Lingering Doubt with Matthews' Hamstring, but Depth Ready to Answer the call

If you were to say back in July that Nick Perry would be out-playing Clay Matthews during the first half of the season, not very many people would've taken you seriously.

In fact, you may have been offered a full-ride "scholarship" to the nearest mental asylum. But here we are at the butt of October and consequently of Perry churning the gears to a fast start, the aforementioned scenario is absolutely true.

It may be because of the domineering display Perry has shown that the Packers shouldn't rush Matthews back into action from a hamstring injury. Especially due to the simple fact that a similar hamstring injury sidelined him for the team's home-opener against the Lions a month ago.

"We're just being smart," Matthews told reporters after Thursday's practice. "Cautious. Especially with this 10-game run in which we have. You'd hate for something to happen and be out several weeks. We're trying to be smart in that regard."

Keeping Matthews rested for the slate of nine straight games after the Packers face the Falcons this weekend can be vital. But the depth behind Matthews at outside linebacker somewhat deteriorates any — if not all — hesitation behind this idea. Between Julius Peppers, Kyler Fackrell, Jayrone Elliott, Datone Jones and Perry, a multitude of packages can be formatted to include this grouping in the front seven. The success the defensive front has shown in stopping the run in 2016 certainly helps their case for an extended snap count.

If Matthews were to miss the showdown in Atlanta, a heightened snap count is exactly what Peppers, Elliott and co. would see. 

Fackrell has only seen an average of 13.6 snaps per game this season. But, coincidentally, the two games where he recorded his highest snap totals are the two games where he recorded his first two career sacks. Matthew Stafford the victim of one and Eli Manning the other. He also has a forced fumble to add to that repertoire.

The Packers' third round selection was lassoed to Green Bay in an attempt to begin the maturation process behind Peppers, who is likely playing in his final season. 

Peppers has been on a pitch count of his own, having played over 30 snaps in a game twice this season. The result of the 36-year old winding down a 15-year NFL career and now, proving as the voice of wisdom in the locker room to younger edge-rushers.

After an impressive start to the 2015 campaign, Elliott, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen during the first couple games this season due to a hamstring suffered in the third preseason game. Unfortunately, even after he was cleared to begin his season against the Lions, that didn't change. He was nowhere to be found. Elliott's role on the defense has often displayed him on the opposite edge of the line of scrimmage with Fackrell pairing the other end. Outside of those packages, he's exclusively been a prime special teams contributor. 

Outside of Perry and Matthews, Jones has been another focal point of the outside linebacking corps. The "elephant" man, as some would call him, has played the most snaps of any edge-rusher not named "Nick Perry" or "Clay Matthews" this season. While a box score won't show the impact he's had in games as he's vacant on the stat sheet, any of the six quarterbacks the Packers have faced so far will say otherwise. Jones has thrived in his hybrid role as a defensive end and outside linebacker, changing with the fast times in the NFL where hybrid players are becoming a sudden trend.

Slightly undersized for a defensive lineman, slightly oversized for a linebacker, Jones has shown he's more than capable of putting pressure on the opposing signal-caller. Being able to do so heading into the Georgia Dome will be too crucial for words, as the Packers will be playing without three of their top cornerbacks once again.

The platoon behind Matthews is capable at playing at a high level, but with the right amount of designated snaps. Repetition will help build experience and familiarity. Moreover, with Julio Jones on deck and an angry Falcons team that has lost two straight games after a fast 4-1 start, there hasn't been a time so far this season where the pass rush will be paramount.

"A lot of that stems from the pressure we can create as well as stopping the run... It's really about stopping Julio (Jones) and everyone they have oever there, which is difficult."

In an eight year career, the one sack Matthews has tallied against the Falcons is his lowest total against any team he's faced more than three times.

"It puts a little more pressure on us to get after the quarterback, make him uncomfortable, be a little disruptive... But, easier said than done."

