7.2 Tyler Matakevich

[Jooser]

Second coming of Jerry O? This guys looks like a thumper! LOL


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyMPO1ldhpA

[SidSmythe]

Looks like he could be a very good Special Team guy with a nose for the ball.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Second coming of Jerry O? This guys looks like a thumper! LOL


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyMPO1ldhpA

Jerry O will certainly enjoy coaching him. The two should be attached at the hip all throughout Latrobe.

[buccoray61]

Walk on who became a 4 year starter.

[AzStillers1989]

Walk on who became a 4 year starter.
great stuff. hopeing for the same from him with the steelers in the nfl.

[SidSmythe]

Ed B on TWITTER - Check that. Bronko Nagurski Trophy, won by Matakevich, is for nation's best defensive player, not just LB

Also pointed out he had 3 sacks vs. Penn St.

[Jooser]

He looks nasty! I like the pickup.

[8467thekraken]

It's guys like this that you want. May not have "the measurables", but he has it where it counts the most.

This may come off weird, but you can just see it in his eyes. That intensity. That hunger and drive. He has that won't-be-denied jet fuel.

Favorite pick of the draft.

[Jooser]

Yeah Kraken, I'm liking him too He'll be one to watch at Latrobe. I think he'll open some eyes and make some headaches.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Goodbye to the Zumwalt?

[Slapstick]

Goodbye to the Zumwalt?

We hardly knew him!

[phillyesq]

I watched most of Temple's games and really liked this guy. He was the heart and soul of a tough defense. He's not an athletic freak like most of the guys drafted but he is a football player. He may not be the biggest hitter, but he is a solid tackler. As I said in the other thread, it wouldn't shock me if he was the special teams captain in a few years.

[Slapstick]

If we can get another Clint Kriewaldt with that pick, it is successful...

[Iron City Inc.]

Spence is where the bar is set I would say for this former Owl. Spence was a solid little player both on special teams and as a back up. If he can contribute on special teams and be the 4th inside backer we did well.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Don't make the same mistake twice
Posted 4 hours ago


Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

LB Tyler Matakevich prides himself on learning from mistakes.

It wasn’t that long ago that seventh-round draft pick Tyler Matakevich, the linebacker from Temple, was taking part in the team’s rookie minicamp. And like most of his fellow rookies, when he first hit the field, it was a bit overwhelming.

“I had no idea what was going on,” admitted Matakevich. “I was just running around.”

Fast forward to a month later, as the second week of OTAs are in full swing, and it’s a completely different feeling for Matakevich. His comfort level has soared, and while he isn’t where he wants to be yet, he is light years away from his first days on the field.

“I am starting to pick it up,” said Matakevich. “The coaches are helping me out. The vets are helping me out when I am out there, letting me know when I am wrong. That is the biggest thing right now, just making sure I am doing the right things and playing fast.”

Matakevich knows the best way for him to learn is from his own mistakes. He is going to make them. Every rookie does; veterans as well. But the most important thing is to not make the same mistake twice.

“I am still making some mistakes, but that is part of learning,” said Matakevich. “You just have to get out there, get in the meeting room, get them corrected and come back out here and don’t make the same mistakes.

“With me I am one of those guys that if I make a mistake, I know it and I won’t do it wrong again. There are a lot of things I have to learn. I am trying to get in here, do everything right and try to play fast.”

Helping to keep the mistakes at a minimum are Matakevich’s teammates, who understand what it was like to be a rookie and are all willing to help out.

“All of them are helping me out,” said Matakevich. “When I am out there, I am out there with Steven (Johnson) and we piggy back off each other. Then having Lawrence Timmons around, you see how good he is and why he is a pro. I am trying to follow those guys to be like them.

“I am trying to soak everything in I can and be the best I can be.”

He is also getting a quick lesson in what it means to be a Steelers player on and off the field. The rookies have already been out in the community multiple times, including a visit to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Mel Blount Youth Home.

“You have to take a lot of pride into getting out into the community and showing them who you are,” said Matakevich. “I did that at Temple and I feel like Coach (Mike) Tomlin and the Steelers organization is the same way. It’s something I enjoy and look forward to doing.”

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Dont-make-the-same-mistake-twice/0d0d587d-73e7-4cc3-b6df-359c991892ec

[Shoe]

Goodbye to the Zumwalt?

There is a reason the team has let him stick around though... (i.e. there must be something they like about him)

If both somehow make it, even better. Since I'd like to see Zumwalt "make it" (i.e. make the active roster and play), my ideal scenario would be for him to make the team this year and save Matakevich, let him sit on the PS one year.

[Captain Lemming]

Spence is where the bar is set I would say for this former Owl. Spence was a solid little player both on special teams and as a back up. If he can contribute on special teams and be the 4th inside backer we did well.

Don't you know the rules of player comparisons?
You cant compare him to a Black player!!!
Stick with Zumwalt!
Feeney is the guy you MUST compare Spence to.

Amazingly no Jerry O reference yet for Matakevich? I'm disappointed people. ;)

(OK yes I too would compare him to Zumwalt.....I feel kinda guilty) :)

Actually that kind of productivity he might be much better than Z.
He is kinda lightweight and not a burner, EXTREMELY productive, we could we have stumbled on another Lambe.....wait Ive gotta stop!!!!!

[Jooser]

Don't you know the rules of player comparisons?
You cant compare him to a Black player!!!
Stick with Zumwalt!
Feeney is the guy you MUST compare Spence to.

