Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles WR Jordan Matthews expects better 2015 season after focused offseason

Published Aug. 11, 2015 12:48 a.m. ET

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Entering the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp in 2014, wide receiver Jordan Matthews was not as prepared as he would've liked to be. The wide receiver was shifting focus, from working to improve his NFL Combine numbers to working to move up an NFL depth chart. Entering his sophomore season, Matthews feels better prepared.

"I know the [scouting] Combine is really important," Matthews said, per The Morning Call, "but spending countless hours worrying about [your time in the 40-yard dash] isn't helping you get any better at football. All it does is make you think about something that really doesn't matter. And then you get to camp and now you've got to say, `Oh, let me get back to football.'

"Well, this whole offseason, I did nothing but train with guys who are focused on football. I got with quarterbacks and receivers and working with guys like Victor Cruz [of the New York Giants] too. … I worked a little bit with [San Francisco 49ers quarterback] Colin Kaepernick and then spent some time in the offseason with the rest of the Eagles offense down in San Diego. So just being able to focus on nothing but football, that, itself, made me feel more comfortable coming into fall camp."

As a rookie, Matthews racked up 872 receiving yards and eight touchdown on 67 reception. It's scary to think about what he can do in year two if he feels more comfortable at the NFL level and within Chip Kelly's offensive scheme. With Jeremy Maclin gone, Matthews has an opportunity breakout as the Eagles' unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver in 2015.

(h/t The Morning Call)