Jordan Matthews all business at Eagles' OTAs

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Jordan Matthews missed an OTA last week to be in Los Angeles, where he basically did what young, charismatic stars usually do in the celebrity mecca.

"Signed some autographs, took some pictures. The Hollywood stuff," said Matthews, who was attending the NFLPA Rookie Premiere.

The good news for Eagles coaches? The scene didn’t really capture Matthews’ interest. He had his mind back in Philly.

"I'm not too much into that,” said Matthews, whose reputation as the anti-DeSean Jackson will only be fueled by that comment. “I was ready to get back to practice."

Matthews, a second-round pick who comes with big-time expectations, performed before the media’s eyes for the first time as an Eagle on Monday at the second practice open to reporters. Working mostly on the second team and often in the slot, Matthews made some impressive catches and definitely looked the part of a promising young talent (see observations from practice).

Even more impressive was Matthews’ perspective on the role head coach Chip Kelly has in store for the Vanderbilt product. Kelly has said Matthews will start off his career in the slot in order to capitalize on the wideout’s 6-foot-3 frame against smaller nickelbacks or Matthews’ explosive burst against slower linebackers.

Matthews isn’t backing down from the assignment, even though most his damage at Vanderbilt came on the outside, but he also isn’t pretending that height and athleticism alone will be his best friends when going across the middle at the professional level.

“Just going against some real physical guys in there, you’re gonna have to be able to bang,” he said. “There’s gonna be linebackers in there that’s gonna try to push you around when you’re coming underneath. The nickel guys that come in are gonna be fast, gonna be quick, you’re gonna see a lot of talent there. And those safeties rolling down, those guys are some heavy hitters, too, so you’ve just gotta be able to go in there and be physical to the best you can.”

Before he can concern himself with mismatches and strategies, Matthews first must get the playbook hammered down and get acclimated to the frenetic pace of Kelly’s practices. One of his endearing practice habits went on display as Matthews routinely ran every catch to the opposite end zone, no matter where he caught the ball.

Extra running in a practice rife with sprinting and short on huddling should only help Matthews’ adjustment.

“Since middle school I’ve done that,” he said. “It’s not not like something I decided to do on a whim yesterday. It’s just who I am.”

This is exactly the attitude Kelly was seeking when he rid the roster of Jackson, a supreme speed threat who made his third Pro Bowl last year but carried a reputation for putting himself before the team, and used a high draft pick on Matthews, who graduated in 3½ years from an esteemed academic university on top of becoming the Southeastern Conference’s all-time leader in receptions and yards.

Matthews isn’t interested right now in forecasting his slot success or filling anyone’s cleats.

“I look at it as I have to come out here and just be the best Eagle I can be,” he said. “I don’t pay attention to all that stuff. I don’t worry about all that stuff. I’m trying to learn from guys who are older than me. I’m trying to learn from Brad [Smith], who’s an awesome pro and been playing in the league for a long time. I’m trying to watch Jeremy [Maclin] and Riley [Cooper] outside because they’ve had to play inside, too. So that’s the approach I’m taking.”

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