The versatility of Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers should be an asset for the Packers’ defense. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Green Bay — The term "elephant end" meant something very different in the 1990s when it was a staple of Green Bay Packers coach Ray Rhodes' defensive system.

Today, it refers to a body type and skill set, the same kind Rhodes employed (Tony Bennett, Bryce Paup) when he introduced his defense in 1992. Rhodes ran a hybrid scheme that used four down linemen, one of which could put his hand down like a defensive end or stand up like an outside linebacker.

Now running the 3-4 scheme, the Packers have loaded up on that same body type Rhodes sought for "elephant" position.

Never in his five years as defensive coordinator has Dom Capers had as many "elephant" prototypes from which to anchor his 3-4. All of them are tall, fast and physically capable of carrying out assignments from multiple positions.

The challenge for Capers is to find different ways to use them and get the most out of those not named Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers.

"People say 'Why have you always liked the 3-4,'" Capers said. "Because basically you have four linebackers and any combination of those four linebackers can be pass rushers."

It all starts with Matthews, the four-time Pro Bowl linebacker who has established himself as one of the most versatile at his position in the NFL. He doesn't often put his hand on the ground as a defensive end, but he does line head up on tight ends and tackles and play the run as an end would.

He also has the ability to drop into coverage, which means if an offense overcompensates for his pass rush, it can create one-on-one matchups for other players. And he can rush the passer. He has averaged 10 sacks per year.

The most significant development at the "elephant" position was the addition of Peppers, a free agent who for the past four years has been a defensive end for the Chicago Bears. Part of the reason he signed a three-year, $26 million contract with the Packers was that he wanted to go back to playing linebacker in a 3-4 as he had done earlier in his career in Carolina.

Peppers, with 118½ career sacks, has worked all summer relearning how to drop into coverage and be a stand-up pass rusher. What intrigues Capers is that the 6-foot-6, 287-pound Peppers can be on the field every down and line up as an outside linebacker, a defensive end or a defensive tackle.

Capers can place Peppers and Matthews opposite each other at the two outside linebacker positions; he can shift Peppers to tackle and have Matthews line up next to him or he can position one or the other in the middle of the field and let the offense guess where he's going to rush.

He can do all of this without having to rotate players in and out. The success of this duo will depend on how much the 34-year-old Peppers has left in the tank and whether he can adapt to playing coverage.

"This is the first time Julius has done that," Capers said. "We've been very pleased with what we've seen of him doing it. When you look at guys (elephants), first you look at who has rush ability, who comes forward first and then the drop part of it you adjust off what their ability to do that (is)."

There are more than just Matthews and Peppers at this position.

Former defensive end Mike Neal has dropped roughly 35 pounds since he arrived and last year played more snaps at outside linebacker than anyone else on the team. The 6-3 Neal is another guy who has experience putting his hand on the ground, and he will do it as a tackle in the nickel package this season.

Having a third guy makes things intriguing because now Capers can keep all three in the game and make the offense guess whether Peppers and Neal are going to be linebackers or defensive linemen. All of that will be in addition to making sure they know where Matthews is.

In theory, it sounds great. In execution, there's no telling how long it will take for the entire defensive unit to adapt to whatever changes Capers makes this season. In talking about the opener in Seattle Thursday night, Capers made a point of saying he needed to keep things fairly simple because of how quickly the Seahawks get in and out of the huddle and get the ball snapped.

"It's going to be a high-tempo, a real, tough environment to play," Capers said. "Seattle feeds off of that. They're a high-tempo offense and they try to get their momentum going in their favor.

"That's why you have to make sure your guys are confident in what you're doing and can play fast and match their tempo."

Matthews, who has played most of the time without a dynamic pass rusher opposite him, is excited about the addition of Peppers and the development of Neal. In his ideal world, he'll see less of the double-teams he has encountered.

"When you put those type of guys in that front line, I think it presents some problems for the opposing (offense) as well as getting after the quarterback," Matthews said. "Even beyond that, you look at the type of guys in which we have this year as opposed to years past, it's — I wouldn't say smaller, but I would say it's a more active, faster, more aggressive D-line as well as linebacker group.

"So we feel good about (them)."

In addition to Matthews, Peppers and Neal, the Packers kept two other "elephant" types in 2012 first-round pick Nick Perry (6-3, 265) and second-year pro Andy Mulumba (6-3, 260).

Capers has to find a way to get something out of the athletic Perry, who was a defensive end in college and has struggled with injuries and the transition to linebacker. Perry is yet another guy Capers could use with his hand down or standing up, or he could just let him be fresh legs to rush the passer.

Mulumba also is a former defensive end and is raw, but he wound up playing nearly 300 snaps last year at the position and gained valuable experience. He had just one sack, so the jury is still out on what he can contribute.

Not satisfied with just five type "elephant" players, the Packers also kept 6-3, 255-pound undrafted rookie Jayrone Elliott, who was a pass-rushing demon during training camp. He will begin the transition process that Neal, Perry and Mulumba are still completing.

Coach Mike McCarthy has shown no concern about how his linebackers — or anyone else, for that matter — would play the run against power teams like the Seahawks. In fact, when he addressed that topic of why his defensive linemen no longer weigh 330 pounds, his answer reflected why he loaded up on the "elephant" position.

"I think you have to be honest with the fact that this game keeps getting more and more in space," McCarthy said. "Now it's in space and you can't grab a jersey. Team speed is important. The ability to run is more important than it's ever been.

"It's always been a determining factor if guys can play in this league and who can't play in this league. We've always looked for the best athlete that gives you the most flexibility to be a four-down player, (whatever the) position."

Now they've got more than they ever have at one critical position.