A reporter made the mistake of asking Jordan Matthews on Thursday about personal goals for the upcoming season.
“You must have some?”
Matthews didn’t answer as much as he glared at the questioner and then mumbled, “I don’t,” and then his voice trailed off into something unintelligible.
You’ll never get Matthews to talk about himself. Which might be the most impressive thing about the young wide receiver from Vanderbilt. He seems to have no ego.
Matthews, probably the Eagles’ most important rookie, and his teammates finished their spring workouts Thursday with a third day of mandatory minicamp following 10 OTA days.
It’s been an auspicious debut for Matthews, although it’s important not to put too much weight on no-pads workouts in May and June.
“I think I did all right,” Matthews said after the final practice of the spring. “The main two things that I always want to control are my attitude and my effort, so I feel like I was able to come out and give 100 percent. I just have to continue to get better at the little things, too.
“It’s been great, informative, definitely a great learning environment. I can’t ask to be part of a better team, a better organization.
“Coach [Chip] Kelly, coach Bick [Bob Bicknell], coach Pat [Shurmur], they’ve all made it a great atmosphere for me to come here and get better and I appreciate that. Now I just have to go out there and make plays for them.”
Matthews worked mainly in the slot during OTAs and minicamp, but he also got some reps outside with the first offense on occasion.
Don’t expect him to get too excited about that. It’s June. Means nothing.
This guy always says exactly the right thing.
“There’s no ‘teams,’” he said. “Everybody’s trying out, everybody’s trying to get better. We’ll find out what teams are once we get to [opening day] Sept. 7.
“When I’m in there with Nick [Foles], when I’m in there with Mark [Sanchez], when I’m in there with Matt [Barkley] or with G.J. [Kinne] it’s all the same thing, I’m just trying to go out there and get better.”
Matthews, the 42nd pick in this year’s draft, set an SEC record this past fall with 112 catches, and his 1,477 yards were third-most in conference history. He finished his college career with SEC records of 242 catches and 3,759 yards.
With his speed, size, hands, work ethic and intelligence, it’s intriguing to see what he’ll be able to do on the NFL level.
“Jordan has done a nice job since he's gotten here,” Kelly said. “Obviously, for all the rookies it's getting acclimated with what we are doing in terms of schemes and learning new terminology, but you get great effort and a consistent approach on a daily basis from what he gives you.”
Now the rookie second-round pick has five weeks on his own before reporting back to the NovaCare Complex for training camp, which opens July 26.
There are no rookie days at the start of training camp this summer, so starting July 26, the pads go on Matthews will start competing for playing time in earnest.
Matthews said the next five weeks won’t be a vacation. He’ll continue to do everything he’s been doing, except he’ll be doing it by himself instead of with his teammates.
“Continue to hydrate, continue to eat right,” he said. “I know I’m going to work out, I know I’m going to train hard, continue to focus on the little things, nutrition, making sure I get enough sleep and those things.
“I’m always looking forward to the next step. The main thing is getting better in these next five weeks that I have essentially off -- put that in quotations -- but just trying to get better each day.”