fierce pass-rusher that didn’t do many other things on the football field. He played nine seasons for the Packers before finally fizzling out at the end. During his best seasons (2001-5), he averaged over 12 sacks per season. Matthews in his first two seasons averages around 12 sacks as well. When I made this comparison last season, it was met with anger.
I am now using facts to back up my notions. While I do not believe statistics always tell the whole story, Matthews is a step slower and bit weaker this season. With HGH testing now being implemented this season, it asks the question about how much of Matthews success came as a result of performance enhancing drugs?
I’m sure there will be some comments directed at me from this piece. I look forward to it. Hit me up on Twitter at ChicagoBearJew.
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I have to agree with you–Matthews does not look as sharp as he did last year. You obviously weren’t thrilled with the fact that Matthews was named Defensive Player of the Year. For both the regular and post season, Matthews was Top 5 for the number of sacks. He may not have been the top in each, but he made his moves count. I don’t think anyone can argue that Green Bay’s defense played a significant role in their advancement to the Super Bowl. Both Woodson and Matthews helped lead that defense.
Your last paragraph referring to the use of PEDs is a HUGE accusation. Do you honestly think that THAT is the difference between seasons? I think there could be many other factors besides that. One of which is that he’s a human being. But that is my opinion. I realize you have your own.
Really? You stated that fora LONG TIME you have been saying that Rodgers is the best QB in the league? For how long? I as a Packer fan, have only said that since beginning of last year before the miracle season started.
You compare Matthews to KGB based on sack totals? Really? Go look at number of QB hits! Matthews does NOT always rush the passer either. Who made the hit on Mendenhall in the Super Bowl in the 4th quarter to cause the fumble? Oh yeah, that was Matthews! You are a true Bears fan! Enjoy getting your asses kicked for the next 10 years by the Packers, Rodgers & Matthews & company! Get a clue bro!
Thanks Amanda. The question of HGH needs to be asked at this point, and will certainly admit when if I’m wrong. But others have thought the same thing too.
My BIGGEST issue is your accusatory final paragraph. You are saying that Matthews stats are down because of his supposedly not taking PEDs this season. You should realize that he has been slowed by a quad injury since Week 3, being limited or out of practice since then http://www.packers.com/team/injury-report.html
Think what you want, but you are banking on suspicion being the answer to something you desperately want to believe in. That is a dangerous proposition
Players play with injuries. The excuses for CM3 just pile up don’t they. Still think Urlacher is overrated Mr. Rehor?
Not talking about Urlacher. Want to stick with the topic at hand, or do you want to go to my opinion about another player?
You do that all the time Rehor.
Not this time. You started this, you can deal with it.
I said my piece. I’m done
Still love you man. Check out John’s blog at http://www.cheeseheadtv.com for the latest and greatest on those guys to the North.
You will admit if you are wrong ChicagoBearJew… the problem with that idiotic statement is there is no way to ever PROVE the negative… that someone did not do something. You are already making a RIDICULOUS statement without a shred of evidence…. so what more can be done to prove that he has not taken performance enhancing drugs? HOW DOES HE PROVE YOU WRONG??? Idiot.
Sure there is. When his numbers improve and he passes a test I’ll admit I’m right. I used facts and you used insults. Grow up
You did not use facts you used flawed logic. There are no FACTS regarding your accused drug use. If there were, there would be an investigation. I need to grow up? You are the one operating with logic comparable to a 3rd grader. The fact is there is no credible evidence. If he passes a test it will not prove he never took drugs because a test is only good for a few months… you will just continue to say he took drugs before. The point is there is no way for a person to prove they never took drugs… that is the whole reason the onus is on the one making the accusation TO PROVE THEY DID. You are incapable of doing so, one, because there is no credible evidence on Clay Matthews, and two, because of your aforementioned problems with logic.
Where did I directly accuse CM3 of using HGH?
Matthews run defense has significantly improved this season. It’s only his third season in the NFL. He’s going to have spots where he has down play. Comparing him to KGB, who couldn’t stop the run if he was unblocked, isn’t a real great comparison.
Green Bay’s defensive line is also not as sharp this year. No push is being generated up front. This means Matthews isn’t finding it as easy to get to the quarterback. His pressure numbers are near the top in the league, but he just doesn’t have sacks.
Finally, the PED argument is a slippery slope to climb without any shred of actual proof. It could be very well true, but without a whisper of it happening, it’s a very dangerous accusation.
Where did I directly accuse CM3 of taking performance enhancing drugs?
Ouch. Despite being a huge Matthews fan, and life-long Packers fan, I have to agree–his stats just haven’t been there this season. It pains me to say it, but my husband and I were just commenting on this very same topic on Sunday after he got his third sack (finally.)
