Chris Matthews Looks To Join A Short List Of Tall Seahawks Receivers

Seventy-seven receivers have caught at least one pass for the Seattle Seahawks since the franchise was born. Legends like Steve Largent and Jerry Rice, and forgotten contributors like Doug Thomas and Courtney Taylor, have all played some part in the Seahawks receiver history. There have been speed merchants like Joey Galloway, route runners like Darrell Jackson, and slot magicians like Bobby Engram. The most recent fan obsession is the tall receiver. Only six receivers in team history have been at least 6’3″ tall and caught at least 30 passes in a season. Similarly, only six receivers have been that tall and caught at least five touchdowns in a year. Chris Matthews, all 6’5″ of him, will try to join those ranks of productive big men after a memorable Super Bowl performance.

Scouting report

Chris Matthews was one yard away from stardom. Had the Seahawks managed to move the ball a few feet at the end of the game, everyone would have been talking about the undrafted, Canadian Football League, former Foot Locker employee, who entered the Super Bowl with zero career receptions and left with 4 catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Matthews was the latest player brought in by John Schneider and Pete Carroll to fill the role of tall receiver. First, it was 6’5″ Mike Williams, who was a breakout star in 2010 and then a terrible disappointment thereafter. Then there was 6’4″ Sidney Rice who had all the makings of a legitimate #1 wideout, but never found his place in this offense and struggled with health issues. Stephen Williams, standing 6’5″ tall, was a preseason super hero who was cut a few games into the 2013 season.

Most receptions in a season by a Seahawks WR 6’3″ or taller

Rk		Year	Ht	Wt	Rec ▾	Yds	Y/R	TD
1	Mike Williams	2010	6-5	229	65	751	11.55	2
2	Sean Dawkins	2000	6-4	215	63	731	11.6	5
3	Sean Dawkins	1999	6-4	215	58	992	17.1	7
4	Joe Jurevicius	2005	6-5	230	55	694	12.62	10
5	Sidney Rice	2012	6-4	200	50	748	14.96	7
6	Daryl Turner	1984	6-3	194	35	715	20.43	10
7	Daryl Turner	1985	6-3	194	34	670	19.71	13
8	Ray Butler	1987	6-3	200	33	465	14.09	5
9	Sidney Rice	2011	6-4	200	32	484	15.13	2
10	Jeff Chadwick	1990	6-3	190	27	478	17.7	4

The rarity of tall impact receivers extends beyond Seattle. There have only been eleven players as tall as Matthews who have caught 30 passes or more in a season since 2010:

	Year	Tm	Ht	Wt	Rec	Yds	Y/R	TD
Mike Williams	2010	SEA	6-5	229	65	751	11.55	2
David Nelson	2013	NYJ	6-5	217	36	423	11.75	2
David Nelson	2011	BUF	6-5	217	61	658	10.79	5
David Nelson	2010	BUF	6-5	217	31	353	11.39	3
Calvin Johnson	2014	DET	6-5	239	71	1077	15.17	8
Calvin Johnson	2013	DET	6-5	239	84	1492	17.76	12
Calvin Johnson	2011	DET	6-5	239	96	1681	17.51	16
Calvin Johnson	2010	DET	6-5	239	77	1120	14.55	12
Calvin Johnson	2012	DET	6-5	239	122	1964	16.1	5
Vincent Jackson	2012	TAM	6-5	241	72	1384	19.22	8
Vincent Jackson	2014	TAM	6-5	241	70	1002	14.31	2
Vincent Jackson	2013	TAM	6-5	241	78	1224	15.69	7
Vincent Jackson	2011	SDG	6-5	241	60	1106	18.43	9
Andre Holmes	2014	OAK	6-5	208	47	693	14.74	4
Malcom Floyd	2011	SDG	6-5	201	43	856	19.91	5
Malcom Floyd	2014	SDG	6-5	201	52	856	16.46	6
Malcom Floyd	2012	SDG	6-5	201	56	814	14.54	5
Malcom Floyd	2010	SDG	6-5	201	37	717	19.38	6
Mike Evans	2014	TAM	6-5	231	68	1051	15.46	12
Plaxico Burress	2011	NYJ	6-5	226	45	612	13.6	8
Marlon Brown	2013	BAL	6-5	216	49	524	10.69	7
Kelvin Benjamin	2014	CAR	6-5	240	73	1008	13.81	9
Danario Alexander	2012	SDG	6-5	221	37	658	17.78	7

At around 220 pounds, Matthews is built more like a Plaxico Burress or David Nelson than the behemoth Calvin Johnson, Kelvin Benjamin and Vincent Jacksons that tip the scales at around 240 pounds. Former Seahawk Sean Dawkins might be a good compare. Matthews used his height brilliantly against the Patriots.

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Matthews was well covered on his first catch for 44 yards

His height gave Russell Wilson the confidence to let it rip quickly for a touchdown before the half

Another well covered route where Matthews simply goes higher

Matthews shows his strength here, shoving badass Brandon Browner off him

It seems pretty simple. Matthews does not need to get open. He just needs the ball thrown up high, and to play against corners who can’t outjump him. His skill set does not necessarily lend itself to being one of the top options for a team, but he showed enough in that one game to prove he can play a valuable role.

Outlook

Wilson throws one of the best deep balls in football. He does a terrific job of giving his receivers a chance to go up and make a play. Golden Tate was rarely open, but Wilson trusted him to win the 50/50 ball. Jermaine Kearse has been given similar opportunities, with more mixed results. Matthews is promising in that Tate and Kearse have to rely a little more on timing and vertical leap, where Matthews is going to be 6’5″ on every play. He can mistime his jump, and still outstretch most corners.

Red zone work could be another important aspect of his role. Throwing out 6’7″ Jimmy Graham and 6’5″ Matthews will definitely make things challenging for opposing defenses.

One more hidden aspect to his game is special teams. That was what got him on the roster in the first place. The Paul Richardson injury elevated him on the receiver depth chart. Continued focus on special teams will be key if Matthews want to cement his place on the roster. It would be easy for him to think his Super Bowl performance guarantees him a spot and the dirty work on special teams is now beneath him. That would be serious error in judgment.

The door is now open for Matthews to take a step forward and be a consistent contributor on a championship team. Getting to 30 receptions might be a stretch (no pun intended) in this offense. Grabbing at least 5 touchdowns, with a catch total in the mid-20s could be reasonable.