How Much Does Clay Matthews Have Left in the Tank? Going into the 2017-2018 season many believed that Clay Matthews best days were behind him.  The 2014 season saw Clay perform at a pro bowl level as an edge rusher and 2015 saw him perform at a pro bowl level at middle linebacker.  The 2016 [...]

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PackersTalk wrote:

I have always thought that Clay missed a tremendous opportunity to transform his career by becoming, potentially, an all-pro middle linebacker and potentially cementing himself as a Hall of Famer. It was amazing watching Clay’s natural instincts take over at the middle linebacker position and it was just as incredible to watch how much it helped the team. If he embraced the transition he would have had 6 elite years as a pass rusher and could have had another 6 elite years as a middle linebacker.

PackersTalk wrote:

Getting really tired of people making comments about "getting off the juice" s if "the juice" makes an immediate and sudden impact in someone's performance. Someone who claims to be of great football knowledge should really know how stupid comments like that make you look.

Originally Posted by: gbguy20 

The 2014 season saw Clay perform at a pro bowl level as an edge rusher and 2015 saw him perform at a pro bowl level at middle linebacker.

The 2016 campaign saw Clay play in only 12 games and accumulate a career low of 5 sacks.

I see folks saying Clay is so great at ILB and I can't say I've ever thought that. And I'm not sure what fans saying that are seeing. I haven't read a scout or anyone who watches film say he's garbage at OLB, put him at ILB where he's great!

Which makes me wonder. Are fans saying this about ILB "just because"?

I dunno. I think moving him around often helps a lot. I see him getting pressure from outside quite a bit. The season he had that shoulder injury he should have sat down. I think it was 2016. Players toiughness while playing through injuries often makes fans say they suck.

Guess what. You'd suck too at 70%.

That said, what's it say about coaches and depth to keep trotting injured guys out there?

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

CM3 was highly disruptive when he moved to ILB a few years ago. It was exciting to watch. Perhaps that was only due to it being a new thing, but I doubt it. I think his skill-set translates best as a roving ILB. That means he still rushes from the outside sometimes, and everywhere else, but his "primary" position in on the inside. He's not nearly as disruptive strictly as an OLB, even if he does get pressure here or there. He's also not "garbage" on the outside, but he's certainly not great, and I think he's leans towards average at the position.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower