Clay Matthews' Move to ILB Gives Packers Defense Spark It Needs in NFC Race

In need of a spark on defense, the Green Bay Packers made the decision to spend the team's bye week deceptively teaching Clay Matthews—the club's prized $66 million pass-rusher—the ins and outs of playing the rigorous and far less glamorous position of inside linebacker. 

While only one game into the experiment, it appears the Packers might have found a clever solution to what has ailed the defense in so many big games in recent seasons.

Defensive coordinator Dom Capers has struggled at times adapting to and handling offenses with mobile quarterbacks and strong running games. Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers have knocked the Packers out of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, while rematches with the Seattle Seahawks (rushed for 207 yards in Week 1) and New Orleans Saints (193 yards in Week 8) could loom come January.

A primary reason for those struggles has centered on Green Bay's lack of playmaking talent at inside linebacker. Veteran A.J. Hawk is as steady as they come but rarely a difference-maker, while the revolving door of players next to him simply hasn't been effective enough for the Packers to become anything near a championship-level defense. 

Freed from the line of scrimmage to attack downhill and roam sideline-to-sideline, Matthews the inside linebacker might just be the antidote required to reshape the attack and even score with Green Bay's NFC rivals. 

The Packers unleashed the new look Sunday night, plugging Matthews inside on early downs and shifting him back to the edge for obvious passing situations. The result was a team-high 11 tackles, two stops for losses and a sack in Green Bay's 55-14 mauling of the Chicago Bears. 

"I was in great position to make a lot of plays tonight, and I think that’s ultimately the reason why we needed to make a few changes around here," Matthews told reporters. "This is what we wanted out of this change."

Matthews' fondness of activity, nonstop motor and unique athleticism should play well inside. He's an upgrade in all three areas over anyone else the Packers could plug in at the position. 

Green Bay held the Bears to just 55 rushing yards, although that number is somewhat misleading. Chicago ran just four times over the offense's first four possessions, and by the time Matt Forte was given any rhythm of touches, the game was already out of hand. Yet for a defense that has struggled so mightily stopping the run this season, any kind of improvement—tangible or otherwise—is welcomed. 

Matthews was at the heart of a few early run stops. 

On Chicago's third possession, Matthews athletically sidestepped Jermon Bushrod's second-level block and then laid a lick on Forte to finish off the play for no gain.

On the next series, Matthews held his run fit and dropped Forte in the hole after just three yards. When the Bears were forced into 3rd-and-long two plays later, the Packers shifted Matthews back to the edge in the dime personnel. He proceeded to make Bushrod look silly with an inside-out move before sacking Jay Cutler and forcing a Chicago punt. 

The shift provides Green Bay a chance to taste the best of both worlds: Matthews' athleticism and work rate in a playmaking position against the run and his proven talent rushing the quarterback in pressure-needy situations. 

	Points	Rushing Yards	Sacks	Turnovers
First 8 Games (Average)	23.9	153.5	2.3	1.9
Sunday vs. CHI*	14	55	4	3

Overall, the Packers defense tallied four sacks and forced three turnovers against Chicago. 

Earlier in the game, Matthews forced another punt when he pursued across the field from his inside linebacker spot to escort receiver Alshon Jeffery out of bounds short of the sticks. His sideline-to-sideline speed could become a huge asset against the likes of Kaepernick, Russell Wilson and other mobile quarterbacks.

Matthews has always been one of the best in the game in pursuit, but placing him in the middle of the field should provide better angles and more opportunities to chase down the swift-legged passers that have haunted Green Bay recently. 

Another benefit of the move is the obvious adherence to the "Best 11" theory. 

Placing Matthews inside takes a potential liability off the field and summons former first-round pick Nick Perry to the edge. In a situational role this season, Perry has delivered as both a pass-rusher and edge-setter. He's earned more snaps. Matthews playing inside makes Perry a de facto starter and increases the overall talent level in the early-down defense.  

"You want to get your playmakers on the field as much as possible," Matthews said. 

Yet the move doesn't come without risks. 

While Julius Peppers has added another talent to the edge, Matthews remains Green Bay's most disruptive member of the pass rush. Shifting him inside will take away rushing opportunities and put him in situations where he's dropping into coverage instead of attacking the quarterback.

According to the snap distribution numbers at Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Matthews rushed on 18 plays and was sent into coverage 20 times Sunday night against the Bears. Over the previous eight games, Matthews had been asked to cover just 32 times while rushing on 225 snaps. 

There is a risk-reward balance between getting more out of the inside linebacker position and sacrificing effectiveness in the pass rush. 

Then again, Matthews at inside linebacker does provide blitzing opportunities, such as the one below:

NFL Game Rewind

The Packers were in their nickel look, which is played on roughly two-thirds of Green Bay's defense snaps. Matthews lurked behind Peppers to the defense's left and then uncorked at the snap. The Packers ran a three-man stunt, with Peppers attacking to the inside, defensive end Mike Daniels powerfully engaging the right tackle and Matthews swinging in untouched behind the mayhem. 

The Bears ran an end around directly into the blitz, and Matthews immediately walloped the unsuspecting ball-carrier for a significant loss. Had the play been a pass, he likely would have delivered a sizable collision at the quarterback. 

In the second half, that scenario was realized: 

NFL Game Rewind

Again, the Packers were able to sneak Matthews from inside linebacker to alongside Peppers on the left side. Peppers took up the right tackle at the snap, leaving Matthews one-on-one with the tight end. He predictably won the matchup and then lassoed down Cutler, although a personal foul for striking the quarterback's head eliminated the sack from the box score.

Matthews wouldn't say if the switch will be permanent, and he admitted some reservation after receiving nothing more than a five-day "crash course" in learning the position. 

"It's just about being an athlete. The will and want to of getting to the ball," Matthews said. 

Five days on the job and Matthews was already Green Bay's best option to play next to Hawk. Unless the Packers' edge pass rush collapses in coming games, there's no reason to think about scrapping the idea.

Just two weeks ago, the Saints showed the world that the Packers still had serious problems on the defensive side of the football. Liabilities at inside linebacker once again represented one of the primary threats to Green Bay's chances of getting back over the hump in the NFC.  

Moving Matthews to the problem area doesn't come without risk, and it's too early to call the inside linebacker position solved. But the one-game results—in which Matthews was disruptive against the run, versatile in his overall usage and active from sideline to sideline—suggest the shift could give the Packers a better chance at competing against the big guns in the conference. 

Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2