AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 07 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMathis will be missed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The loss of Kevin Mathis for the season because of a neck injury is something tough to see personally. As a reporter, you don’t get too attached to athletes or coaches to maintain objectivity. However, it’s hard not to admire people and Mathis is someone I hold in high regard.
First off, he is a decent person who has generated the utmost respect from all of his teammates and coaches for his toughness, thoughtfulness and reliability. His return from a season-ending knee injury last season was a point of inspiration for several coaches and teammates, including wide receiver Brian Finneran, who is going through a lot of the same physical and emotional trials Mathis went through.
Though Mathis is expected to fully recover from his neck injury, the fact that this is his second major spinal injury in five years and that he is 32 years old could trigger his retirement, voluntarily or forced. Mathis may opt to walk away for his long-term health. The Falcons or any other team might not want to risk putting him on the field again either.
In terms of football, Mathis’s injury could provide an opportunity for rookie Jimmy Williams or kick returner Allen Rossum as the nickel back. By the way, Rossum is another classy and standout individual who stayed with Mathis at a hospital in Detroit after Mathis got hurt against the Lions.
An offshoot to all of this that could trigger some concern, the key injuries the Falcons are taking on defense are coming at the same spots as last season – defensive end, middle linebacker and nickel back. We all know how that panned out.
Atlanta should be able to absorb the losses better because of the experience of some of the replacements and because safeties Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker has stabilized that part of the defense to some degreee. However, depth could become an issue for a unit that has struggled, especially against the pass the past three games.
Comments
By Falconsbeliever
November 7, 2006 04:10 PM | Link to this
Our hearts are certainly with Mathis.
Crocker has not provided much improvement in pass defense. He has improved the run defense, though.
Rossum should not be the nickel back. We really miss Chris Cash.
We should make Webster the nickel and let Williams move to Webster’s spot? Weren’t they discussing that option earlier this year?
By mountain_jim
November 7, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this
My thoughts and prayers for Mathis to recover fully.
Hey Steve, when is somebody going to address just what is going on with the coaches and Williams such that even though the secondary play has been horrid he never snifts the field?
We have seen previously how the coaches stick with the wrong folks too long when they should be replaced (Dez, Webster, and last week Forney had no business playing with one arm yet the coaches had him in there and his very capable replacement not even active for the week, and I am sure they will again put the human turnstyle in when he gets off his 4 week suspension.)
If Mora and Donatell continue to stick with their current (failing) defensive schemes and lineups, they will deserve the pink slips Blank gives them at the end of another failed campaign of a coached-down good talent 8-8 season.
When will we find out about the MRI for Norwood?
By steve wyche
November 7, 2006 04:44 PM | Link to this
Mountain Jim,
Thanks for checking in. Typically, the Falcons don’t reveal MRI exam results and things of that nature that are administered on Monday until Wednesdsay afternoon. I’ll make sure to keep you guys posted.
By Don KeBallz
November 7, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this
Glad Kevin is gone, lets get someone who can play!
By Andy
November 7, 2006 05:10 PM | Link to this
Mora used to say high priced rooks are supposed to play, so Jimmy William should play and get well. I like the fact he is tall and willing to tackle in run support. Sometimes, horrible injuries are what opens the door to opportunity and Jimmy has one. He better use it. The safeties we have are excellent in run support, but Crocker and to a small extent Milloy aren’t as good in coverage, so we are going to need stepped up play from the DEs and LBs to make up for it. It would be nice if all we did was blitz 1 for pressure. I hate to see more as it usually results in a big play against us. I am curious to see how the team responds at home on Sunday, especially on D against the Browns tall WRs and TEs.
By dougie fresh
November 7, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this
Hey Don, you are a classless lowlife, man. It’s just football…this young man is lucky to still be able to walk. “Fans” like you are what is wrong with the city of Atlanta.
By UNKNOWN HINSON
November 7, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this
First off, I hope Kevin is ok and if he does fully recover wish him the best. Don SukBallz your retarded he has been a key player for us since ‘02 and trust me we’ll miss him. I remember in ‘04 when he was outstanding for us and had a couple INT’s returned for TD’s. He is not a shutdown guy but is a leader of the team. You want to talk about someone who can’t play you need to address your boyfriend Jason Webster.
Get well Kevin, and god help our secondary.
By Stay Up K-Math
November 7, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this
That’s a tough @ss dude in K-math. I wish him the best and hope for a full recovery, the real fans are with you brother. Just glad to hear it wasn’t worse. Don, go play checkers or somethin.
By L. Hull
November 7, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this
I looked KeBallz up in the dictionary. It was under bottom-feeding,scum-sucking pig fish.
By larry w.
November 7, 2006 06:24 PM | Link to this
Losing Kevin only adds salt to the gaping wound which is our secondary. You are only as strong as your weakest link. Our weakest link is extremely weak! With the loss of Mathis, McKay should be, if not already, scanning the market for secondary help. I saw where several teams picked up secondary help last week. Whatever is left out there, should be investigated. We need serious help in the secondary. One other thing I would like to point out, a team is the reflection of it’s coaching staff. The inconsistant play is in direct relationship to the inconsistant coaching. Schemes and preparation by this staff are ridiculously inconsistant. You don’t know what you will get from them from week to week. So therfore you do not know what you are going to get from the team from week to week. We may just come out and look like world beaters against the Browns or we may lay another egg like the one in Detroit. Which Falcon team is going o show up? That is a direct reflection of the coaching staff!
