The Facts:
SDU-T beat writer Michael Gehlken said Tuesday on Footballguys.com's "The Audible" podcast that he had picked up on a "pretty clear sense" toward the end of last season that Mathews would never become the player the Chargers envisioned when they drafted him.
Reported by NFL.com
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
Mathews was drafted by the previous regime to be a three-down workhorse, but "you can count the number of third-down receptions he's had in his career on two hands," Gehlken said. The new regime has talked up Mathews as a potential "bell-cow back" who needs more help from the offensive line and a bigger role in the passing game. But as NFL.com's Chris Wesseling suggests, the addition of passing-down specialist Danny Woodhead, one of the Chargers' most impressive player in spring practices, suggests otherwise. "Woodhead is going to be a big part of this thing," Gehlken said. "Woodhead is just better in a lot of areas than Ryan Mathews. ..." One of those areas might be near the goal-line, where the smaller newcomer has shown a knack for getting the job done. Of course, Mathews might have the same ability -- if he can stay on the field long enough to show it.
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