Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Packers still view Clay Matthews as an OLB

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Clay Matthews' future position may depend on what additions the Green Bay Packers make to their roster this offseason.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers moved Matthews to inside linebacker on a part-time basis halfway through this past season out of necessity -- because their run defense was last in the league through eight games -- and it worked. The Packers ranked in the top-10 against the run in the second half of the season, and Matthews still managed double-digit sacks (11) for the fourth time in six years.

While the role grew on Matthews, he made no secret about the fact that he preferred to play his natural outside linebacker position.

In November, during the early stages of the change, McCarthy said it would be a mistake to label Matthews an inside linebacker.

"He’s a football player," McCarthy said at the time.

On Wednesday, McCarthy was more specific.

"Clay's an outside linebacker," he said. "I think we all recognize that. But he was very productive in his role when he went inside. I think as we build our roster and go through the player acquisition phase, there will be more answers, hopefully more options and we'll see how it goes."

The Packers like what Sam Barrington gave them from the inside linebacker position late in the season, when he gained a more prominent role. Their other two primary inside linebackers, A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones, could be salary-cap cuts based on their high salaries and decline in production, so the Packers might need to make some key acquisitions in order to move Matthews back to outside linebacker on a full-time basis.

One other question lingered about Matthews: Why wasn't he on the field for the Packers' last two defensive series of the NFC Championship Game loss to the Seahawks?

Matthews returned for the lone series of overtime, but McCarthy did not have a clear explanation. It appeared Matthews may have sustained a blow to the head with less than 11 minutes remaining, when he broke up a pass intended for tight end Luke Willson. Matthews could be seen holding his head before he took himself out of the game.

"I don't know about a concussion," McCarthy said Wednesday. "I know he was being looked at there at the end. His knee. But he did have a couple collisions, and we may be talking about the same play. I saw it, and I actually walked towards him, because Jordy Nelson waved to me. I talked to Clay and he just said he needed a minute. Looking him in the eye and everything, I didn't see any reason for concern there.”

Later in the fourth quarter, Matthews appeared to be trying to get his legs loose on the sideline.

After the game, Matthews said: "It was a medley of things just catching up to me. Fortunately, I worked with the trainers a little bit during that last drive and was able to get back out there for overtime."

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