As the Seattle Seahawks have risen through the ranks of the NFL's elite, the one consistent knock against this otherwise talented roster has been the lack of quality receivers. Seattle thought it had adequately addressed the problem when they traded for Percy Harvin. But apart from a big game in the Super Bowl (which, admittedly was huge), Harvin dealt with injuries and fit issues and was traded to the Jets last year.
The Seahawks want to help quarterback Russell Wilson reach his high ceiling, which means giving him talented weapons to throw to.
Seattle did select Tyler Lockett in the third-round of this year's NFL Draft, but he isn't a prototypical big-framed No. 1 wide receiver. He is explosive but stands just 5-foot-10 and 182 pounds. Despite not having a proven big guy who can get it done consistently at WR, head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider aren't worried. Why is that, you ask?
"One is the acquisition of Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham from the Saints," ESPN Seahawks reporter Terry Blount wrote. "At 6-foot-7, 265 pounds, Graham is a hybrid who often lines up as a wide out. So that gives the team a big-body presence outside at times.
"The other reason is the optimism over Chris Matthews, who had a breakout performance in the Super Bowl with four receptions for 109 yards and a TD. Matthews is 6-5, 220 pounds."
Seattle's good vibes about Matthews don't come purely from numbers. Carroll explained why he is high on the young pass-catcher.
"Chris is an exciting prospect coming back to camp," Carroll said. "He made a big impression at the Super Bowl. He had made a big impression on us anyway. So we brought him back to go to work and he did a nice job.
"We go into this camp thinking Chris is going to be a big guy and the big receiver in this offense. He is as good as it gets to fill that expectation. We'll see how he does."
Matthews is a former CFL-er who was added to the 53-man roster in December. If he develops like Carrol hopes then Wilson won't have to worry about a lack of weapons in this passing offense.
