Jordan Matthews taking flight with Eagles
Thanks in part to the Titans, former Vanderbilt star Jordan Matthews may have found his ideal NFL landing spot.
When the Titans moved back in the second round of the NFL Draft last May, they surrendered the 42nd overall pick to Philadelphia. The Eagles used that selection to take Matthews, who's having one of the best rookie seasons in the league.
The Titans will get their first look at the wide receiver on Sunday, as well as the rest of coach Chip Kelly's high-tempo offense that's averaging 30 points per game.
"It's fun. As an offensive player you couldn't ask to play in a better system," said Matthews, who has 44 catches for 558 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. "It's probably one of the most innovative ones in the whole NFL, and I know it's just going to continue to get better as the years go on. This is only the second year of it. … So I'm really excited. I think it's a blessing that I'm even able to be here."
Matthews' work ethic and study habits are such that he made a pretty smooth transition to the pro game, one year after setting SEC records with 262 career receptions and 3,759 career receiving yards.
One of his biggest challenges, however, has been making sure he's able to keep up with Kelly's rapid-fire offense. The Eagles have averaged a snap every 15 seconds or so, and they've run the second-most plays in the league behind the Colts.
"I've always been into conditioning and I've always been running, but it's a different kind of shape. There's in-shape and then there's Eagles shape," Matthews said. "They're not going to slow up for you in practice. You're going to have to go out there and run. You're going to have to set your mind every single day when you wake up that it's going to be a grind, but it's definitely going to make you better."
Matthews, on pace to break the team's rookie record of 62 catches set by DeSean Jackson, has been especially prolific over the last two weeks. Catching passes from backup quarterback Mark Sanchez after starter Nick Foles was injured, Matthews has 12 receptions for 245 yards and three touchdowns in games against the Panthers and Packers.
"I just think he's learning each week, and he's improving on a weekly basis," Kelly said. "He's got an unbelievable work ethic and puts himself in situations to make plays. Jordan very rarely makes the same mistake twice. He does a great job of studying tape and working on little things."
Over the last few weeks, Matthews has gone head-to-head with some of his former Vanderbilt teammates, as the Eagles beat the Texans (cornerback Andre Hal) and lost to the Packers (cornerback Casey Hayward, safety Sean Richardson).
"It's been really cool, kind of surreal almost going against them, but I just have so much love for those guys," Matthews said. "I played with them for so long. I always make sure I talk to them pregame, postgame, and we get pictures, too."
He keeps tabs on the current crop of Commodores as well, and Matthews said he believes in first-year coach Derek Mason despite his 3-7 record this season following three straight bowl appearances under James Franklin.
"I think coach Mason is the guy for the job," Matthews said. "I fully endorse him. I know he's going to have an impact there for a long time. The guys just have to stick with him and keep working to get better."
Matthews said the youth is one of the main reasons the Commodores are struggling, as 34 Vanderbilt players made their debuts this season. That makes the usual challenges at Vanderbilt that much more difficult, according to Matthews.
"I always think it's the hardest challenge in college football," he said. "We're the only school with those academic requirements in that type of conference. People say 'What about the Stanfords or Northwesterns?' Well, I think it's well-documented that the Pac-12 and Big 10 aren't nearly as difficult as the SEC when it comes to football.
"And then on top of that, we have the same academic requirements as those other schools, too. So I think it's the biggest challenge in college football. Then when you add that challenge to the fact we're playing probably the most freshmen of anybody in the country, it's going to be hard. There's going to be a learning curve."
Reach John Glennon at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @glennonsports.
NEXT GAME
TITANS (2-8) at EAGLES (7-3)
When: Noon Sunday
TV/radio: WTVF-5/104.5-FM
