Why not sign Robert Mathis?

by PhilipKDick on Jan 24, 2012 10:49 AM CST

The Cowboys need a pass rushing OLB, because Anthony Spencer is not the answer and not likely to get resigned. So why not sign Robert Mathis of the Colts?

Although he spend all his career as a 4-3 End, the guy is 6-2, 245lbs. Even for a 3-4 OLB he would be slightly undersized (Ware is 265lbs). He is on the wrong side of the 30s though (he turns 31 in Ferbruary), so he would be no long term solution.

On the other side, he still has that pass-rush ability that Spencer never had. PFF gave him a +16.8 grade this season. Almost all of which came for pass rushing. He had 10 sacks, 8 hits and 30 pressures. His performance was a bit hit and miss (9 green games, 5 red games), but has been relatively constant these last years (19.2 in 2010, 32.2 in 2009, 12.3 in 2008). This season he was the 11th pass rushing rated 4-3 End. He is by no means a number one rusher, but as a complimentary guy to Ware, why not?

The Colts are unlikely to resign him and if the Cowboys could get him on a 3 year deal at 5M per, I think they should go for it. If they manage his snaps carefully, and use him as a pass rusher mostly, he could be a devastating weapon for the length of his contract.

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Because he's 31.

by DCyanks21 on Jan 24, 2012 10:57 AM CST reply actions

Simplest Answer

He’s 31 and never played a down at LB ever. Can he rush? Yes. Can he do all the other jobs of a LB such as cover? Who knows, he’s never done it. That’s a very expensive gamble, though. I mean, someone is going to pay Mathis a lot of money to get after the QB so its not like we can get him at a cheap deal anyways.

Let’s also remember that he’s pretty lousy against the run. What’s made Mathis great over the years is how often he was able to just pin his ears back and rush the passer. With Manning running that offense, they got to play from in front a lot and rush the passer. When he played from behind, he proved to not be able to handle run D duties. So, sorry, if you’re not able to drop in coverage and you’re not able to stop the run, you can’t play SOLB…no matter how many 10 sack seasons you have.

by inwittenitrust on Jan 24, 2012 11:25 AM CST up reply actions

Uh can the rookie that is about to be drafted that is going to replace Spencer

Can he do all the other jobs of a LB such as cover? Who knows, he’s never done it.

can he do that ? You don’t know. Spencer couldn’t do it. Can the next rookie do it ?

With Manning running that offense, they got to play from in front a lot and rush the passer.

Isn’t Dallas supposed to be able to score a lot next season ?

Jerry is the end all in Dallas.

by football mensa on Jan 25, 2012 11:32 AM CST up reply actions

exactly

by Jonathan Stern on Jan 24, 2012 11:43 PM CST up reply actions

I really wouldn’t see anything wrong with it. He would have to rush every play because the thought of him dropping back in coverage would give me nightmares.

Not sure I would go 3 years though, probably just 2.

by jack dein on Jan 24, 2012 11:23 AM CST via mobile reply actions

So, even though performing one of the main functions of a LB would give you nightmares, you “wouldn’t see anything wrong with it”? How does that work?

by inwittenitrust on Jan 24, 2012 11:26 AM CST reply actions

If the Cowboys really are considering switching to 4-3, this is their guy

I wouldn’t be too interested unless they switched to 4-3 which is unlikely, but hasn’t been ruled out. And it could do some good to this defense. Jay Ratliff and Lissemore as DT’s, Ware and Mathis as DE’s, Lee, Carter and someone else as LB’s. Holy crap… That actually is starting to sound like a good idea, and a good defense with help only needed in the secondary. lol. I’m finally sold on switching to 4-3 haha

by LilZtretch on Jan 24, 2012 11:58 AM CST reply actions

Too small

"This team is going to win a Super Bowl at some point. It's going to be exciting when that time comes. And when we look back, we'll know who was on what side of the fence during those tough moments." - Tony Romo

by Trueblue122 on Jan 24, 2012 12:09 PM CST reply actions

Really?

by CowboyWay on Jan 24, 2012 12:15 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Because he's on the wrong side of 30 and has never played in space

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jan 24, 2012 12:33 PM CST reply actions

What rookie de come April has ever played in space as an olb ? Virgina and Bama run a 3-4.

So does Georgia. If that is your basis then only Upshaw should be drafted. Don’t buy that argument at all. Mathis is a more proven player than any rookie to date. You know because he has actually played in the nfl.

Jerry is the end all in Dallas.

by football mensa on Jan 25, 2012 11:36 AM CST up reply actions

personally I would lean towards John Abraham from the falcons if he could be had cheaply for a couple of years...

btw…

Virginia just switched back to a 4-3 front this year…two nice prospects are coming out of that school this year that have experience in both systems in Cam Johnson who is doing very well at the senior bowl pratices and Matt Conrath…both have played 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT for UVA and are both very well respected as prospects with Cam getting a 2-3 round grade and Matt getting a 6-7 rd grade…

Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home

by TruBluToTheCore on Jan 25, 2012 8:44 PM CST up reply actions

What rookie de come April has ever played in space as an olb ?

