P
Wow, who the **** is this dude. The chargers defense sucked and we signed a backup from that unit. Wow. Smh
a scrub signing
Needed someone to replace Cam Thomas as the D-line whipping boy.
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You mean there aren't any CB scrubs out there?
http://espn.go.com/blog/san-diego-c...ws-infectious-energy-ignites-chargers-defense
Ricardo Mathews' infectious energy ignites Chargers' defense
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Jun 7, 2015
Eric D. Williams
SAN DIEGO – Ricardo Mathews doesn’t know where he gets his boundless energy. But he’s always been someone who plays with tireless effort, and that energy is what got him on the field for the San Diego Chargers last season.
“From the past, I’ve come to see that everybody feeds off of that,” Mathews said. “It’s important to me because I don’t want to depend on anybody else to get me going. So I’d rather be the one having all of the energy – because I’ve got it – and share it with the rest of the team.”
Ricardo Mathews, cut by the Texans late in the 2014 preseason, signed wth the Chargers and provided a spark in his limited opportunities. Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports
Mathews was a seventh-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts when Chargers general manager Tom Telesco worked in that team’s personnel department in 2010. Mathews spent his first four seasons in the NFL in Indianapolis.
Last year, Mathews was one of the final roster cuts for the Houston Texans, signing with San Diego a week before the team’s season opener at Arizona.
After taking a couple weeks to learn his role in the defense, Mathews made an immediate impact when the Chargers put him in the game. In just 278 snaps defensively, Mathews finished with six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and six quarterback hits.
“It’s still a work in progress because I wasn’t in the offseason program last year like I am right now,” Mathews said. “So it’s still building if you ask me. But the role I played, it was crucial to me because that’s what I have to do uphold my side to being on this team.”
At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, Mathews’ specialty is pushing the pocket and creating havoc in the middle of the defense.
“I got a natural knack for getting off the ball fast, and can get in some weird positions and still make the play,” Mathews said. “I can hit somebody if I line them up and just wreck the whole offensive play up, period.”
Mathews, 27, signed a one-year, $920,000 deal to stay with the Chargers in free agency because of his familiarity with San Diego’s scheme and coaching staff.
“It’s real big,” Mathews said about staying in San Diego. “I didn’t know it was a pet peeve until I got here, but learning a totally different defense is really hard. Coming from Indianapolis, then going to the Texans and coming here, it was definitely a struggle. And honestly it was one of my biggest adjustments for me to overcome going through those different teams.
“I don’t care who you are, unless you are signing for $30-plus million somewhere else, you don’t want to go to a whole new team and just learn a whole new defense.”
Mathews said he enjoys playing for defensive line coach Don Johnson, along with the guys in his position group such as Corey Liuget, Kendall Reyes and Sean Lissemore.
“We’re feeding off of each other,” Mathews said. “We have so many different charterers in the defensive line room. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed coming to work even when I wasn’t here, but this is truly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had playing football at the professional level with the Chargers.”
Ricardo Mathews' infectious energy ignites Chargers' defense
comment
Jun 7, 2015
Eric D. Williams
SAN DIEGO – Ricardo Mathews doesn’t know where he gets his boundless energy. But he’s always been someone who plays with tireless effort, and that energy is what got him on the field for the San Diego Chargers last season.
“From the past, I’ve come to see that everybody feeds off of that,” Mathews said. “It’s important to me because I don’t want to depend on anybody else to get me going. So I’d rather be the one having all of the energy – because I’ve got it – and share it with the rest of the team.”
Ricardo Mathews, cut by the Texans late in the 2014 preseason, signed wth the Chargers and provided a spark in his limited opportunities. Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports
Mathews was a seventh-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts when Chargers general manager Tom Telesco worked in that team’s personnel department in 2010. Mathews spent his first four seasons in the NFL in Indianapolis.
Last year, Mathews was one of the final roster cuts for the Houston Texans, signing with San Diego a week before the team’s season opener at Arizona.
After taking a couple weeks to learn his role in the defense, Mathews made an immediate impact when the Chargers put him in the game. In just 278 snaps defensively, Mathews finished with six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and six quarterback hits.
“It’s still a work in progress because I wasn’t in the offseason program last year like I am right now,” Mathews said. “So it’s still building if you ask me. But the role I played, it was crucial to me because that’s what I have to do uphold my side to being on this team.”
