Oregon's Casey Matthews Unimpressive in Bench Press

by Bruce Raffel on Feb 28, 2011 10:12 AM EST

The linebackers hit the weights at the NFL Scouting Combine today with the bench press. Lifting a bar with 225 pounds of weight, the players see how many times they can press the bar while other players, coaches, scouts and Front Office personnel watch with interest. The record was set yesterday by defensive tackle Stephen Paea (Oregon State), who put up an astounding 49 repetitions. The best linebacker total so far has been Ohio State's Ross Homan with 32 reps.

Disappointing were Oregon's Casey Matthews' 13 measly reps. Matthews comes from a long NFL pedigree, with brother Clay most recently bench pressing the Lombardi Trophy for his Super Bowl 45 Champion Green Bay Packers. This might not change his draft status as one of the other top rated linebacker prospects, Von Miller (Texas A&M) only put up 21 repetitions.

See the story and list of LB's who have lifted on NFL.com.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

13 reps?!

That’s pathetic. However, as jacked as his brother Clay is, he only did 23. Still though…13 seems sad.

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller

by John Stephens on Feb 28, 2011 10:25 AM EST reply actions

I could care less if he could only do 1

The bench press is a controlled setting test of strength. It really doesn’t measure how well he is going to be able to get off blocks or push for a pass rush. That, and with the strength coaches in the NFL, he will be significantly stronger almost immediately.

I think the biggest problem that it shows is his training. Is he taking the transition from College to the Pros seriously? Is he going to rely on his past work and natural talent to get drafted and while playing?

by Mstevens_Design on Feb 28, 2011 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

Don't really care

We still need to snag him in the 3rd, possibly 4th.

"Anything worth doing, is worth doing right."
-Hunter S. Thompson-

by StuckInUtah on Feb 28, 2011 12:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions

If his last name wasn't Matthews

think anyone would know he exists?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Feb 28, 2011 12:30 PM EST reply actions

Maybe, maybe not

However he was the sole reason that Oregon even had a chance at the end of the BCS championship. The guy (just like his brother) has a tendency to make big plays when needed. Therefore I feel like he’s worth giving a shot.

"Anything worth doing, is worth doing right."
-Hunter S. Thompson-

by StuckInUtah on Feb 28, 2011 12:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I tend to agree and his bench ress might help us

if he drops even lower.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Feb 28, 2011 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

He’s not worth more than a fourth rounder.

The first three picks need to be OT, WR, WR. Not necessarily in that order though.

by MrPoopyPants on Feb 28, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

If one of these DE are there at 26, I would love to take one. Jesus this class of DE is scary good.

"If only Flacco could put up numbers similar to Matt Ryan, or maybe just improve his stats year-to-year, he wouldn’t seem like such a wasted draft pick. It’s as if a young quarterback needs to put up better stats in his first three years than nearly every other quarterback to play in the NFL to justify a first round pick." - Amp

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 28, 2011 4:32 PM EST up reply actions