By Dawgs2006
November 7, 2006 06:26 PM | Link to this
Artur Blank is a fool to spend the money he has for that coaching staff. He is not as smart as he makes himself to be. YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE ARTHUR! FIX THE PROBLEM!
By e.b.
November 7, 2006 07:11 PM | Link to this
Hey Steve, I emailed ya’. Show me some love.
By unknown hinson is a b|tch
November 7, 2006 07:37 PM | Link to this
If these d******* want to keep playing with broken necks, I have no sympathy for them.
UNKNOWN HINSON IS A 14 YEAR OLD PANSY.
By UNKNOWN HINSON
November 7, 2006 08:54 PM | Link to this
THATS GOOD TAKE SHOTS AT SOMEONE WHO ALMOST GOT PARALYZED. YOU AINT MAKIN YOURSELF LOOK TOO GOOD RIGHTS NOW. AND ARE YOU SAYING YOU WANT ME TO HAVE SAFE SEX WITH YOUR PANSY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER? YOU NEED SOME PARTY LIQUOR BOY, UNKNOWN HINSON ONLY MESSES WITH THEM LEGALS. YOU SHOULD KNOW, YOU CAN’T STOP THE KING OF COUNTRY WESTERN TROUBADOURS!
By Najeh Davenpoop
November 7, 2006 10:10 PM | Link to this
Hope Mathis gets better soon. When he played it was obvious how his energy and leadership positively affected the other players on the field, not to mention that he was our 2nd best cover guy after D. Hall. We are gonna need somebody to step up in the secondary — D Hall’s really the only guy left who can cover at an elite level, and as long as Webster continues to play awful other defenses will continue picking on him. Jimmy Williams, now is your time to shine — show us why the Falcons traded up to pick you.
By Robert Sagoes
November 7, 2006 10:38 PM | Link to this
Do the coaches make good adjust during the games, or are we just getting beat.
By Get Well K. Mathis
November 7, 2006 11:56 PM | Link to this
Classy guy, though no one deserves this to happen, as irony would be, its usually the heart and soul guy.
As for secondary problems, get rid of Webster and it’s 75% improved. Other guys will not have to overcompensate woorying about helping his led footed tail. He seems to be a good guy, but this is football, give me some dirty cats like D-Hall, Crock, Milloy and J-Williams. Mora just doesn’t want to look stupid because when he puts Jimmy out there, he’ll shine and it’ll just be what the heck took so long! Please step in McKay, Blank somebody and save the season before its too late!!!!
By CAQ
November 8, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this
Why in heck is Rossum getting playing time over Jimmy Williams? Rossum is about 175lbs, 5’7 and is not going to tackle any back coming out of the back field and not going to make a INT against receivers in this league. Mora has lost it.
Jimmy Williams is about 6’2, 215lbs and should have been a 1st round pick but riding the bench. Im sick of the coaches playing favorites. Play the man that has the most potential to make a big play. You drafted Williams because he was a playmaker in college. Use him!!!!!!
By Jeff
November 8, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this
Interesting article on J. Williams. He seems to be very confident in himself, unlike J. Webster.
Mora and Donatell: please, put Williams in the starting lineup, and move Webster to nickel.
Maybe Milloy or D. Hall should call Mora and/or Donatell out about the zone coverages and utilization of personnel. It worked for Vick and the offense (for two games at least).
By Edgar
November 8, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this
I hate to lose Mathis and hope he can return next year. He’s a play-maker and will be sorely missed. Get well K.M. Now is the time to put Jimmy Williams in this leaking secondary. I’m tired of this coaching staff’s loyalty to veterans that can’t get it done. I know Rossum has a lot of “respect” but he’s not what we need back there. We need Williams to show his savvy. Let him show it this Sunday.
By vickisick
November 8, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this
we’ll pray for you kevin. Hey Steve, please give an update on NORWOOD. His injury to his knee looked pretty bad from what i saw. please don’t tell me he’ll lose a step.
By chuck
November 8, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this
Mathis definitely will be a miss and hard to replace. Where is Chris Cash? He was a bright spot last year before his injury. Give Jimmy Williams a winning chance. Give him the next eight games to prove to us that he can play. When will Abraham be back?
By vickisick
November 8, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this
chris cash is on IR with another broken hand injury i think in preseason it happened. i am guessing abraham won’t be back until january or next year…
Steve, why isn’t mora getting called out for screwing up the o-line chemistry with playing forney and deactivating clabo. forney had a brace on and committed more than one holding penalty. and king played in the second half when they finally realized forney couldn’t. clabo wasn’t even active. mora needs to look at the steeler game and the bengal game and see how well the pass blocking was up front when clabo was in. why screw with what was working?
drop the idea of “you can’t lose your starting job due to injury” crap mora.
By mountain_jim
November 8, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this
Hello Steve, I see I am not the only one holding my breath waiting to find out about Norwood’s MRI….
I saw where we have already activated Marlion Jackson from the PS so that gives me more reason to be concerned about Jerious’s condition.
By rian
November 8, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this
Mountain Jim - you are correct. that cannot be good. I did read that we signed Lance Shulters, so at least we won’t see Cam Newton on the field.
By UNKNOWN HINSON
November 8, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this
Whats the word Steve? Please don’t tell me IR.
By T-Dawg
November 8, 2006 06:17 PM | Link to this
Don KeBallz you’re an idiot. Kevin Mathis has been the Falcons most reliable DB since they signed him. A couple of years ago, he won two games with interception return for touchdowns. If you were a real fan, you would know that. Get well Kevin.