At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, Mathews’ specialty is pushing the pocket and creating havoc in the middle of the defense.
“I got a natural knack for getting off the ball fast, and can get in some weird positions and still make the play,” Mathews said. “I can hit somebody if I line them up and just wreck the whole offensive play up, period.”
Mathews, 27, signed a one-year, $920,000 deal to stay with the Chargers in free agency because of his familiarity with San Diego’s scheme and coaching staff.
“It’s real big,” Mathews said about staying in San Diego. “I didn’t know it was a pet peeve until I got here, but learning a totally different defense is really hard. Coming from Indianapolis, then going to the Texans and coming here, it was definitely a struggle. And honestly it was one of my biggest adjustments for me to overcome going through those different teams.
“I don’t care who you are, unless you are signing for $30-plus million somewhere else, you don’t want to go to a whole new team and just learn a whole new defense.”
Mathews said he enjoys playing for defensive line coach Don Johnson, along with the guys in his position group such as Corey Liuget, Kendall Reyes and Sean Lissemore.
“We’re feeding off of each other,” Mathews said. “We have so many different charterers in the defensive line room. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed coming to work even when I wasn’t here, but this is truly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had playing football at the professional level with the Chargers.”
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Good work!
I want to believe
At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, Mathews’ specialty is pushing the pocket and creating havoc in the middle of the defense.
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He's a poor man's Cam Thomas, a Clifton Geathers without the mean streak in practices, a more experienced Nick Williams with a lower ceiling...sarcasm, just kiddin not trying to get anyone's panties in a bundle.
He's a vet guy that would sign for the peanuts we've been offering these guys we've been bringing through. It's a body that will probably be our 3rd DE competition with Walton and draft pick. The DEs we've been bringing through wanting too much $. It makes a desperate depth situation slightly less desperate...and he's not Cam Thomas!!! Or is he?
He's a vet guy that would sign for the peanuts we've been offering these guys we've been bringing through. It's a body that will probably be our 3rd DE competition with Walton and draft pick. The DEs we've been bringing through wanting too much $. It makes a desperate depth situation slightly less desperate...and he's not Cam Thomas!!! Or is he?
I seem to remember some pre cam thomas aquisition from the chargers scrap heap working out well for us... Yancey Thigpen...
He got a sack last year so he's at least as good as Jarvis Jones...
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had to go a chargers board for info - they resigned him before last year - here's some comments...seems they liked him
http://forums.chargers.com/showthread.php?t=102947&page=2
Good move. He was probably our 2nd best defensive linemen last year behind Liuget. Good for depth and as a spot starter.
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Good role player, seemed like he brought a lot of energy when he was on the field, depth, ST, good move
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Not the flashiest move, but I liked what he did last year. Seemed to bring a bit of nastiness and attitude to the defence and he was a good situational player.
He was definitely on my 'to keep' list. So assuming it didn't eat up too much cap room, it's a solid re-signing.
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He did play some at NT but I wouldn't say it's his strong suit, he can't handle a double team......
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Excellent guy to bring back for depth, played really well in a rotational role last year. Glad to have him back in the fold
http://forums.chargers.com/showthread.php?t=102947&page=2
Good move. He was probably our 2nd best defensive linemen last year behind Liuget. Good for depth and as a spot starter.
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Good role player, seemed like he brought a lot of energy when he was on the field, depth, ST, good move
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Not the flashiest move, but I liked what he did last year. Seemed to bring a bit of nastiness and attitude to the defence and he was a good situational player.
He was definitely on my 'to keep' list. So assuming it didn't eat up too much cap room, it's a solid re-signing.
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He did play some at NT but I wouldn't say it's his strong suit, he can't handle a double team......
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Excellent guy to bring back for depth, played really well in a rotational role last year. Glad to have him back in the fold
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the thing is that he seems to have regressed after 2014
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I was hoping for someone else... anyone else! Maybe Jack Crawford? I was going to say he will be Cam Thomas 2.0... but in truth... he is probably more like Cam Thomas 0.5!
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I was hoping for someone else... anyone else! Maybe Jack Crawford? I was going to say he will be Cam Thomas 2.0... but in truth... he is probably more like Cam Thomas 0.5!
