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GREEN BAY -- Packers' linebacker Clay Matthews knew he wouldn't be dragged into an unnecessary -- and, certainly, unwanted -- guessing game when he rejoined his teammates for the start of Green Bay's spring program in mid-April. Speaking to reporters for the first time this offseason, the team's defensive star said Thursday that he was told in his exit interview with coaches at the end of last season that he would be moving back to outside linebacker.
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"That was the plan moving forward," Matthews said. "I think they anticipated getting me back on the outside, which I said time and time again not only do I feel most comfortable at but they do as well.
"I'm not sure how that affected offseason transactions, but I was well aware of where I was going to line up once I came back here."
That welcomed news came after defensive coordinator Dom Capers, out of necessity because of personnel deficiencies, fiddled with Matthews as an inside linebacker the last 1 1/2 seasons.
Matthews still had opportunities to line up on the outside. However, his renowned pass-rushing production took a hit as he finished with 6 1/2 sacks -- a half sack more than his career low -- in a full regular season in 2015.
Head coach Mike McCarthy said in his season-ending news conference in January that the preference was to get Matthews back to his best position. McCarthy has been happy with the decision as the Packers' offseason workouts are reaching the end with one more week of organized team activities and then minicamp June 14-16.
"I don't really look at it as a transition," McCarthy said Thursday. "He's spent pretty much the majority of his time there, and he looks good."
Fellow veteran outside linebacker Julius Peppers concurred. Peppers is looking forward to forming a dynamic duo with Matthews again as the team's primary edge rushers.
"He's going to get back there where he can put more pressure on the quarterback," Peppers said. "I think it's going to help out the team in a lot of different ways."
By making the early commitment to go with Matthews at the position he flourished since his rookie season in 2009, McCarthy and Capers enabled general manager Ted Thompson to restock the depth at inside linebacker.
The team is waiting on Sam Barrington, a starter going into last season, to recover from a foot injury he sustained in Week 1 in September. Barrington is expected to be ready for training camp in late July.
In the interim, the coaches are getting a long look at second-year pro Jake Ryan and rookie Blake Martinez as the top linebackers in the middle of Green Bay's base 3-4 scheme. Ryan started the final seven games (including the playoffs) last season. The Packers selected Martinez, a playmaker in college at Stanford, in the fourth round of the April draft.
Matthews likes the potential of Martinez to contribute to the defense right away with the newcomer getting considerable first-team reps now that the veteran standout is out of the way.
"It's very difficult for a rookie to come in here and expect to start from Day 1," Matthews said. "(But) he's coming along. He's doing his best. Obviously, there's going to be some learning along the way, but he's proven that, for the most part, he's making the right calls and signals. I think it's a good thing for him."
