Cliff Matthews, DE-South Carolina - PFW Scouting Report

[g-dawg]

Cliff Matthews, DE S.Carolina, 6'3.5",257lbs 4.82/40, 34inch arms

Positives:

Very long arms and has a frame with room for added bulk. Athletic with natural movement skills. Has the foot quickness of a defensive back and good speed. Terrific pursuit effort. Closes fast and is able to track down speed to the sideline. Plays with leverage and gains extension. Physical, striking tackler. Fights the double-team. Tough, intense and competitive - motor is always cranked up full tilt. Has a desirable football temperment - the game is important to him and it shows. Maintains less than 10 percent body fat and is a committed weight-room worker.

Negatives:

Has a lean, narrow build and needs more time in the weight room. Lacks bulk strength to hold his ground vs. the run. Average get-off. Stiff and tight-hipped - lacks bend to dip and run smoothly. Overruns some plays in space. Lets his pads rise and gets stuck on blocks. Needs to learn to generate more power. Is not a cerebral player and could require simple assignments (though he is an interested learner).

Summary:

High-cut, straight-linish collegiate defensive end with a revved-up motor who plays with infectious energy, intensity and relentlessness. Is rough around the edges and is a bit of a tweener but has intriguing length, foot-quickness and toughness to be considered as a stand-up linebacker in a 3-4 front such as that used by the Patriots, Jets, Steelers or Ravens. Likely fit as a base-end in a 4-3 scheme. Has an ascend factor.

NFL Projection: Fourth-to-Fifth Round Pick

[Knight of God]

You and spoke about him before and I told you that he was my favorite and really only player in this draft. A few guys here (some like Justin Houston) said that he's a 3-4 OLB.

He was listed at 268lbs in SC, I think he is at 270lbs TBH. He's going to be a nice addition and able to play LE and RE!!!

[mstone897]

So excited about this guy. Got the chance to watch him every saturday in Columbia. He's a beast.

He can be coached up too.

[RWhiteAF84]

Huge steal in the 7th. Huge. Non-stop motor.

[#1 pick]

When you watch his highlights, you think he's better then what he's rated. Looks like Jared Allen at Idaho sans the amazing production.

Jared Allen profile

Edited May 1, 2011 by #1 pick

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

He gets trucked against the Run, and isnt that great penetrating. He has a non-stop motor, thats pretty much all he brings.

[#1 pick]

Cliff's combine #

40 Yard Dash: 4.81

20 Yard Dash: 2.72

10 Yard Dash: 1.65

Bench Press Reps: 17

Vertical Leap: 32

20 Yard Shuttle: 4.37

3 Cone Drill: 7.21

Broad Jump: 9.04

Jared Allen:

Ht Wt 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP

6 ft 6 in 265 lb 4.72 s 1.68 s 2.74 s 4.34 s 7.11 s 33 in 10 ft 0 in 13 rep

All values from NFL Combine

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

He didnt get the amount of sacks I thought he would have with the way he's being talked up. However, Sometimes a huge motor, good work ethic, and willingness to learn will push a prospect drafted for depth over the top.

I just cant shake the feeling that he was drafted to be a blitzing line backer. Definately seems to fit his size more.?

He's a 7th rounder with a chance to make the team if he impresses during training camp. He isnt projected to be a starter, realistically, just add depth.

[muskokas finest ©]

The opinion on Matthews seemed to be that he didn't have enough burst or strength to be a threat to an NFL OT.

[#1 pick]

The opinion on Matthews seemed to be that he didn't have enough burst or strength to be a threat to an NFL OT.

This sounds like the same thing said about Jared Allen. Watching his highlights, it was a lot more impressive than anyone else I watched on Atlanta in college outside of JA55. No one has the speed off the edge. Only Biermann has a similar motor. This was the deepest draft class for DE probably ever, he could have fell through the cracks.

Edited May 1, 2011 by #1 pick

[Mr Pickle1]

The opinion on Matthews seemed to be that he didn't have enough burst or strength to be a threat to an NFL OT.