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at least he doesn't look like a tub of lard (cam Thomas)
and here we are
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LOL thought the same thing
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We did get him on the cheap, eh?
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he didn't really have a chance to show anything, probably didn't earn the snaps in practice either
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Ricardo Mathews is the Bolts' "Wrecking Ball"
http://www.chargers.com/news/2015/05/23/ricardo-mathews-bolts-wrecking-ball
Defensive Line Coach Don Johnson was recently asked about each of the team’s defensive linemen, and the words he used to describe Ricardo Mathews were unconventional to say the least.
“He brings energy and effort. I can’t quote Miley Cyrus, but I will. He’s like a wrecking ball.”
“He said what?!” Mathews laughed when told what his coach had to say. “That’s (Coach). That’s funny ! I don’t know what makes me a wrecking ball, but I do play wild with energy.”
For Mathews, there is one main driving force at the heart of his “wrecking ball” mentality.
“I really love the competition. That is what drives me. I love the game a whole lot too, but I love the competition even more. I don’t care if I am fishing; I am going to catch the biggest fish! I don’t care if we are stretching; I am going to stretch harder! It gets me excited when I see other people doing great things and playing the way I want to play. I am just trying to do more.”
* * *
After being inactive for four games early in the year as he got acclimated, the frenetic 6-3, 300-pound defensive end appeared in 12 games with two starts. He finished with 25 tackles, 1.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles. Mathews also notched six quarterback hits, including a team-high three in a win over the St. Louis Rams.
* * *
A Tasmanian Devil on the field, Mathews quickly endeared himself to the fans during his first year in the navy and gold. Whether it was his game-changing strip-sack of Colin Kaepernick or his energetic celebrations, he emerged as a fan-favorite in 2014.
“That is what’s up! I be zoned out sometimes out there, but I definitely love the fans for real.”
Mathews looks forward to bringing his infectious play and personality to the Bolts in 2015. As to where it comes from, he gives credit to one person.
“My energy comes from the most high! You can use those exact words ‘the most high’. I don’t get my energy from anybody but God. I can come in dead beat on Monday and still be ready to work.”
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Ricardo Mathews is the Bolts' "Wrecking Ball"
http://www.chargers.com/news/2015/05/23/ricardo-mathews-bolts-wrecking-ball
Defensive Line Coach Don Johnson was recently asked about each of the team’s defensive linemen, and the words he used to describe Ricardo Mathews were unconventional to say the least.
“He brings energy and effort. I can’t quote Miley Cyrus, but I will. He’s like a wrecking ball.”
“He said what?!” Mathews laughed when told what his coach had to say. “That’s (Coach). That’s funny ! I don’t know what makes me a wrecking ball, but I do play wild with energy.”
For Mathews, there is one main driving force at the heart of his “wrecking ball” mentality.
“I really love the competition. That is what drives me. I love the game a whole lot too, but I love the competition even more. I don’t care if I am fishing; I am going to catch the biggest fish! I don’t care if we are stretching; I am going to stretch harder! It gets me excited when I see other people doing great things and playing the way I want to play. I am just trying to do more.”
* * *
After being inactive for four games early in the year as he got acclimated, the frenetic 6-3, 300-pound defensive end appeared in 12 games with two starts. He finished with 25 tackles, 1.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles. Mathews also notched six quarterback hits, including a team-high three in a win over the St. Louis Rams.
* * *
A Tasmanian Devil on the field, Mathews quickly endeared himself to the fans during his first year in the navy and gold. Whether it was his game-changing strip-sack of Colin Kaepernick or his energetic celebrations, he emerged as a fan-favorite in 2014.
“That is what’s up! I be zoned out sometimes out there, but I definitely love the fans for real.”
Mathews looks forward to bringing his infectious play and personality to the Bolts in 2015. As to where it comes from, he gives credit to one person.
“My energy comes from the most high! You can use those exact words ‘the most high’. I don’t get my energy from anybody but God. I can come in dead beat on Monday and still be ready to work.”
IDK, that all sounds pretty good to me. Was Cam ever described as a "wrecking ball, Tasmanian Devil" with "endless energy?" The more I learn about the guy, the more I am feeling good about the signing. Also, he won't be asked (unless we have injuries) to be an every down DLman, he will just be spelling our starters to keep everyone fresh. He can do that.
Bottom line: Is he an upgrade over what we had? I'd say yes he is.