Amazingly no Jerry O reference yet for Matakevich? I'm disappointed people. ;)

(OK yes I too would compare him to Zumwalt.....I feel kinda guilty) :)

Actually that kind of productivity he might be much better than Z.
He is kinda lightweight and not a burner, EXTREMELY productive, we could we have stumbled on another Lambe.....wait Ive gotta stop!!!!!

Dude are you smoking crack? What's the first post on this thread? :D

[RuthlessBurgher]

I don't understand the connection people seem to have with Jordan Zumwalt.

The 4 starting linebackers are Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Shazier, Jarvis Jones, and Bud Dupree.
The 4 veteran backup options are James Harrison, Arthur Moats, Vince Williams, and Steven Johnson.
The 4 young linebackers with potential are Anthony Chickillo, Travis Feeney, Tyler Matakevich, and L.J. Fort.
Then at the bottom of roster behind those dozen guys that we won't be able to keep are Jordan Zumwalt and Tyriq McCord. He's just a camp body at this point, but I'm sure there are several fans out there who are nonetheless convinced that roster fodder Jordan Zumwalt is a better football player than starting LB Jarvis Jones.

[Oviedo]

I don't understand the connection people seem to have with Jordan Zumwalt.

The 4 starting linebackers are Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Shazier, Jarvis Jones, and Bud Dupree.
The 4 veteran backup options are James Harrison, Arthur Moats, Vince Williams, and Steven Johnson.
The 4 young linebackers with potential are Anthony Chickillo, Travis Feeney, Tyler Matakevich, and L.J. Fort.
Then at the bottom of roster behind those dozen guys that we won't be able to keep are Jordan Zumwalt and Tyriq McCord. He's just a camp body at this point, but I'm sure there are several fans out there who are nonetheless convinced that roster fodder Jordan Zumwalt is a better football player than starting LB Jarvis Jones.


Zumwalt has the same characteristics as Paul Posluzny and Sean Lee. Tough nosed white guys who remind people of Ham, Lambert and Russell. Heck, for years we had guys on this board acting like Posluzny was the second coming of Lambert when in reality he was just another Larry Foote.

Now as far as Zumwalt being better than Jones...who knows if he can actually get on the field;)

[phillyesq]

I don't understand the connection people seem to have with Jordan Zumwalt.

The 4 starting linebackers are Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Shazier, Jarvis Jones, and Bud Dupree.
The 4 veteran backup options are James Harrison, Arthur Moats, Vince Williams, and Steven Johnson.
The 4 young linebackers with potential are Anthony Chickillo, Travis Feeney, Tyler Matakevich, and L.J. Fort.
Then at the bottom of roster behind those dozen guys that we won't be able to keep are Jordan Zumwalt and Tyriq McCord. He's just a camp body at this point, but I'm sure there are several fans out there who are nonetheless convinced that roster fodder Jordan Zumwalt is a better football player than starting LB Jarvis Jones.

I think this was the hit he had in college that got everybody excited:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w611j4vXtpk

[Captain Lemming]

Dude are you smoking crack? What's the first post on this thread? :D

Wow.....how did I miss that?
Bravo board. You did not disappoint after all. :)

[Captain Lemming]

I think this was the hit he had in college that got everybody excited:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w611j4vXtpk

So he is the Kajagoogoo of the Steelers?
One HIT wonder? :)

I too NEVER understood the love for Zumwalt.
At least this new kid was an absolute productivity beast in college despite his lack of ideal measurables.

[RuthlessBurgher]

So he is the Kajagoogoo of the Steelers?
One HIT wonder? :)

Zumwalt would have made the 53 man roster already, but he is simply Too Shy. ;)

[birtikidis]

Zumwalt would have made the 53 man roster already, but he is simply Too Shy. ;)
Oh hush hush

[RuthlessBurgher]

Oh hush hush

Those of us who understand that reference are exposing ourselves as old farts.

[Slapstick]

Those of us who understand that reference are exposing ourselves as old farts.

You and I see "eye to eye" on this matter...

[Captain Lemming]

Those of us who understand that reference are exposing ourselves as old farts.

Even worse than being old....... EMBARRASINGLY bad taste in 80s music.
Nobody admits it but the when those lyrics from 3 decades ago are STILL burned into your memory, no matter how much you deny it now.....you used to listen to that awful song ON PURPOSE. :)

[Slapstick]

Even worse than being old....... EMBARRASINGLY bad taste in 80s music.
Nobody admits it but the when those lyrics from 3 decades ago are STILL burned into your memory, no matter how much you deny it now.....you used to listen to that awful song ON PURPOSE. :)

Only when I turned on the radio...

[Captain Lemming]

Only when I turned on the radio...

Denial aint just a river my friend.

I will be the first to admit I had bad taste in music, being that I bring the topic up.
I BOUGHT both Too Shy AND....Kajagoogoos greatest hits.

Little did I realize that that Too Shy WAS THE ONLY SONG on the greatest hits album. :(

[Shoe]

I think this was the hit he had in college that got everybody excited:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w611j4vXtpk

I don't think anyone thinks Zumwalt is gonna be Jack Lambert or anything close. Same with this Temple kid. In both though, I can envision a Jerry Olsavsky, Vince Williams, maybe even Larry Foote?

With your back-ups, you want guys who are self-starters and provide a spark. I want both to stick.

[RuthlessBurgher]

for years we had guys on this board acting like Posluzny was the second coming of Lambert when in reality he was just another Larry Foote.

Poz leads the league with 725 tackles since he became a starter in 2008.