Gbaja-Biamila was one of my faves back in the day too, but you can’t compare the two. Both their stats are comparable, and sure Matthews is having a slow start, but who’s to say that he won’t improve? Don’t jump the gun here… Because KGB fizzled towards the end of his career, does that mean he stopped taking HGH too? Your logic is completely flawed here. Saying that Matthews decrease in stats is due to no longer taking ‘roids is about as intelligent as saying the same thing about KGB or your very own team. If I were to use your ridiculous logic, like your implied “facts” about Matthews with Cushing, every player on the Chicago Bears is closely connected to a player that has served a suspension for performance enhancing drugs… your very own Julius Peppers. So every time ANY Chicago Bear has a dip in stats, it MUST be because Julius Peppers had been supplying them with drugs but can no longer do so because of new drug testing. That makes a lot of sense.
I have felt he’s overrated for a long time. The HGH is one possible explanation
I understand that you think he’s overrated, we’re all entitled to our own opinion, but where are your so-called “facts” here? Please tell me you’re not using blogs, websites and accusations as facts. If so, I’m more than happy to explain the difference between facts and gossip. If you’re implying that Matthews was using HGH during his prime time, and is no longer doing so, you might as well accuse your entire team this year for no longer using illegal performance enhancing drugs as well. What you’re saying here is that if a person plays well, it must be due to HGH use. When they play poorly, they’re no longer using it. There are no facts here, just lame assumptions.
Obviously Sacks are the only way to gauge an NFL defender. I keep forgetting that. I’ll keep that in mind next time I lose my mind and forget everything important about football.
You’re right. CM3′s numbers are down this year. For a lot of Packer fans that I know this has been a point of concern. Drawing the comparison that perhaps the great year that he had last year (and I think at some point, you’re going to have to admit that it was great), was a fluke and that he might end up being mediocre, while not popular among Packer faithful, it is warranted. However, I don’t think anyone can call him mediocre right now. Are his numbers the same as last year? No. But I think a lot of teams would still love to have him, and I think, once he gets fully healthy he will improve.
You use facts and stats to back up the first part of your argument and that’s fair, but the HGH stuff is pure assumption and non-factual based. You are operating under the guilty until proven innocent mantra. No one has been tested for HGH yet, therefore there’s no way to go back to last year and prove that he wasn’t using. That lack of proof does not mean that he was using. It means that you are speculating. Could it be a reason? Sure. But to state that you will assume that he was using until he tests clean and has last season’s numbers is biased. No one is being tested yet, so he’s going to fail to prove your insane requirements from the get go. How about instead of bringing up ONE possible explanation and sticking to it despite reason and fact, discuss other possible options and be open to them as well.
I didn’t directly accuse CM3 of using HGH, but I did say that the question may have to be asked…big difference. And thank you for your kind words.
You said earlier in the comments that you would admit that you were right (although I believe you meant wrong) when his stats improve and he passes a test. That’s the statement I was going off of.
Was Matthews overrated when he force a game – changing fumble in Super Bowl XLV? And you’re out of line on the PED’s bit at the end. Let’s not start a witch hunt because a guy’s not getting the numbers as much this year. That happens to most players who are known for sacking the QB, they all got years in the middle that statistically are not impressive but the season is far from over. Maybe he’ll run his season total up a few more when Jay Cutler comes to town later…
Lance,
David Tyree made the greatest catch in Super Bowl history. One play doesn’t make the man. I never directly accused CM3 of using anything, I just suggested that it may be a consideration. His numbers have been falling off since the middle of last season.
You got me there. I meant wrong.
You said:
“With HGH testing now being implemented this season, it asks the question about how much of Matthews success came as a result of performance enhancing drugs?”
This probably implies that you believe at least some of his success has come as a result of performance enhancing drugs to me and clearly many others who read this piece. Maybe you didn’t mean it, but to say that you are accusing him of having used hgh before clearly isn’t coming out of nowhere. You chose to include the tidbit about HGH, and seeing as you had nothing but an extremely weak correlation between matthews and HGH, I think it was an unwise choice to include it. It’s like saying a student may have cheated because he got an A on one test and a C on another. Actually maybe all the Colts defense were all using before and thats why they suck now. In fact, scoring is up all over the league. Maybe every defensive player was using. I mean come on the questions gotta be asked right? No. Implying that somebody is using HGH endangers that man’s livelihood, so with absolutely no evidence connecting someone with PED, is just unfair.
Quite honestly, he doesn’t look like the same guy. Am I directly accusing him of juicing? I’m not him. But hey, it has to be asked.
By the way, you have any other comments?
I would put Clay Matthews in the same boat a Julius Peppers. Except Clay Matthews has more tackles so far this year.
I don’t agree
Grow up and get a clue buddy.
So, reasons [double-teaming, , improved run defense, quad injury, fractured leg-last year] are “excuses” when they justify your argument? Cute.
Anyway, I’ll take an “overrated” Clay Matthews over whatever slop your team throws out there on a weekly basis. We can count titles shared between Urlacher and Matthews, if you like.
So Lawrence Taylor was never injured or double teamed? Urlacher is 100 times the player Matthews wishes he could be…when Matthews is a Hall of Famer give me a call. You’re an insult to the human race and banned from my blog.