Ryan Mathews is fitting in just fine
It’s not easy to come in on a new team, a new league, a new locker room and replace a future Hall-of-Famer. Or is it? There’s a reason why the San Diego Chargers selected running-back Ryan Mathews, who rushed for more than 1,800 yards in 2009 at Fresno State’s, in the NFL draft back in April and decided to release LaDainian Tomlinson.
Mathews, 22, has rushed for 4.9 yards per carry in his 18 pre-season carries and a total of 20 yards on two receptions. That's exactly what this team is searching for from an offensive standpoint and what they expect from their young running-back.
Tomlinson also known as LT was a figure of adoration in San Diego during his prime in the early 2000s. But it’s out with the old and in with the new as far as the Chargers are concerned.
I know it's just the pre-season but, just from watching the rookie run and make an emphatic entrance going up against first-string players is impressive and should not be overstated, even in an exhibition.
Mathews created a buzz in his pre-season debut against the Chicago Bears, rushing for 50 yards on nine carries. “He’s just a playmaker trying to make plays,” said Chargers offensive lineman Nick Hardwick of his new running-back.
He duplicated that success a week later against the Dallas Cowboys rushing for 53 yards on 12 carries. Mathews suffered a massive nosebleed after a collision with a Cowboys defender down in the red zone. Mathews underwent a minor procedure aimed at correcting his chronic nosebleeds on Tuesday. "It feels like I have a cold right now because I'm so stuffed up," he said, according to the NC Times. "It wasn't fun, but hopefully it works."
Mathews is expected to be ready to play in Friday's pre-season game against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees.
Ryan’s strong pre-season performance in his first two starts is calming the nerves of anxious Chargers fans and his teammates."The biggest thing that stands out to me with some of those runs is that he wants to be the punisher," Rivers said in an interview with XX Sport Radio in San Diego. "He's not the punishee."
Mathews has shown the ability to run away from defenders, through them and bounce off tackles against first-string players on opposing teams, which is impressive. But head coach Norv Turner seems more impressed with Mathews’ training regiment and is banking that the rookie, who puts his body through vigorous training regiments will be able to stay healthy and sustain bruising tackles.
“Ryan, being a younger guy, has the ability to stay healthy—stay on the field. Injuries slowed L.T.’s production. The biggest change in our running game, and it shows up in a lot of areas, we’ve not had as many long runs—runs over 10 yards and 20 yards—we’ve not had very many in the last two years,” said Turner.
The Chargers, a team that went 13-3, and won its fourth straight AFC West title last year were lacking a decent running game and it was a major reason why San Diego was embarrassed and eliminated from the play-offs by the New York Jets last year.
But that was then and this is now. “I’m bringing in a little bit of new blood,” said Mathews the Chargers first-round pick. “I think I’m going to do a good job. I’m not here to replace L.T. [Tomlinson] I’m just here to help the team win, and that’s what I’m going to do," he added.
They have a player they are confident can get them over their play-off hump and land them in the championship game.
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