__________________________

Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (13)

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al bundy's picture

October 28, 2016 at 11:07 pm

Hey the guy's best year was when Cullen Jenkins was chasing QB's into Mathews arms, thank you very much. SB year. Since then he has been OK, not super star dom like pack fans think he is.

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TarynsEyes's picture

October 29, 2016 at 10:13 am

I'm on the record here saying Matthews was over rated and over paid his last contract. He, like many others looks incredible at times but is more average most if the time. He is invisible too often and his success comes more and more from misdirection use, which teams adjust to and not from his true (original) outsude rush ability which falsely has him rated as top 5. I must add that it is troubling when Nick Perry seems more able than him and Perry is far from the #1 selection many hoped, but this is a game where Perry needs to play above his moments of recent to be regarded as a solid B rated player.

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al bundy's picture

October 28, 2016 at 11:04 pm

Gee what a shock: a so so marginal player, lighting it up in his contract year. Ted should use his prowness and game as trade bait. Thank you for doing nothing for 3 of the 4 years, now its time to say good bye.

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NickPerry's picture

October 29, 2016 at 05:38 am

The only shock as far as I'm concerned is you're still allowed to post here. Obviously not a Packers fan but a "Vikings Troll", you come here to spew nonsense about our boys in Green and Gold.

You seem to be a very unhappy person based on your comments always searching for something negative instead of positive. You've made 291 comments made so far and IMO have never said one thing worthwhile or with substance. Don't you think it's time to say good bye yourself? Normally I feel sorry for people like you. I find it hard to even look at the Vikings, Bears, or Lions Fan Sites let alone make 291 comments. Get a life "al bundy", leave us to our marginal, fat, and overrated players and team, we love them no matter what!!

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dobber's picture

October 29, 2016 at 06:04 am

The flaw in your logic on Perry was that LAST YEAR was a contract year as well...

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NickPerry's picture

October 29, 2016 at 07:16 am

Some people just don't get it!

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rdent's picture

October 29, 2016 at 09:22 am

Ya, wasn't there a 5th year option?

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Hematite's picture

October 29, 2016 at 07:15 am

Matthews isn't really giving the Packers their moneys worth at this point in time anyway.
Rest him and his perennial hamstring injury now so he can perhaps be a factor during the stretch run.

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NickPerry's picture

October 29, 2016 at 07:21 am

I still feel Matthews is best when moved around. It wasn't a coincidence in 2014 when they moved him inside he had 8 or 9 sacks his last 8 games. He's best when the opposing offense doesn't know where he's going to come from. Maybe slamming him into those athletic LT around the league play after play and the offense knowing that's where he'll be coming from isn't the best use of his talents.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 29, 2016 at 10:52 am

We do have depth behind CM3, but really only Fackrell is the same type of OLB: the others are elephant ends. Only CM3 can rush, set an edge, and drop into coverage, all at a high level (Fackrell should be able to do all three given time). If we have Datone and Perry at OLB, neither is likely to drop into coverage, and neither is good at it. Same for Peppers. Having those combinations on the field tells the opposing team things about the defensive scheme we plan to run on a particular play.

This comment is not about whether CM3 is overrated - I have him as a Red or Red minus player at this point. But I absolutely feel that he is the most well-rounded OLB on the roster.

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Crackerpacker's picture

October 29, 2016 at 11:41 am

CM3 has all the physical ability and talent you could ever wish for, But the other teams have worked out how to stop him, And he hasn't been able to make any adjustments since K Greene left.

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Lphill's picture

October 29, 2016 at 02:51 pm

Clay makes great commercials in fact he must hold the record for most commercials , he is still a threat and like someone said earlier he is at his best when moved around, Quarterbacks are always concerned about him, he gets in their heads and that is a good thing.

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Bearmeat's picture

October 29, 2016 at 03:25 pm

Honestly, this doesn't worry me all that much. CM3 is a good, not great player. He's overpaid. I really think he probably was on roids and stopped once he got his big contract. Remember how good he was in 09-11???

Regardless, we have the depth at OLB to deal with this issue. CB is what I'm worried about.

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