Packers linebacker Clay Matthews stops the Patriots’ Brandon Bolden for a one-yard loss Sunday. The Pack has been doing better against the run in recent weeks. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Green Bay — Clay Matthews probably never thought of himself as a chicken or an egg, but if you were to break down the improvement of the Green Bay Packers run defense since the bye week you'd be inclined to assess him in such a manner.

Did the defense start shutting down opposing runners because Matthews moved to inside linebacker (chicken) or did Matthews take flight inside because the defense rallied around old man Julius Peppers and finally began fulfilling its potential (egg)?

The snap answer is that Matthews' move inside and the adjustments defensive coordinator Dom Capers made to the scheme have made all the difference. But ask Packers players and they'll say the defense was dead set on barricading the door opponents were bursting through in alarming numbers prior to the bye.

"It could be argued," linebacker Sam Barrington, a surprise starter last week, said of Matthews being the sole reason for the improvement. "But I think we all just looked at ourselves as a defense and said we need to do better, and we have."

This much is certain: the run defense has improved and Matthews' tackles, quarterback hits and sacks have all gone up since he moved inside.

The starkest change is in a reduction in long runs. In the first eight games, the Packers gave up 30 runs of 10 yards or more (3.75 per game), including six of 20 or more. Since the bye week, after which Matthews moved inside, the Packers have allowed nine runs of 10 yards or more (2.25 per game), none longer than 13 yards.

To understand how bad the run defense was before the bye, the Packers have only moved four spots (28th) in the league rankings despite averaging 90 yards rushing allowed the last four games.

There are incalculable factors in the turnaround such as the big, first-half leads the Packers jumped out to against Chicago and Philadelphia, which effectively rendered the opponent's run games meaningless, and the absence of Minnesota's top runner, Matt Asiata, due to a concussion.

New England, however, had run for 246 yards two weeks earlier against Indianapolis and yet managed a modest 84 yards on 16 carries. The Patriots didn't run much, but it's not because they were hopelessly behind. Coach Bill Belichick chose to attack the Packers through the air.

"Of course, I think Clay has helped us," Barrington said. "He's a great player. He would help us anywhere no matter where he played, in my opinion."

But players say it would be shortchanging the defense as a whole to say his move was the sole factor.

Still, a look at the runs in which Matthews was in the middle shows an undeniable trend toward the better for the Packers. Of the times he was an inside linebacker in the nickel package Capers started playing an overwhelming amount of the time after the bye, the opposition has averaged roughly 3.6 yards per carry.

That's well below the 4.8 yards opponents were averaging before the bye.

If you take out the runs in which Matthews walked up from his inside position to either end of the defensive line, leaving A.J. Hawk or Barrington in the middle, the average drops to 3.35.

In the four games since moving, Matthews has almost doubled his number of tackles (27 to 52), has two sacks (41/2 for the season), two passes broken up (six) and three quarterback knockdowns (seven). His number of pass rushes has decreased considerably, but the team's number of sacks per game has stayed about the same.

"I think he's been doing great," defensive tackle Letroy Guion said. "He brings a different attitude back there. He's a different kind of player as far as how offensive linemen have to block him differently. To me, he's been a great (addition) to linebacker."

One of the things Guion has noticed about having Matthews in the middle is that offensive linemen want to get to him in a hurry to make sure he gets blocked. Matthews plays fast and while there are times he's shot gaps and missed the tackle, if he gets a step on a blocker he's going to be in on the action.

The big guys upfront often have to protect Matthews by occupying two blockers if they can, but he also helps them get one-on-one blocks they weren't necessarily getting before.

"They can't hold the double-teams as long because he's moving so fast," Guion said of offensive linemen. "You have to be a bang-bang get-off instead of holding the double-team for two or three seconds, then try to (get) up to him.

"When it's like that it can confuse offensive linemen, and it gives us defensive linemen an edge."

As undeniable as Matthews' contribution has been, teammates point to a change in attitude upon returning from the bye. Peppers made an impassioned speech to his teammates about not letting the first half of the season hold a permanent place in their psyche.

He told them to treat each game like it was the only one they'll play this season.

"The first part of the season our team was trying to find our identity and the second half we're playing with each other better," defensive end Josh Boyd said. "I guess (we took the) attitude you get tired of letting your teammate down."

Guion said there is a comfort level the defense has reached with itself and that parts are now fitting together better. The Packers still rank 25th in yards allowed, but in the most important category, scoring, they rank 15th.

The Matthews move was drastic, but Boyd said it was just part of a bigger picture.

"I guess the change helped us a lot, but I think it's more of the scheme and what Dom has put together for us, because there are a lot of things into it," Boyd said.

"I think it's a big help, but I think there's more to it than that. I think it's been more of a whole group effort."

The final four games of the regular season may not give the Packers a good picture of how their run defense will stand up against top running teams like Seattle and Dallas should they meet them in the playoffs. Atlanta ranks 25th in rushing, Buffalo is 24th, Tampa Bay is 29th and Detroit is 30th.

So, no matter what happens in the final month of the season, there will be many people who remain uncertain about the validity of the Packers' run defense. It may be that the real test doesn't come until the playoffs.

That's when the Matthews move will truly be judged.