Cards sign QB Jeff Matthews to practice squad

[gmabel830]

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:

• Released from the practice squad on September 9, 2014.
• Signed by the Colts to the practice squad on September 1, 2014.
• Waived by the Atlanta Falcons on August 24, 2014.
• Signed by the Falcons as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2014.

COLLEGE:

• In his four year career, established himself as the most prolific passer in Cornell history after setting 47 school records and 18 Ivy League marks.
• Completed 901-of-1,447 passes (62.2%) for 11,284 yards with 72 touchdowns in 38 career games.
• As a senior, led the conference with 228 completions for 2,953 passing yards and ranked second with 22 touchdowns en route to Second Team All-Ivy honors.
• Played through numerous injuries as a junior in 2012, yet was still able to lead the Ivy League in completions (251) and passing yards (3,196), while ranking second in passing touchdowns (18).
• Was an All-Ivy second-team selection and was runner-up for the Bushnell Cup as the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year.
• Named the 2011 Bushnell Cup winner, the first sophomore to ever with the award, after setting Cornell and Ivy League records for passing yardage in a game (548) and season (3,412).
• Was a unanimous choice as the 2010 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, ending his season throwing for 1,723 yards and seven touchdowns.

PERSONAL:

• Attended Camarillo (Calif.) High School where he garnered all-state third-team honors as a senior in addition to being named team MVP, league MVP and the Ventura County Player of the Year.
• Was a two-year team captain and earned all-county and academic all-county honors in each of his final two seasons.
• In 2009, finished his senior campaign with 3,314 passing yards and 37 touchdowns.
• As a junior, passed for 1,682 yards and 12 touchdowns.
• Was also a team captain on the basketball team.
• A native of Camarillo, Calif.

Here's an NFL.com scouting report: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/jeff-mathews?id=2543797

 

[ARZCardinals]

He's gotta be better than Thomas...

problem with all of that is IVY LEAGUE competition

BA and Keim I trust....he may lead us to a Super Bowl win

 

[RON_IN_OC]

I remember him trying to emulate Matt Ryan's cadence on Hard Knocks.

 

[Chopper0080]

This is a kid I liked coming out. Small conference so there was going to be a learning curve, but also had a big arm, and from Cornell you hope is smart enough to pick up an offense. Nice size as well. I thought he could be a developemntal guy. We will see.

 

[Iceman]

Nice. Glad we signed another QB. Good find gmabel

 

[Vermont Maverick]

This guy was brought in as another arm to throw passes in practice. End of story.

 

[Chopper0080]

This guy was brought in as another arm to throw passes in practice. End of story.

It depends on how you view Arians. Mathews is a vertical passing QB prospect from an IVY league school. If you believe Arians is a QB whisperer, than we just signed a guy who can make all the throws Arians wants, and should be smart enough to handle a wealth of knowledge. If you believe that QBs are strictly available in the early rounds, and that developing QBs is a dead art, then he is a practice squad body. More than likely his tenture will be short lived as the mental jump from Cornell to the NFL is huge, and there isn't enough time for him to catch up in the pros. However, if anyone can make him a Drew Stanton level QB, Arians is probably that guy.

As it becomes more difficult to find non-spread offense QBs coming out of college, the sign and stash principle becomes better in terms of building QB depth.

 

[kerouac9]

It depends on how you view Arians. Mathews is a vertical passing QB prospect from an IVY league school. If you believe Arians is a QB whisperer, than we just signed a guy who can make all the throws Arians wants, and should be smart enough to handle a wealth of knowledge. If you believe that QBs are strictly available in the early rounds, and that developing QBs is a dead art, then he is a practice squad body. More than likely his tenture will be short lived as the mental jump from Cornell to the NFL is huge, and there isn't enough time for him to catch up in the pros. However, if anyone can make him a Drew Stanton level QB, Arians is probably that guy.

As it becomes more difficult to find non-spread offense QBs coming out of college, the sign and stash principle becomes better in terms of building QB depth.

DISCLAIMER: Everything I know about this guy was from you over-hyping him in the run up to the draft and the maybe total 180 seconds of him featured on Hard Knocks.

Looked slight. Like Mike Glennon with a neck of normal length. I hope he can make it in this league for a while, but I think his ceiling is Ryan Lindley.

 

[SeattleCard]

Well, there's the new QB we signed, and it wasn't Warner or Favre. Boo hoo ...

 

[Mainstreet]

The Cardinals found Kerwynn Williams so I believe.

 

[cardpa]

Are there any similarities here?

Tom Brady Positives: Good height to see the field. Very poised and composed. Smart and alert. Can read coverages. Good accuracy and touch. Produces in big spots and in big games. Has some Brian Griese in him and is a gamer. Generally plays within himself. Team leader.
•Summary: Is not what you’re looking for in terms of physical stature, strength, arm strength and mobility, but he has the intangibles and production and showed great Griese-like improvement as a senior. Could make it in the right system but will not be for everyone.

Jeff Matthews
Strengths Experienced, four-year starter. Very good arm strength. Good decision maker -- works through progressions. Fine accuracy and placement -- places the ball well. Highly intelligent, extremely determined, vocal team leader with an intricate command of the offense. Is given a lot of pre-snap responsibility to read defenses and audible into the right play. Three-time team captain (first in Cornell history). Outstanding football intelligence. Fiery on-field temperament. Challenges his teammates. Good eyes, anticipation and awarenesss. Coach on the field. Is very tough and battles through injuries. Outstanding production -- re-wrote the school's record books.

Weaknesses Marginal athlete. Limited mobility to avoid the rush and buy time with his feet. Can do a better job sensing pressure and hastening his release. Relies too much on his arm. Accuracy diminishes on the move. Struggles to manipulate his arm and release the ball from multiple angles. Average setup and release quickness.

 

[Stout]

Who? We need a signal caller with some real experience. I realize we won't get someone GOOD at this stage, but experience is a must.

 

[BigRedRage]

Who? We need a signal caller with some real experience. I realize we won't get someone GOOD at this stage, but experience is a must.

If you sign someone like that, you cut someone off of your active roster. The goal here was getting another body on the practice squad as insurance until Drew comes back.

 

[Stout]

If you sign someone like that, you cut someone off of your active roster. The goal here was getting another body on the practice squad as insurance until Drew comes back.

I understand that, but I view it as a wasted transaction. In no way is this kid insurance at QB as he wouldn't see the field unless Lindley and Thomas were both hurt during the same game--if he were even active. All he is is a practice arm.

 

[Bodha]

His career TD/INT ratio is 72:42


For a 4 year starter averages out to 18/10 per year

Guys picktacular

 

[BigRedRage]

I understand that, but I view it as a wasted transaction. In no way is this kid insurance at QB as he wouldn't see the field unless Lindley and Thomas were both hurt during the same game--if he were even active. All he is is a practice arm.

A body in practice.

Our QBs right now are logan and ryan. No one else could come in and play for us this weekend anyway.