When the Los Angeles Rams first signed Clay Matthews, most of the discussion was about how he would help the team as an outside pass rusher.
The Rams often struggled to get pressure off the edge last year, and Matthews will definitely be a big help in that area. But that’s not the only thing he’s good for, and in Matthews’ introductory press conference Thursday, coach Sean McVay made it clear he’s going to move Matthews around on defense.
Responding to a question about where Matthews would play, McVay said Wade Phillips’ defense would be flexible, and that “our systems are always adapted to our players’ strengths.”
“When you have a player that has that versatile skillset, you can utilize him in a variety of ways,” he said of Matthews. While McVay said Matthews “obviously” plays at an “extremely high level” off the edge, he’s going to do a little bit of everything including playing on the inside.
McVay sounded excited about the effect Matthews’ presence will have on the other members of the Rams’ defense, saying “how you can get Aaron, Fowler and some of these guys in situations to take advantage of the matchups you can create with players like” Matthews, referring to Aaron Donald and Dante Fowler Jr.
Matthews himself said he expected his position to be “fluid” and that he’d fill a “variety of roles.” The Rams’ inside and outside linebackers struggled at times last season, so a guy like Matthews who can be a Swiss Army knife-type player in the linebacking corp is a invaluable asset.
Unfortunately we didn’t get to hear from Phillips at the presser, but he’s likely just as excited about what Matthews can bring to his defense. With Fowler Jr. back in the fold alongside Matthews, the Rams’ outside pass-rush should be much-improved next season.
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