He had plenty as a junior. Had a down senior year. If junior form returns, he's probably an 8 sack guy in the NFL. TO be ridiculously precise, lol.

[Bulldog1950]

Huge steal in the 7th. Huge. Non-stop motor.

Dimitroff is great at acquiring multiple picks in the 7th round for such huge steals.

Edited May 1, 2011 by Bulldog1950

[FalconFanatic304]

I really like Matthews as well.. Espically in the 7th great get.

[#1 pick]

He must get stronger but if we got Kroy Biermann 243 to 260, we can get Cliff from 257 to 270.

[Gamecock02]

He had plenty as a junior. Had a down senior year. If junior form returns, he's probably an 8 sack guy in the NFL. TO be ridiculously precise, lol.

Matthews really is a huge steal. What a lot of people don't realize is that he had shoulder surgery before this past season. This required him to wear a brace for the first seven games that restricted his range of motion with his arms which impeded his ability to use his hands to disengage from blocks (one of his greatest strengths). Thus, he only had 1.5 sacks in the first 7 games with the brace on. After being cleared to take the brace off, he had 4 sacks and 4 forced fumbles over the remaining 7 games. In fact, he ended his career by forcing a fumble in each of his final three games; in the regular season finale against Clemson, in the SEC Title game against Auburn and in the Peach Bowl against Florida State. Matthews was a player that we could always count on to make a huge play at a pivotal point in the game. He came to South Carolina in the 220's and left between 255 and 260 (actually played senior season between 260 and 270). He has a strong work ethic and is a natural leader. A little time in the Falcon's weight room and he will bulk up plenty.

Edited May 1, 2011 by Gamecock02

[tnfalcon8]

What weight does JA55 play at? (or most other 4-3 DEs for that matter)

To me, anything over 280lbs is dangerously close to 3-4 DE weight. Maybe it really doesn't matter, but it seems to me that first step quickness and agility combined with the strength required to be a 4-3 DE tend to occur in the 260lb - 280lb range. Mario Williams is an exception, but let's face it, he's an absolute freak.

BTW, I love this pick.

Edited May 1, 2011 by tnfalcon8

[Knight of God]

The opinion on Matthews seemed to be that he didn't have enough burst or strength to be a threat to an NFL OT.

Looking for the Jared Allen Scout Summary. 13 bench reps man and they said he had no burst. I want to find it to link it, but I remember someone here posting it 2yrs ago...

[mstone897]

Looking for the Jared Allen Scout Summary. 13 bench reps man and they said he had no burst. I want to find it to link it, but I remember someone here posting it 2yrs ago...

Couldn't find it either but you're right.

This guy is a good one. As others have stated he had a down year but was still a starting DE and captain on the team that led the SEC in sacks.

[Knight of God]

Couldn't find it either but you're right.

This guy is a good one. As others have stated he had a down year but was still a starting DE and captain on the team that led the SEC in sacks.

There is a lot that is being ignored where he is concerned. This guy will be great in our rotation behind Biermann and may even trump him before the year is out. One thing he has that we haven't seen in a while? High motor. Biermann has a motor, but this guy is just relentless AND a natural athlete.

[mstone897]

There is a lot that is being ignored where he is concerned. This guy will be great in our rotation behind Biermann and may even trump him before the year is out. One thing he has that we haven't seen in a while? High motor. Biermann has a motor, but this guy is just relentless AND a natural athlete.

You are exactly right. Watching this guy for 4 years was an absolute pleasure. A fan favorite bc his work ethic always showed up on Saturdays.

recorded 47 tackles including 35 solo stops... had 10.0 tackles for loss including 7.0 sacks... ranked in the SEC's top-five in sacks, led the league with four fumble recoveries and was tied for second with three forced fumbles

This past season after offseason surgery, he had 6 sacks.

He is going to surprise a lot of folks.

