CHARGERS: Mathews poised, "ready to go" 12 hours ago • By SCOTT BAIR sbair@nctimes.com
SAN DIEGO ---- The Chargers should have their starting running back on the field Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
Ryan Mathews has been sidelined with a broken clavicle but participated in Thursday's contact-heavy drill and emerged with no complications or setbacks.
He even ran through a gauntlet, which puts heavy hits on the upper body. Everything went fine.
"He took enough reps that I think we tested his conditioning today," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "We're making the progress I hoped to see us make. We're in pads. If you're out there, you're going to get banged around. If you're running with the ball, you're going to get bounced around a little. It's not at a game level, but I think Mathews feels very confident."
Mathews kept himself in shape while recovering from surgery. The final hurdle will be trusting that the broken bone has healed.
"It'll be more of a mental thing if I get to play," Mathews said."I'm great physical shape. It's about having confidence that the bone has healed right and that it's not going to break again."
Snapped him up week 1 when the guy who drafted him dropped him before the week 1 games. Now just to play the wait and see game to find out how ready he is for those touches.
Improving Mathews' fumbling a matter of urgency Written by Nick Canepa 4:46 p.m., Sept. 24, 2012
These may be the same people who foresee peace in our time, but they say it can be done. Maybe you can’t teach speed and instincts, but you can teach a running back how not to fumble.
That may be somewhat true. There are case studies to prove it. But teaching a running back with fumblitis how not to put the ball on the ground in practice is one thing. Getting him not to do it in games is another matter.
Chargers tailback Ryan Mathews fumbles. He’s fast, strong, agile and dangerous, but every once in a while -- too often in crucial spots -- he leaves the football behind. As he did Sunday against Atlanta as the Chargers appeared primed to go in for a score that probably would have given them a 7-6 lead in the second quarter.
Mathews got the ball at the Falcons’ seven, darted to the three and suddenly there was a commotion. Ball loose. Atlanta recovered. The Falcons then drove 96 yards for a touchdown, basically ending the proceedings.
Chargers coach Norv Turner, whose neck is in a tight enough noose without this folderol, believes Mathews can be cured of his buttery grip. In the meantime, as he said in his Monday dealings with the media, there will be spots where Mathews won’t be playing.
“There are certain situations where we will limit his exposure,” Norv said, and when pressed, added: “I’m not going to give our game plan out.”
Tolerance not infinite for Mathews Written by Kevin Acee 10:45 a.m., Sept. 27, 2012
The hope the Chargers have for Ryan Mathews is without measure.
The patience the team has for him, however, is finite.
My Uncle George lost all but his index finger and thumb on one hand in a lumber mill mishap, and he might not need his other hand to count the number of forgivable giveaways Mathews has remaining.
Mathews might have no bigger fan than A.J. Smith. With the exception of Norv Turner, there can hardly be anyone who has more invested in the young running back.
This is the kid, remember, that two months after the unceremonious and uncivil 2010 divorce from LaDainian Tomlinson, Smith traded up 16 spots to draft 12th overall.
The Chargers general manager’s legacy is essentially intertwined with that of Mathews.
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by mase088 » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:02 pm 
. Gotta love a league with idiots.
