Landry pick motivates Matthews

[gafin]

The motivational moment for Dolphins receiver Rishard Matthews came in the second round of last year's NFL Draft.

All he needed was to see the Dolphins select receiver Jarvis Landry with the 63rd pick. That was more than enough to convince Matthews he needed an extraordinary offseason if he was going to compete for playing time.

"We picked a receiver in the second round," Matthews said. "When you do that, they want that person to play right away … It's just brought the best out in all of us, making us want to strive to be great."

The possibility of being a depth chart casualty has Matthews off to the best preseason start of his three-year career. After progressing each season, he is looking to make his biggest leap after the Dolphins increased the competition by acquiring Landry.

"I wouldn't say it made me smile," Matthews said of the Landry pick. "I'm not a "hater" or anything like that. I'm happy for him. I think he should have gone higher. But it definitely has brought the competition out in all of us … Everybody was like, `Ok, now we've got to come to work."'

Matthews has turned the selection into a positive. When Landry was drafted, Matthews immediately returned to the practice field. When individual workouts weren't enough, he teamed with a pair of former Dolphins.

"He made some good plays in the game the other night," Philbin said. "He's been productive here on the practice field. The one thing we talk with the guys all the time about is taking the practice to the game, taking the meeting room to practice, taking the practice field to the game. He's done a good job with that."

The biggest confidence boost perhaps came after his performance against Tampa Bay. His teammates and coaches made no big deal about it. They viewed it a sign of things to come, with Matthews targeting a 50-catch season.

"It's kind of expected," Matthews said. "They want me to succeed. They want me to make plays when the ball is thrown my way. When I don't, that's when you definitely don't want to hear from them."

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"I guess there's more competition," Matthews said. "Last year there was lots of competition but this year, as everybody has been talking about, we're pretty deep at receiver. It brings out the best in you. It makes you work even harder on your craft. I'll just do what I can do, play ball and let them make the decision upstairs."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-0819-20140818,0,6452392.story

 

[Zounds]

I must say I like all 10 of our WR on the roster right now. I don't think I've ever liked our top 3 WR's before, but now I like the top 10. Its definitely a deep unit and we will end up cutting some good players.

 

[dlockz]

well that's good although MAtthews will never be as good as landry

 

[nick1]

I must say I like all 10 of our WR on the roster right now. I don't think I've ever liked our top 3 WR's before, but now I like the top 10. Its definitely a deep unit and we will end up cutting some good players.

Idk I feel like after the 5th WR the talent drops tremendously. That's why the top 5 is already settled. Binns has been mediocre, hazel is playing like a rookie, cone has never been very good, williams is probably the best of the group

 

[DefensiveEnd76]

Cone has been looking good in practices lately but it may be too little too late for him.

 

[spiketex]

We probably have 5 better WRs than Carolina and Cleveland's best. I like Binns a lot but he isn't going to make the team. Cone is excelling at practice every day, but there are insufficient places for them all. Pretty likely that Hazel ends up on the Practice Squad. He may be good but sheer numbers mean that is his best chance. Great to see the level of competition, across the board. Delighted to see players like Matthews have responded to the challenge and lifted their game. He looks physically bigger and stronger (he's always had the confidence). Lazor appears to have improved him already.

 

[CANDolphan]

We probably have 5 better WRs than Carolina and Cleveland's best. I like Binns a lot but he isn't going to make the team. Cone is excelling at practice every day, but there are insufficient places for them all. Pretty likely that Hazel ends up on the Practice Squad. He may be good but sheer numbers mean that is his best chance. Great to see the level of competition, across the board. Delighted to see players like Matthews have responded to the challenge and lifted their game. He looks physically bigger and stronger (he's always had the confidence). Lazor appears to have improved him already.

Uh... Josh Gordon is better than anyone Miami has. You're insane.

And Kelvin Benjamin has much better potential than Hartline and Gibson, although Im not sure I'd trade a consistent 1000 yard receiver in Hartline was a boom/bust Benjamin. Id trade Gibson.

 

[Vol&dolfan]

Uh... Josh Gordon is better than anyone Miami has. You're insane.

And Kelvin Benjamin has much better potential than Hartline and Gibson, although Im not sure I'd trade a consistent 1000 yard receiver in Hartline was a boom/bust Benjamin. Id trade Gibson.

He's probably assuming that Josh Gordon is gonna be suspended for the year.

 

[spiketex]

Uh... Josh Gordon is better than anyone Miami has. You're insane.

And Kelvin Benjamin has much better potential than Hartline and Gibson, although Im not sure I'd trade a consistent 1000 yard receiver in Hartline was a boom/bust Benjamin. Id trade Gibson.

I'm assuming Josh Gordon is suspended for the first half of the season. I should have said available. Josh is a terrific receiver.
Kelvin Benjamin could be great - he has big upside, but he's still a rookie who has limited route running skills. I think you're right, he's a boom or bust candidate, but apparently he looked good at practice the other day.

 

[Ruckus45]

I never thought I'd have a semi thinking about the depth and talent at our WR position especially after 2 years ago. Don't think that Lazor doesn't stay up at night thinking of new fun things to do with the variety of talent.

 

[Sirspud]

well that's good although MAtthews will never be as good as landry

I don't agree. People on this board talk about Landry as if he is a can't miss, top 5 draft pick, ticketed for superstardom player. He's a second round pick. He's got potential but he hasn't done anything yet in an NFL game besides a nice punt return. I think right now Matthews may be better than Landry and while Landry has potential to be better, let's start seeing some production first.