I don't know if this deserves its own thread, but I thought it was interesting. Today I talked to a coworker who was at the game on Sunday. She had brought binoculars, and she would watch the players in between plays. She said that during TV timeouts when the players were just standing around on the field shooting the breeze or whatever, Clay Matthews would be off to the side, pacing back and forth like a big cat.

She also said that when Clay stood next to A.J. Hawk, Clay looked way more muscular. I didn't know anyone could look more muscular than A.J. Hawk. Maybe it's just that A.J. has weightlifter muscles and Clay has football muscles.

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It could have also been he was trying to keep loose cause of the hamstring thing.

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I did notice that Clay Matthews gained muscle over the offseason. Last season he was just a speed/effort rusher. This year he is bullrushing, spinning, doing whatever he can to get to the quarterback.

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Well, that kind of ruins the mystique, but you're probably right.

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Watch Clay take on blocks this season vs last season, focus on his hands and the extension he is keeping this season compared to last.. there is a notable difference right there.

He is keeping separation and using leverage to his advantage.. he is clearly learning how to defeat a block.. he is altering his approach as well.. last season he tried to work the edge almost exclusively.. this season he is varying it.. keeping the blocker off balance, using that above mentioned hand play/extension and then beating him with his speed and footwork. Then he flashes some power.. it has got to have the tackle wondering how to setup.

Some of his most impressive work comes on plays not resulting in a sack.. ironic in sort of a sense.

Now.. I went and found some clips of Greene on youtube.. ignore the uniform color and you will see some of the same techniques in their upper body play.. at least to me. Clay has more speed but maybe it is the blond locks. ;)

Greene is paying dividends in year two.. Brad Jones doesn't possess the same physical skills.. but you can see growth over there as well.

I was worried in the offseason that Clay might not grow his game.. I am rejoicing how incorrect I was in that fret.. dude his becoming a legitimate NFL pass rusher.

I suspect that between a combination of more attention paid to him and guys breaking down his newly expanded game.. they will slow him down.. but if he continues to add to his arsenal.. guy is really going to become something special.

Could it be.. that we will have been treated with two exceptional QB's and pass rushers in the last 20 years... the category of players that most franchise don't see with that type of frequency. Yeah.. that is overly aggressive and a bit of a stretch at this juncture.. but the chances are better than most.

I don't get this excited over players that often.. but what I see out of the kid in two games has gotten me worked up.. school girl giddy type of worked up.. the type of worked up that should require some type of therapy. ;)

Sorry about the positive rant.. but hot damn.. kid can play ball.

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Decaf.

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Great post, pack93z. What impresses me most about Matthews (aside from everything) is his closing speed. He seems to accelerate into the QB, and if the QB tries to elude him he instantly adjusts his course and hits him dead-on, like a heat-seeking missile. Very few (if any) near misses, like you get with most other pass rushers.

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Who's the egotistical asshole responsible for this?

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That's Captain Egotistical Asshole. 😉

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I just got done watching the bills game - and matthews was on or around the QB for most of that game ... ya sure he got credited with 3 sacks. But if you watch what he did. He forced early throws on MANY plays; often pushed edwards out of the pocket and even forced him into jenkins or other players a few times.

Clay was ALL over the bills QB ... serious. Watch the game again and just look at clay. Guy is relentless and is much better at rushing then last season.
As far as him pacing I get that - its the anticipation of the kill. The meditation before the act. The pent up energy wanting to come out.
Doesnt mean he is nervous or anxious it just means he is so focused his physical movements help focus his mind.