It’s called being evenhanded, not covering all bases, and it’s a mark of good writing. Covering all bases is “T.O. annoys me. He’s a bad football player, and a locker room cancer, but I like the guy, and I think he should get a shot in the NFL.”

Evenhandedness is balancing an argument by showing that you have no personal biases about the subject. If I had written the same piece about Mathews not yet living up to the hype and then closed out my argument with “I hate Ryan Mathews: he looks weird, he stole my girlfriend, and I hope he dies in a car accident,” my entire piece would lack credibility and readers would not take me seriously because of my strong feelings about my subject. However being fair, balanced, and evenhanded lends credence to your writing, and forces the reader to consider your opinion, rather than dismiss it as trash-talk or a puff piece.

The piece I wrote was critical of Mathews’ play during his first two seasons. Therefore, I balanced myself out throughout the piece: strengthening my argument by making it clear I have no feelings on Mathews or the Chargers, and that all I’m criticizing is the idea that Mathews has played at an acceptable level for the twelfth overall pick over the last two seasons.

Not quite sure what “vindiction” is, probably because it isn’t a word, but if it’s anything like vindictiveness, then yeah, that’s the whole point, I’m not vindictive. Vindictive is not convincing. Vindictive is “The Cowboys suck and their fan base is a bunch of rednecks.” Unfortunately, vindictiveness much more common on PFT than balanced, reasonable, and well thought-out arguments: leading me to believe that I am not actually a “typical forum rat”, which is a huge relief.

So you’re welcome for the English lesson. Maybe next time you can stop being so full of “vindiction” and we can talk about football instead of semantics. Of course that would require you to read what I write, rather than skimming to the last line and bashing the whole piece. This has not been, however, a knock on sdboltz as a person, a player, or on his potential as a good person to talk football with. Wait, no, kidding, it totally has been. If somebody has taken the time to think out a clever opinion piece on one of your players, you can at least have the decency to read it before you trash it.

But compared to other premiere backs in the division – Jamaal Charles and Darren McFadden – Mathews is the iron man. He’s never suffered a major injury that ended his season, nor has he ever had surgery.

I’m not forgetting about Willis McGahee, who impresses me that he can still play on a high level at his age. But Ryan Mathews is going to take his game to another level in 2012. He is going to become a force to reckon with in the AFC.

The Super Bowl Express starts in San Diego when the Chargers open training camp on July 25.

“However, it is not necessarily a knock on Mathews as a person, a player, or on his potential and NFL future.:

Typical “Cover all bases” forum rat. Speak with vindiction just to pull out in the end.. SMH.

About appropriate for his draft slot? Really? The number 12 overall pick? Other recent picks in the vicinity include: Ryan Clady (12, 2008), Brian Orakpo (13, 2009), Patrick Willis (11, 2007), and Jonathan Stewart (13, 2008). Though I have nothing against the guy and wish him good luck in 2012, to say that Ryan Mathews has performed appropriately for the number 12 overall pick is simply absurd.

If you’re talking only about tailbacks, however, you do have a point, just not the one you think you’re making. There are three recent runningbacks taken around number twelve overall,and though it’s probably too early to say, there’s a good chance Williams follows one of their career paths. Knowshon Moreno went at number 12 in 2009, and is a pretty significant bust. Marshawn Lynch was picked twelfth in 2007, and, after underperforming for a few years in Buffalo, now seems like he’s coming into his own as a legitimate starting back. However, you also have to stack Mathews up next to Jonathan Stewart (13, 2008). Despite a successful committee system in Carolina and the presence of RB guru John Fox, Stewart has always played like the thirteenth overall pick.

Then there are the guys who came later. Without diving fully into the bottomless waters of draft day tailback steals, other recent running backs picked in the first or second round, but outside of the top ten, include Ray Rice, LeSean McCoy, Matt Forte, Maurice Jones-Drew, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, and DeAngelo Williams. So to say Ryan Mathews has not fulfilled his potential as the twelfth player taken in the draft is obviously completely accurate. However, it is not necessarily a knock on Mathews as a person, a player, or on his potential and NFL future.
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yelix says: Jun 4, 2012 11:06 AM

So he’s a disappointment that they traded too much for, and he won’t be good until he’s playing for a different team?
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Very well put, that was exactly what I was planning to write until I saw you had beaten me to the punch. Clearly Norv Turner puts more energy into thinking up clever passing plays for Philip Rivers than clever analogies for the media.

If he plays 16 games next, i fully expect him to be in contention for the rushing title

Matthews had barely over 50% of the rushing attempts last year and still put up 1100 rushing yards with a 5 yards per attempt average. And that was on a bad ankle for half the year!

Not one RB with more yards had fewer attempts. He’s only in his 2nd year with a makeshift/revolving door offense line full of no names and you want to knock this guy?

Get real, stop being a hater.

This guy has a better YPA than Stephen Jackson, Ray Rice, Matt Forte, Lesean McCoy, Adrian friggin Petersen, Jones-Drew, Frank Gore, Beanie Wells, Michael Turner… shall I continue?

Either way, this guy will never have the career that Ricky has had, no way.

You forgot Stephen Davis 2000 & 2001 and Terry Allen 1995 & 1996.

This guy is a tool. Phillip Rivers is a top 10 quarterback and he’s not going to win a thing with Norvus leading the way. Let’s hope the San Diego brass keeps him right there!

GO STEELERS!

“Super Bowl Express”, LOL!

this guy is never on the field because he can’t stay healthy and now he’ll get the bulk of the carries with tolbert gone to carolina? don’t see that working out well at all