Plenty of eyebrows were raised when the Los Angeles Chargers moved the second-year defensive lineman, Scott Matlock to full back. In most NFL locker rooms full-backs are as about as common as neck roll shoulder pads, but in a Jim Harbaugh it is essential.
They tried out several players at the position including a tight end before landing on Mattlock. The Chargers’ fullback and defensive lineman is the NFL’s only two-way player, appearing in 36% of the team’s offensive snaps, 19.7% on defense and 57.8% on special teams.
Scott Matlock Makes Chargers History
The Boise State alum was able to make history against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 27th. He was the first player in the last 10 years to record a sack and a reception in the same game. He recorded his sack in the second quarter, when he chased the Saints quarterback, Spencer Rattler, down for a six-yard loss. Matlock played just three snaps on defense. Late in the fourth quarter, he ran to the flat and Justin Herbert hit him for a nine-yard gain. That catch kicked off the Chargers’ final offensive drive and resulted in a touchdown.
He was also one of the team’s best-graded blockers by PFF.
JJ Watt was the last player to achieve such a feat. In 2014 against the Cleveland Browns Watt, caught a two-yard pass and sacked Brian Hoyer
Patrick Ricard of the Baltimore Ravens (another Harbaugh-led team) played two ways between 2017 and 2019, but never had a game with a sack. He racked up four tackles for loss in those seasons, but in those games wasn’t used as a receiver. Adam “PacMan” Jones recorded a sack in 2006, in the same game he had one carry, for one yard.
The rarity of this feat proves how unique and difficult it is to play at a high level, at the game’s highest level, on both offense and defense. According to his teammate and coach, it takes a combination of hard work and mental acuity;
“You gotta have the mental for that,” said defensive lineman Morgan Fox, who according to the LA Times, has not played offense and defense in the same game since possibly freshman year of high school. “That’s tough, just listening to half of the offensive play calls.”
“Scott has a lot on his plate and it’s amazing how he’s handling it,” offensive coordinator, Greg Roman said. “I can’t speak enough about how diligently he’s preparing, and he’s getting better every week. How impressive is that? He’s in offensive meetings early this morning, to defensive meetings to special teams meetings, back to the defensive meeting, back to the offensive walk-through. It’s a great testament to him.”
