Last week, an executive in personnel for another National Football League team offered this frank assessment of the Green Bay Packers' new 3-4 defense. "What they need to play this defense is a right outside linebacker," the personnel man said. "They drafted (Clay) Matthews. They need him to be a first-round pick for this thing to work. Otherwise, it's ugly. And Matthews is questionable right now." On Sunday, Matthews was the ferocious edge rusher and dynamic overall player that the Packers envisioned in a 26-0 victory over the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Making his first start in the base defense, Matthews had two sacks, five tackles (three for loss) and assorted pressures in a performance that thrilled his coaches and teammates. "He can play physically and he can also finesse, which is what you want," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "He took the ball off Adrian Peterson and ran it in for a touchdown (vs. the Vikings) and gave us good pressure today. He's given us a playmaker." Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
