The Claymaker left the building a while ago. MM has always been slow to embrace the obvious so I expect to see Clay manning the outside linebacker position going forward. Hoping Pettine can convince MM to move him.

Who is he? An aging player on the decline.
Players want the big $. Once they get it, they better continue to produce or the wolves start howling.

(That is, when they’re not already busy drinking a piña colada at Trader Vic’s, or checking to see if their hair is perfect.)

"Let’s face it, Green Bay’s linebackers aren’t that good."

Thought this article was about Clay? He deserves it. Perry; however, had a pretty good game. And made the game winning sack. And caused the game winning fumble.

Sure he's a walking injury bag, but he's pretty good when he plays, imo

Linebackers are not that good? Well if you are talking OLBs maybe—we have discussed that group’s issues ad nauseam in the off season.

The truth is, Perry was clearly on a restricted snap count and his stats when on the field are impressive. Gilbert looked pretty good to me as well. The OLB problem is depth. I will come back to Matthews in a moment.

As to ILB, we mostly only played Martinez plus DBs. Two key pieces that I would have expected to play a lot were absent: Burks and Jones. Toomer and Crawford only played special teams. It remains to be seen if either has something to offer on D going forward once they know the scheme.

Matthews just got a wake up call. He has has a tendency over his career to seemingly buy into his own hype and have poor games. In his younger days, natural ability often helped to cover over his lack of focus.

Now he has to work smarter? Can he? My view is that he has demonstrated an ability to regularly make smart plays as well as to freelance. He and the coaches need to take this as a chastening moment and he needs to come back and play with focus.

This is a contract year. He knows he needs to justify his next contract (here or elsewhere). This should serve as a caution. It is up to him. If he does I think he can be a valuable cog. If he does not he will be a liability.

I still believe that we need reinforcements at this position. Matthews needs to be the moving piece and we need a number 3 pure outside rusher to spell Gilbert and Perry.

Maybe Donnerson emerges on the PS during the season, but we can’t wait. Fackrell is emergency depth only. Hopefully we can bring in an adequate OLB to slot in above Fackrell from the few remaining in the coming days.

Injury may have prompted it, but I think we saw that Davis’ roster spot is a luxury. If there is no outside help, I would cut Davis and promote Donnerson and use him as a pure rusher in passing situations. As of today, raw though he is, I believe that he would improve the threat on the outside.

While most will pile on Mathews for having a really bad game and making a dumb play at the end which could have cost them the game, the problem isn't Mathews.

The problem is they have Perry, Gilbert and Mathews and that is it.

They need to add an OLB. Fackrell played 4 defensive snaps. One of those snaps he didn't set the edge, got pushed back inside allowing Howard to cut back and run right where Fackrell should have been for a big gain. They have to find an upgrade over Fackrell. They need guys to be able to rotate.

I'm all for moving Mathews to ILB more often. Or simply having him moving around and blitzing/rushing from ILB. The problem is they don't have enough bodies to play OLB. Unless they change the scheme more. Which they may do. Maybe they go with more 3 and 4 DL with 1 OLB. Either way, they need more help at OLB.

I don't think Mack was the answer having to give up those picks.
Clay will play better, but is in decline. Green Bay had to fix their DBs before the edge guys. Biegel didn't work out but Donnerson has potential. The difference between past years I believe is the line. Strong and young...good combo and if they progress this year will cover for weak edge guys....for a while just not forever.

The only alternative to CM3 is Gilbert. Use that up and what have you got? No alternative to CM3 when Perry inevitably gets hurt. The truth is, the Packers are two (highly likely) injured OLBs away from not being able to field a pair of respectable NFL OLBs.

The good news is that Mike Pettine gets pressure without OLBs. At least that is what everyone kept saying during the off-season. The bad news is that there were numerous running plays where no one was setting the edge against the Bears. Last year we said, "Yeah, but he is still great against the run." Not any more.

I was begging for Matthews to be cut all off-season (and took my usual beating for it), but I think this article is putting too much on one game.

Was he awful? Sure. Will he be that awful against Minnesota? Doubtful.

I strongly agree we need to release someone and activate Donnerson immediately. Just send this kid on passing downs. Blitz Jones, too--a lot.

It wasn't just Matthews. The overall lack of LB speed compared to other defenses was striking. Perry sets a great edge and can close well when disengaged, but he's not a "burst" guy. Same with Gilbert, to a lesser degree. Clay is near the end. Missing Burks and Jones inside robbed all speed from that group as well.

Cut someone, activate Donnerson, blitz Jones, unleash Burks--see the pattern here? We need to rush some new speed out on the field pronto.

My two cents - Clay is still pretty fast, he just can't rip out of his blocks. He would much better serve the team inside. We were gashed for too many yards on runs up the middle and he would help bring some size inside for that.

Outside, Gilbert should start. Adams needs to play more and I bet he could play on the edge if given the chance. He has a super first step. If Fackrell isn't going to play any outside snaps he needs to go, Donnerson to take his place.

The problem I see game after game is that outside of Perry and Gilbert, we have no power at OLB. Might as well add another down lineman than watch Clay get locked down over and over.

Has anyone else ever noticed that Matthews often launches himself at the ball carrier's head instead of using proper tackling technique? It's why he often whiffs on tackles, not to mention the fact that it's dangerous. I've always wondered why his coaches haven't corrected that.

Need more talent to rectify the linebacker deficiency and I am not seeing it on this team. Maybe Oren Burks or Josh Jones or Donnerson can provide some relief but these are high hopes at best. We run a 3-4 where talent at linebacker is critical and yet we are struggling to get enough talent on the field.

I suggest that we find another stud Dlineman and make the DL our strength. We are closer to making this work than finding two good linebackers to make the current scheme viable.

Matthews could've had two sacks during that game. In one instance He simply whiffed on the tackle and on the other he was unable to get a hold of Mitch Trubisky's jersey!

Hey I have a question, just when is McCarthys QB guru status going to show itself? I know it's early with Kizer, but come on now. When are we going to have a QB besides Rogers that looks like he has played football before?

Mathews is the packers fastest LB. He gave up his position for Perry. Who isn't any better! Perry's bull rush is why they moved him. Seniority should have rights. But CMIII is still a team player. He's not peppers and neither is Perry. They must go to a 7 man front like the eagles. Then they'll be that guy we always wanted. Get off his back. ( WE still need CMIII. ) And you can't trade either of them. Look for the packers to draft that Mack type player. CMIII will make more money and return to his glory years with the right scheme. It's no longer with the packers as long as they have Perry. I remember some bone head plays Nick Barnett made before he left. MCIII knows the writing is on the wall. So did Barnett. MCIII still has that strong will. The more the players get pushed out the door, the more will be in a rebuild. There just aren't enough Elite players in the NFL. The NFL can defense any player now. The packers need to change their front. Put Perry back on the Line and let CMIII play behind him. Perry still makes mistakes too. The RTs are dominating the packers defense.

Clay Matthews III is son of Leslie Matthews & Clay Matthews Jr., husband of Casey Matthews (born Noble) and father of Madeline Joy Matthews & William Clay Matthews IV!

I think I was detailed!

My question wasn't relevant. Removed.

Stop being stubborn Guty. Give Brian Robinson a call. He can set edge and give us pass rush options. From the inside and outside. As long as we dont try to make him a hybrid Standing up OLB. We need to pick him up ASAP anyway. He might can give us insider information on the Vikings Defensive calls.

Watching Monday night countdown, Steve Young made an interesting comment. He said September is the pre season for the NFL now. Even Belichick said we'll know what we have after game 3. All eyes are on CM, he is supposed to be a leader and his play should set an example for the younger guys. This where AR comes in, he has the right to call out anyone on the team. Don't do it publically, but he can let someone like Clay know he has to shit or get off the pot. We are stuck with him for this year, but if he doesn't play like a true starter, this will be his last hoorah in GB.

Any body heard of T J Watt? OR Kahlil Mack?

Don't worry about Matthews play...he'll be hair flipping with a hammy soon enough.Should have dumped him last year. Perry made a play and I applaud, as it was finally a game changer. However, don't get used to it, his disappearing act will be seen again soon in a game where appearance matters.

What's the old saying? "You're only as good as your last game?"

