CB Matagi Thompson - A class of '21 product, Matagi has very impressive blend of athleticism and length for a defensive back. He utilized his length effectively at the line of scrimmage in press coverage and also disrupt routes down the field. Moves very well for a player of his size and length, good flexibility and quickness.
Irse wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:05 pm
Awesome. Another DB. Graham must really be unhappy with what he saw last year.
Yep. I'm looking forward to seeing him at S. His full name is Eli Matagi Thompson and must have been named after his uncle Eli Thompson (Afatia's older brother). His uncle was a first team all-state LB at St. Louis and signed a LOI with UH in 1993. Unfortunately he passed away a couple of weeks later. Several years later Afatia committed to and played for UH keeping his part of the brothers plan to play together at UH.
uhwarriors wrote: ↑Tue Aug 23, 2022 9:50 pm
Thompson is very athletic and is coming on strong. Looks like he's going to be a starter in his first game as a true freshman.
That's awesome. Hope he has a great game and a great year.
Matagi Thompson Ranks 698th At The Safety Position
Thompson signed in February 2021, greyshirted, and just like that he started the first three games of the 2022 season for the Warriors.
This is a headscratcher.
The numbers don't lie.
For a first time player, a freshmen that's a starter, I thought the player must be highly skilled, highly recruited, and highly acclaimed. He's none of the above. I checked. He's a 2 star recruit and there were no other schools that offered him. In fact the best he did at the HS level (Punahou) was garnering an honorable mention ILH (according to UH's website).
With an acculmative defensive grade of 33.8 in his first three games Thompson grades near last in all of FBS at the safety position this season (he's ahead of 7 players). (According to pff.com).
Yet, I ponder, because his coaches must think highly of him otherwise he wouldn't have been named a starter over 15 other players at the safety position on the Warriors roster and started the first 3 games. Do his coaches see a bright future for the player? I don't. From this last game against Michigan ... pretty much sums up Thompson's playing ability. There was one play ... it was a simple routine play that a safety should make. Has to make.. The Michigan RB was running right towards #25. All it would take for the player to make the play is to lower his body, get ready to tackle, and wrap up and show some fortitude. Thompson did none of the above. Again. Again. Again. The runner ran right past #25. It was like the player was frozen. There was no lateral movement, no attempt, no heart and no sugar coating on what I see. I ask where is the players fundamentals, and foundation? Skills? Coaching? In 3 games I haven't seen it (save for a couple of pass rushes/blitzes). Better yet is this the best player that his position coach has?
Somebody needs to speak up. Tsai? The media? Miano? Veneri? One can't be this oblivious to poor play. How is this team to march forward when they have a player marching backwards?
For the season Thompson been in the game and took a 146 snaps.
These are his grades: (according to pff.com)
Defense-33.8
Run Defense-45.0
Tackling-24.3/10 mistackles
Pressure-62.7
Coverage-30.9
This is not slander. Or picking on the player, or throwing the player under the bus. The facts are real and they are what they are. For the team to improve (or to have the player improve) there needs to be public pressure on the coaching staff so that maybe they wouldn't be so narrow minded in sticking to Thompson in view of his bad playing ability and perhaps give others on the roster a chance to play/start. That is the purpose of this thread. Nobody wants to talk stick about a player, especially a student athlete ( young) thats trying his best. But for the Warriors to be Warriors they need to be continuously looking at putting the best, most deserving players, on the field.
I noticed #25 at times and felt the same way (bad/missed plays). But I didn't know who he is.
The team need to put names back on the jersey.
I totally get some teams don't want to put names on the jersey because they play as a team. Win and loose as a team.
I heard that TC said the names did not arrive on time for the season opener. OK, now it's Week 4 (or Week3 depends if you count 1 as 0). Plenty ladies in Hawaii I know can sew.
cabanalane wrote: ↑Sun Sep 11, 2022 3:01 pm
I noticed #25 at times and felt the same way (bad/missed plays). But I didn't know who he is.
The team need to put names back on the jersey.
I totally get some teams don't want to put names on the jersey because they play as a team. Win and loose as a team.
I heard that TC said the names did not arrive on time for the season opener. OK, now it's Week 4 (or Week3 depends if you count 1 as 0). Plenty ladies in Hawaii I know can sew.
“WELCOME HOME COACH”
