Warning: Optimism - Rishard Matthews

[PCmor]

Matthews has shown great hands every time he's on the field, but I'm not gonna criticize the staff for not having him out there more when our top 3 WR's all had reason to be out there. Before Gibson was hurt, he was doing comparable things at the same position.

OK, if he was doing comparable things to Gibson, why did we even get Gibson? I like Gibson, but that money could have gone somewhere else like the O-Line. I agree with you, BTW, that it looked like Gibson out there. So why they redundancy signing.

Also, we're talking two years he's been doing this. Preseason last year, this was the same Matthews we saw. We run plenty of four-receiver looks. Guys do get winded and need a break. Fans seemed to know what we had. The coaches should have, too.

 

[Shouright]

I think Matthews is definitely a player, but at the same time he can be viewed as a negative in terms of the coaching staff's under-appreciation of his abilities to this point, which likely triggered both the signing of Brandon Gibson (or Mike Wallace) and the consequent lack of playing time for Matthews to date.

The smarter move may have been to sign Gibson, and start Hartline, Gibson, and Matthews, while taking the money spent on Mike Wallace and spending it on Jake Long and Reggie Bush. The accurate assessment and realization of Matthews's talent should have enabled major resources to be placed elsewhere rather than at receiver.

 

[Phinatic8u]

Rishard Matthews will be Miami's #1 WR very soon.

Like next year when we got a good coach that knows talent..

 

[PCmor]

I think Wallace fills a definite hole on this team in his ability to stretch the field. That's something we lacked. You can't argue he's been unproductive, but you can also see where just the threat of him being out there creates opportunities for other guys by dispersing the coverage.

Back to Matthews, it just seems to me they never seemed to know or appreciate what they had. As a coaching staff, they have to be able to evaluate that better, IMO.

 

[Sirspud]

I think Matthews is definitely a player, but at the same time he can be viewed as a negative in terms of the coaching staff's under-appreciation of his abilities to this point, which likely triggered both the signing of Brandon Gibson (or Mike Wallace) and the consequent lack of playing time for Matthews to date.

The smarter move may have been to sign Gibson, and start Hartline, Gibson, and Matthews, while taking the money spent on Mike Wallace and spending it on Jake Long and Reggie Bush. The accurate assessment and realization of Matthews's talent should have enabled major resources to be placed elsewhere rather than at receiver.

So we just should not have signed Gibson, who was a great weapon when healthy, and let ourselves go into the season with just three worthwhile receivers? In actuality, what you are asking us to do with WR is the same thing you are whining about in the same thread that we did with the RB position. We stood pat there and went into the season with unproven young guys, except the difference between Matthews and Miller is that Miller showed a lot more last year in actual games, plus he has a college career of being a feature back. Also, Gibson and Wallace are players who are young enough to have plenty of years left, while Bush is at a position that ages in dog years and on top of that, sucked last year!

 

[Shouright]

I think Wallace fills a definite hole on this team in his ability to stretch the field. That's something we lacked. You can't argue he's been unproductive, but you can also see where just the threat of him being out there creates opportunities for other guys by dispersing the coverage.

Back to Matthews, it just seems to me they never seemed to know or appreciate what they had. As a coaching staff, they have to be able to evaluate that better, IMO.

I think a player who makes the kinds of plays Matthews made last night does a better job of attracting attention from opposing defenses than Mike Wallace. Matthews would've been a better player to put out there than Wallace IMO, and for much cheaper.

---------- Post added at 02:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:16 PM ----------

So we just should not have signed Gibson, who was a great weapon when healthy, and let ourselves go into the season with just three worthwhile receivers? In actuality, what you are asking us to do with WR is the same thing you are whining about in the same thread that we did with the RB position. We stood pat there and went into the season with unproven young guys, except the difference between Matthews and Miller is that Miller showed a lot more last year in actual games, plus he has a college career of being a feature back. Also, Gibson and Wallace are players who are young enough to have plenty of years left, while Bush is at a position that ages in dog years and on top of that, sucked last year!

No, I think we shouldn't have signed Wallace. Gibson on the other hand was earning his paycheck before he got hurt. Wallace is a gigantic waste.

The starters IMO should've been Hartline, Gibson, and Matthews.

 

[lod01]

Here's something about Matthews. Is what we saw last night not what we've seen every time he's gotten on the field for the past two years? Every fan has been calling for him to play ... I realize we don't see what goes on in practice, but Matthews finally gets on the field and immediately looks like he belongs in every way possible.

How is it that the coaches didn't find a way to get him on the field until last night? That's mind-boggling to me.

There are a lot of coaches that 'if they didn't know someone' would be asking you if you want fries with that when you go thru the McDonald's drive thru. Not really that mind boggling. For instance, Jimmy Raye never led an offense better than 15th in the league and that was with Eric Dickerson and yet he somehow continued getting OC gigs up thru the SF debacle a few years back. A lot of these guys suck at what they do and are in way over their heads.

