Kuharsky owes Mathis an apology

by unhipcat on Oct 19, 2011 2:46 AM EDT

I don’t know what Paul Kuharsky has against Rashean Mathis, but to me, it’s becoming tiresome.

Oct 16: What I didn’t like: Rashean Mathis wound up in a lot of tough situations and didn’t fare well. The cornerback got beat by Mike Wallace on a well-placed touchdown pass.

Oct 17: Rashean Mathis rounded us up after the loss in Pittsburgh and talked about how we are on the cusp. It was a good gesture and a good theme, but when it’s delivered by a guy who was flailing around when the defense was having a hard time against the Steelers, ...

Oct 18: ... and was in defense on a touchdown pass to Mike Wallace ...

“was in defense on a touchdown pass to Mike Wallace”? So was Terrence Knighton.

I would think Paul would take 10 seconds to look at the tape of the play he’s highlighted three times before he starts bashing a guy. (It starts at 13:48 of the second quarter, Paul.)

Here’s what I see. Mathis is at corner on the 27 yard line at the snap. At 13:46 he squares up, backpedals to his left and Wallace cuts down the middle off the screen. At 13:44 Roethlisberger passes the ball down the middle to Wallace who comes onscreen at 13:43 splitting Lowery and Landry at the 5 yard line with Mathis barely visible at the bottom of the screen on the 18 yard line.

So, yes. Mathis “was in defense on a touchdown pass to Mike Wallace.”

I expected better.

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Comments

Mathis owes Jaguars fans an apology

He didn’t cover Wallace whatsoever on that play. Didn’t put a hand on the guy, slow him down…. He is in the picture and then isn’t… Mathis is just there. There is more to the Cover 2 CB position than handing off a WR and saying not my bad.

He missed how many tackles on bad angles, allowed how many other plays? He had a very bad game save for one pass defensed. Sometimes the truth hurts… Mathis isn’t playing as well as you want him to be and he got called out for it by the one sports reporter who routinely covers the AFC South, someone who should expect more out of Mathis. Like all of us should.

Apathy reigns supreme around here sometimes.

WTF IS THE INTERNET?!?

by BIBBEE on Oct 19, 2011 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

you missed the point entirely

I’m not talking about missed tackles on different running plays, I’m talking about the one specific play Kuharsky has referenced three different times as an example of Mathis’ poor play, which seems to me to have nothing to do with how he actually performed on that play.
I just don’t think Mathis was supposed to be on goal line helping Lowery and Landry triple-cover Wallace on that play.
I don’t think apathy applies in this instance.

Section 442, RIP
"You think you know, but you don't know."

by unhipcat on Oct 19, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Just citing more examples that Kuharsky should have mentioned

He shouldn’t have been back at the goal line, but he should have impeded Wallace’s progress. A jam, a slow down, hell be a speed bump. You let Mike Wallace get a full head of steam you’re done. You think old Ronde Barber lets Mike Wallace through his zone like that?

I see what you’re saying about it not ALL being on Mathis and that Kuharsky went overboard about the one play, but it’s indicative of what Mathis has become. He just lets guys run wild for the most part and doesn’t display any of the physical presence needed to effectively play the cover 2 which the Jags run so frequently. Whether or not it’s the best coaching strategy or the staff has gotten the best use of its players is another issue entirely.

WTF IS THE INTERNET?!?

by BIBBEE on Oct 19, 2011 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions