The connection between Clay Matthews and the Los Angeles Rams was obvious immediately after he was released by the Packers. Being a veteran who wanted to play for a contender, and someone who spent the majority of his life in Southern California, Matthews saw an obvious fit with the Rams.
It was initially unclear if he’d be a pure pass rusher off the edge or more of a hybrid playing inside linebacker, but after OTAs and minicamp, it’s fairly obvious Matthews will be a 3-4 outside linebacker.
“They got me playing outside linebacker in a true 3-4 scheme, Wade Phillips defense. It’s very similar to what I was doing through the first nine years of my career out there in Green Bay with Dom Capers,” Matthews said on the Dan Patrick Show. “So I’m excited to be back working in that role. Rushing the passer, dropping into coverage, playing inside in running games on third down.”
Matthews is best suited as a pass-rushing linebacker rather than one who primarily plays inside. He has 83.5 career sacks for a reason. His sack totals were down in 2018 (only 3.5) because of his changed role, but he’s thrilled to be back outside as more of a true pass rusher.
He says the Rams are using him exactly how he’d like to be used.
“I think they’re using me the same way that I’ve been used pretty much for the entirety of my career,” he continued. “I was used a little bit differently last year with the defensive change we had out there in Green Bay. But I’m excited, they’re using me exactly how I feel I should be used and I think we’re all on the same page.”
Phillips knows how to maximize a player’s skill set and it shouldn’t be hard to do just that with Matthews. Line him up on the edge and let him go hunt the quarterback.
