Chargers’ Mathews Faces High Expectations
The San Diego Chargers parted ways with perhaps the franchise’s greatest running back of all time in Ladainian Tomlinson this offseason. As tough as the decision was to release a potentially future hall of famer, due to Tomlinson’s decreasing production, the Chargers simply felt it was time to move on. Tomlinson failed to rush for 1000 yards last season.
The Chargers headed into the NFL draft with the entire world expecting them to draft a running back first, which they did. The Chargers even traded up from the 28th overall pick to the 12th overall pick and selected Ryan Mathews out of Fresno State.
Right out of the gate, Mathews has enormous shoes to fill. He has been called on to replace Tomlinson and restore the Chargers once-potent running game. He has to replace the franchise leader in all major rushing categories and be a rookie saviour for a team that includes three holdouts including linebacker Shawne Merriman, wide receiver Vincent Jackson and left tackle Marcus McNeill.
While Matthews’s performance this season is important for the Chargers, they will still be a pass-first team. Matthews will simply be a compliment to the passing game and will be expected to get the tough yards on the ground.
"I definitely have felt the pressure so far, and we haven't even played a game yet," said Mathews.
It just so happens that Mathews is expected to replace his own idol. Mathews grew up idolizing Tomlinson, as his room was full of posters and he wore the number 21 in high school. While Tomlinson is his idol, Mathews is growing tired of the endless comparisons being made to his hero.
"Yeah, it has been tiresome," Mathews said to reporters in front of his locker. "You have to respect the guy. He's a legend. I looked up to him. He was my guy. He did what he had to do (leaving this offseason). And he left lots of good stuff, a measuring stick as far as how I need to start making my legacy."
Mathews’ style of running does bring back flashes of Tomlinson as he is just as capable bouncing outside as he is pounding the ball right up the middle. His vision is also one of his better traits as he is able to seek running lanes through a defence very well.
The Chargers were one of the worst teams in the league running the football as they averaged a lowly 3.3 yards per carry. Their passing game was so dominant though, that it was enough for them to carry a 13-3 record into the playoffs as the AFC’s second seed. However in their playoff loss to the Jets their offence was exposed as being one-dimensional against the league’s best defence. Rivers struggled to find a rhythm in the passing game and the running game couldn’t pick up the slack in the 17-14 loss.
Mathews’ main expectation in his rookie season will be to provide balance to the Bolts attack. The passing game will come first, but Matthews has the size to pound the ball up the middle and the speed to take it outside and spark the running game.
"I feel like I am about to hit (the rookie wall)," Mathews said. "I feel like the days are just getting meshed in together. I am just trying to fight through it. I have a lot of good people tutoring me — Rivers and (RB Darren) Sproles and the linemen. I know I have some good people to count on. But it's starting to get to that point."
Mathews will share some carries with Darren Sproles who’s nicknamed “the Lightning Bug”. He’s small but is very quick and is a threat in the passing game and is great in pass protection.
While some will never stop dubbing Mathews’ as L.T’s replacement, Mathews has his own philosophy as to why he was brought in.
"My goal as a football player has always been to win games, and that is not going to change now. When the organization brought me here, that's what they told me they wanted me to do, so that's what I am signed up for."
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