Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings: Week 12 Keys to Victory
Oct 19, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) gets away from Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (52) to avoid a sack in the third quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
3. Stay the course with Clay Matthews.
Clay Matthews has spent two games seeing increased time as an Inside Linebacker in the Packers’ defensive scheme, and it is no coincidence that those were two of Green Bay’s most dominant defensive performances.
This schematic change will likely be tested this week, however, due to an injury to OLB Nick Perry. Perry, the former 1st Round Pick of the Packers, has been the main beneficiary of the available snaps at Outside Linebacker since Matthews moved inside. So far, Perry has looked strong.
Listed as Questionable with a shoulder injury, Perry has not practiced all week, and Green Bay may choose to take a cautious, long-term approach to the situation. Regardless of what Nick Perry does on Sunday, I don’t think that the plan with Clay Matthews should change.
Some have suggested that Matthews slide back outside until Perry is healthy, if he does miss time, but I see that as a step sideways. Mike Neal would be the next man up at OLB for the Packers, and although he is not elite, he has earned the opportunity.
Sliding Matthews back outside would result in one of Brad Jones, Sam Barrington or Jamari Lattimore seeing snaps at ILB on Sunday, and to me, that doesn’t cut it. This decision comes down to a simple choice between that unit and Mike Neal, and I choose Neal eleven times out of ten.
Replacements aside, this game could present a crucial opportunity for Clay Matthews to fine-tune his blitzing from the inside position, which could prove valuable come playoff time. Dating back to his days with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dom Capers is well known for his inside blitzes, and now he has the perfect toy to play with.
Matthews will surely line up at several linebacker positions on Sunday, much like he has the past two weeks, but I strongly feel Green Bay should use the “next man up” mentality, and hand Mike Neal more opportunities if Nick Perry is unable to go. Clay Matthews is an ILB for the remainder of 2014, and now is no time to waver from that plan.