I'll give you yet another. Dirk Koetter OC ATL. This team will trot out a FB 4 times a games, line up in the I formation around the 50 as if they were on the GL and try and pound the ball. Results are ALWAYS 2 yards or less putting Ryan in 2nd or 3rd and long. 4 times a week, week after week. He doesn't get that it doesn't work.

 

[jc4005]

Tannehill definitely looks towards whoever his slot receiver is first, or maybe that is just the design of the offense. I seriously doubt Matthews has similar success as a boundary receiver.

That being said, it surprises me Wallace doesn't line up in the slot more. Keep the defense guessing where our receivers are going to line up.

 

[walt]

I know there's a lot of negative stuff swirling around Dolphins camp right now, but I want to point out that we are witnessing a star being born in Rishard Matthews. I know it's one game but I've noticed greatness in him ever since he's been here. Maybe it's just the way he carries himself, or the fact that all he does is make plays, but I am excited for his future. Matthews plays like Gibson plays - they SCORE TOUCHDOWNS.

And I know we might have to take a step back this season with a new head coach and new general manager, but man, this is not a rebuilding project.

Think about next year's team with a solid offensive line, protecting Tanneyhill, a consistent blocking tight end to go with Charles Clay and an offensive coordinator ala sean payton etc. who knows how to call plays. With Brandon Gibson back, our four receiver set will be formidable.

Whoever the new gm is should lock up Matthews to an extension. Secure BOTH Starks and Soliai. And for God sakes, please extend Brent Grimes, your second best defensive player after Wake. That's a great start in my opinion. Fix the Oline (get a gm who understands what a great oline is).

Players who we should build around:

1. Ryan Tannehill
2. Cameron Wake
3. Brent Grimes
4. Randy Starks
5. Rishard Matthews
6. Brandon Gibson
7. Dimitri Patterson
8. Lamar Miller
9. Mike Pouncey
10. Jared Odrick
11. Paul Soliai
12. Reshad Jones
13. Dion Jordan
14. Daniel Ellerby
15. Brandon Fields

There's your nucleus. Build a big strong offensive line, a blocking beast of a tight end with solid hands, two big hitting outside linebackers, a solid free safety, a reliable nickel cornerback and we can be great.

We cannot and should not rebuild from scratch.

Hartline should be on the list. Mr. Reliable.

After last night, it's hard for me to put any RB on the list.

 

[miamirw]

Hartline should be on the list. Mr. Reliable.

Agreed. Totally forgot to include him. He's a gamer. I adjusted the list.

 

[Wallace17Miami]

Mathews did great last night, looks like a good team guy. I"m very interested to see what he can do the rest of the years. Seems like he's got some good hands, and a level head.

 

[Andyman]

Reshad Jones should be the 2nd person to go after Wheeler.

No chance. What are you thinking?

 

[mbhcu98]

Here's something about Matthews. Is what we saw last night not what we've seen every time he's gotten on the field for the past two years? Every fan has been calling for him to play ... I realize we don't see what goes on in practice, but Matthews finally gets on the field and immediately looks like he belongs in every way possible.

How is it that the coaches didn't find a way to get him on the field until last night? That's mind-boggling to me.

Shouldn't be. Maybe he wasn't ready until last night. Why would you boggle your mind over something you have no way of knowing? Talk about mind boggling.

 

[mbhcu98]

I know there's a lot of negative stuff swirling around Dolphins camp right now, but I want to point out that we are witnessing a star being born in Rishard Matthews. I know it's one game but I've noticed greatness in him ever since he's been here. Maybe it's just the way he carries himself, or the fact that all he does is make plays, but I am excited for his future. Matthews plays like Gibson plays - they SCORE TOUCHDOWNS.

Ryan Swope in the slot at Texas A&M was terrific with Tannehill. I think A LOt of guys could accel as the slot receiver! Even Davone Bess did well and he isn't super fast, just a great route runner which you better be if you don't have alot of speed (i.e. Wallace). I think I'm one of the few that appreciates that Mike Wallace helps open up the offense so Hartline, Clay, and guys like Rishard Matthews can be more productive. Seems like some fans have expectations with Wallace & his $$$$ contract that are unrealistic for his skill set. He isn't like Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson, or Megatron in Detroit... never surprising seeing those guys getting 7-12 receptions per game and 90-140 yds receiving/game

So, can we expect Wallace to stop stinking things up or not? He gettin Marshall, Johnson and Megatron money, he needs to produce on their level and right now he doesn't even look like he should be in the same league as those guys. Wallace is doing such a great job of opening the field up for others, we are 4- 5 and can't score more than 22 points.

 

[finfan54]

We are stuck with Wallace. My hope is he gets it going into next season. But he is just another guy who is overpaid.

I just cant help but wonder what this offense could have been with Keller.