Doesn't ring well for CMIII, but we all know he was better than what he showed Sunday last season. Same was true for James Starks in 2016: he was serviceable as a fill-in for Lacy in 2015 and his return made good sense. He dropped off a cliff in a heartbeat and was just plain lousy. I think CMIII is still an incredible athlete: I'm not saying that I think he's dropped off that much at this point, but you can't help but wonder when it starts. I can't help but wonder if a new scheme is emphasizing his warts as he tries to get comfortable in it.

Matthews is saving his hamstrings or else he’s lost whatever moves he ever had. We’re stuck with him. I still don’t know who he is. Too bad he got the Super Bowl ring when he was young. That media attention spoiled his ass.
His blond warrior locks and build gave him product endorsements that he milks to this day despite having not done anything very exciting since his “...it’s time!” moment in the SB.

Are we going to remove Blake Martinez, a young ascending player who led the NFL in tackles last year, AND are we going to make Kyler Freakin' Fackrell an active member of the OLB rotation so that we can move Clay Matthews to ILB?

"Hell, no."

Are we going to remove our only viable options as coverage linebackers - namely Oren Burks or a hybrid/Josh Jones sort of guy, AND are we going to make Kyler Freakin' Fackrell an active member of the OLB rotation, so that we can move Clay Matthews to ILB?

Again, "Hell, no."

I'm going to swim upstream on the Matthews thinking against the Vikes! I believe Matthews will have at least two sacks and possibly an interception! I also believe he will be moved around to try and find the gaps for blitzing. I truly believe stars rise to the top when pressure and controversy are in the room. Hey, with as many concussions as he's had over the years flying around, I understand, and didn't like, his terrible decision to launch himself late on Trubisky. I believe he learned from it and that will make him a better player and teammate moving forward! Go Pack!

Go look at some college highlights of James Crawford on the edge. I would like to see them give him a shot outside a few plays over Fackrell.

About CM3: should be cut.
Slow is an understatement. Strong? He is manhandled by TEs and running backs. Falls to the ground every 5 snaps. The only people he scares are the green bay fans because he's that horrible...
Let Pettine do something else with that D. Every OLB in college would be more productive than him.
Should have been cut 2 years ago... Which is indicative of poor management. Hoodie would have cut him 3 years ago. Never overpay declining players. It's a golden rule... Cut him now. He's done

Players of Mathews' caliber know when they have played a shitty game, no excuses. Expect an inspired game out of him before the home crowd to atone for the abysmal performance. Hopefully, the return of Burkes and Jones will pick up his game.

Overreaction to 1 terrible game. Sorry.

Clay isnt 2010 Clay Matthews but he isnt 1 better right now than Kyler Fackrell bad either as per PFF week 1 rankings. Kinda like how Blake Martinez was their top coverage LB comin out into that years draft also.

We need Clay Matthews this season like it or not, and he is going to make his plays. They may be fewer and further between, but he is going to make his plays. The whole Al Jeezera theory is total bullshit also. Lets not even utter those words again or reference that terrorist organization, ay?

Oren Burks is coming. And he's going to kill everything. Reggie Gilbert is going to get better and better. Injuries could be catastrophic. Cross that bridge when we come to it. John Simon would be a nice addition.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, we have our scapegoat for the week! Bears fans obviously think it's a bad hit and Packers fans who were mostly anti-Clay going into the week also think it was a bad hit. My argument is that what Clay did was perfectly legal. The arm hits the back, not the helmet, and he's pulling off anyways so it's not forcible contact even if he hit the head. He's also within one step so it's not late. So we have a hit within one step to the back while he's pulling off. That should not be called, especially on a 4th Down. Gotta love the argument how Matthews was invisible, but on the play the author is complaining about it's Matthews getting the pressure on a 4th Down that would've ended the game had the flag not wrongfully been thrown.

And since I'm going to get the downvotes anyways, I my as well just say how shitty this article is. It's obviously just an emotionally whiny article because the author wanted Mack and didn't get him. So now, the author is trying to claim after one week we have proof Matthews can't be an effective starting OLB. We'll just ignore that most of Mack's impact came in the first half and when Deshone Kizer was in. Oh, and btw, the Packers won. Mack wasn't the difference in the game.