The Packers know that the best use of linebacker Clay Matthews is outside, allowing his pass-rush abilities to come to the fore.
But he also made enough of a difference after moving inside this year that he knows there’s probably more of that in his future.
“We had an exit interview at the end of the year where we get to talk to all the coaches on our way out, assess you, how your season was, the future of the team, the future of yourself,” Matthews said, via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We talked. Moving forward I see from not only our coach’s expectations, but my own expectations [are there] for playing inside.
“I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the change. At the same time, I’m very good at getting after the quarterback off the edge, so I think there’s a fine line. So, we’ll see. Week in and week out you never knew if I was going to be there 100 percent of the snaps or only 10. We’ll see what that means moving forward.
“I enjoy it [but] at the same time, I specialize at being a pass rusher and an outside linebacker.”
Around midseason, the Packers shifted him inside in sub packages, which meant plenty of snaps since the Packers are rarely in a “base” defense.
That helped them shore up a defense that was last in the league against the run at the time, which finished the year 15th in the league in total defense.
“It’s funny to watch the drastic play style of our defense Week 1 vs. the NFC Championship Game,” Matthews said. “Week 1, especially with the pass rush, we were just teeing off, just trying our best to get after Russell [Wilson] and he was able to scramble, leak out, let his receivers become uncovered and they put it on us, to go along with our game plan at that time.
“Now [in the championship game] we went out there with no regrets. We were going to go out there like we had against every other team, not be afraid or intimidated by any player or the crowd or whatever. I thought we had a great game plan in place, both offensively and defensively.”
Of course, their offseason game plan will likely dictate how many snaps he plays inside as well.
If the Packers hang onto Julius Peppers, it lessens the need to move him back outside full-time, as they’re deeper there. But they’ll need to bring in some reinforcements inside regardless, to give them options with Matthews.