[Knight of God]

You are exactly right. Watching this guy for 4 years was an absolute pleasure. A fan favorite bc his work ethic always showed up on Saturdays.

recorded 47 tackles including 35 solo stops... had 10.0 tackles for loss including 7.0 sacks... ranked in the SEC's top-five in sacks, led the league with four fumble recoveries and was tied for second with three forced fumbles

This past season after offseason surgery, he had 6 sacks.

He is going to surprise a lot of folks.

I don't like the Gamecocks. Not at all, but I did watch him play a few times last year and said, "Who is that?" You see, he didn't make stat plays on every play but he made some big plays.

[#1 pick]

There is a lot that is being ignored where he is concerned. This guy will be great in our rotation behind Biermann and may even trump him before the year is out. One thing he has that we haven't seen in a while? High motor. Biermann has a motor, but this guy is just relentless AND a natural athlete.

I can see him splinting time behind KB and JA55, and share plays with Davis and JA98. He could get a lot of time in 3rd down and if he proves himself than he could be our DE for the next 8-10 years. We still need another DE since JA55 is getting old. I would rather another rotational guy and try to land Aso.

Back to CM. He has good ability. That's the first thing I noticed. The second was his athletic ability off the edge which is what I look for on tape or in highlights. 3rd was his motor. You can have hours of highlights but you either got it or you don't. But a mixture is what makes you great. Like the gamecock poster was saying, his length is his main asset which also reminded me of Allen. I wasn't expected anything outside of rotational before I watched the highlights. I seen serious tools which can be killer. His production kinda equals Allen if you think about that one was in the Big Sky and the other was in the SEC for a champion. I remember him getting to Cam Newton numerous times in SEC championship game only to miss or get shoved off.

He has to get stronger. He was doubled a lot too. I don't understand how he slipped this far but this draft was loaded with DE's. Heck, the most talented one had a knee issue and slipped to the middle of the 2nd round. He could have surgery on it and he might be able to have a long career with his very high talent level. But the depth of this class has guys who could be in the top 5 in most years at the position in the late 1st.

Edited May 1, 2011 by #1 pick

[Knight of God]

I can see him splinting time behind KB and JA55, and share plays with Davis and JA98. He could get a lot of time in 3rd down and if he proves himself than he could be our DE for the next 8-10 years. We still need another DE since JA55 is getting old. I would rather another rotational guy and try to land Aso.

He has good ability. That's the first thing I noticed. The second was his athletic ability off the edge which is what I look for on tape or in highlights. 3rd was his motor. You can have hours of highlights but you either got it or you don't. But a mixture is what makes you great. Like the gamecock poster was saying, his length is his main asset which also reminded me of Allen. I wasn't expected anything of rotational before I watched the highlights. I seen serious tools which can be killer. His production kinda equals Allen if you think about that one was in the Big Sky and the other was in the SEC for a champion. I remember him getting to Cam Newton numerous times in SEC championship game only to miss or get shoved off.

He has to get stronger. He was doubled a lot too. I don't understand how he slipped this far but this draft was loaded with DE's. Heck, the most talented one had a knee issue and slipped to the middle of the 2nd round. He could have surgery on it and he might be able to have a long career with his very high talent level. But the depth of this class has guys who could be in the top 5 in most years at the position in the late 1st.

The same way Biermann got coached up, he will too. I honestly think Matthews is our guy. He's projected in the draft as 257lbs, but the Gamecocks and two others have him at 268lbs.

[g-dawg]

I obviously like Clif Matthews or I would not have started this topic. I also had him as a 5th round pick in my mock draft.

The one thing that I see on the youtube tape that I don't like is it looks like Matthews runs kind of upright and stiff. That is not the end of the world but he does look a little stiff in this vid. Anybody else seeing that or is it just my imagination?

[#1 pick]

I obviously like Clif Matthews or I would not have started this topic. I also had him as a 5th round pick in my mock draft.

The one thing that I see on the youtube tape that I don't like is it looks like Matthews runs kind of upright and stiff. That is not the end of the world but he does look a little stiff in this vid. Anybody else seeing that or is it just my imagination?

Yes he is. He is upright more than not in the highlights. Nothing too critical if he can disengage quickly.