Melvin Ingram, son.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 26, 2012 4:16 PM CST up reply actions

Wrong . Ingram played in a 4-3 lining up at tackle many times.

Jerry is the end all in Dallas.

by football mensa on Jan 26, 2012 5:01 PM CST up reply actions

That’s nice and all except I’m not wrong. Ingram payed LB and dropped into coverage quite a bit for a DE and did well when he did.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 26, 2012 5:07 PM CST up reply actions

*played LB

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 26, 2012 5:07 PM CST up reply actions

there is talk of the 4-3 switch now

and Mario Williams and Cliff Avril have come up with that discussion, I read an article today on ESPNDallas about what the Cowboys do in free agency and the draft will dictate what defense they run
I think we have absolutely no shot at Mario Williams, but say we signed him
a 4 man front consisting of Ware Ratliff Spears Mario, and rotating guys in like Brent, Hatcher and Lissemore, that would be interesting

"I got the 9 on me so I think I'm Romo"
Fabolous

by Archie Barberio on Jan 24, 2012 12:59 PM CST reply actions

Not to mention

Lee carter and butler as the lb core. I think that would be a pretty intimidating front 7. Esepcialy with hatcher and lissimore as rotational de/dts.

by Proxy406 on Jan 24, 2012 2:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

I dont see it

We don’t have the depth to move to 4-3 would need a good rotation of good solid players and we don’t have it hell we can’t even fill out a good 3 down linemen what makes everyone think we ayleast a good do 4. I know the difference between the two sets but saying they switch will make all the difference is ludicrous.

by Sado44 on Jan 24, 2012 7:45 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

What makes everyone think we can do 4 …… edit sorry

by Sado44 on Jan 24, 2012 7:46 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

What depth do you have at olb ? Especially when Spencer is allowed to leave ?

Jerry is the end all in Dallas.

by football mensa on Jan 25, 2012 11:38 AM CST up reply actions

Mario will have to flip sides if he comes to Dallas. He didn't play the strong side in Houston.

Jerry is the end all in Dallas.

by football mensa on Jan 25, 2012 11:38 AM CST up reply actions

I want us to switch to a 4-3...Jerry built us like one.

Mathis would be a situational player. Like Jason Taylor in his last days

by Mac_Eleven on Jan 24, 2012 2:58 PM CST reply actions

Rather have Cliff Avril. He could legitimately play SOLB.

If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.

by Creasy729 on Jan 24, 2012 3:07 PM CST reply actions

absolutely, but Detroit is not going to let him go.

by Jonathan Stern on Jan 24, 2012 11:46 PM CST up reply actions

this paragraph answers your own question

“Although he spend all his career as a 4-3 End, the guy is 6-2, 245lbs. Even for a 3-4 OLB he would be slightly undersized (Ware is 265lbs). He is on the wrong side of the 30s though (he turns 31 in Ferbruary), so he would be no long term solution.”

Demarcus Ware- making Sheli Manning piss his pants since 2005

by demarcus94 on Jan 24, 2012 4:02 PM CST reply actions

BUT if Dallas remains in a 3-4 and you get him cheap ......

he would pep up the pass rush. I would do it for cheap because he is more proven than any rookie coming in.

Jerry is the end all in Dallas.

by football mensa on Jan 25, 2012 11:40 AM CST up reply actions

5m per year oh my god

aren’t you jerry jones?

by ratware on Jan 24, 2012 7:18 PM CST reply actions

Lol.

Sounds like him.

by DCyanks21 on Jan 24, 2012 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

Jason Jones has more upside than Mathis

Jason Jones is 25

6-5
280
4.7

by Jonathan Stern on Jan 24, 2012 11:44 PM CST reply actions

actually Jason Jones is slightly taller than 6-5

by Jonathan Stern on Jan 24, 2012 11:45 PM CST up reply actions

This is a better year than last year for a trade down

by Jonathan Stern on Jan 24, 2012 11:45 PM CST reply actions

i agree...

hate to bring up 2009 as a model but the premise could very well be the same with a different outlook…..we lost out on unger so we kept trading down to gather more picks….if we lose out on Decastro we very well could trade down and out of the first round altogether and heap up 2nd and 3rd round selections….depending on how may we finish up with…say 4-5 picks in the 2nd to 3rd rounds we could gain a lot of good solid talent to build around and also give us the ammo to move around those rounds to get who we want..

Good Luck to the 53. Stand with Honor, Play With Pride. Bring It Home

by TruBluToTheCore on Jan 25, 2012 8:47 PM CST up reply actions