| OL coach Bruce Matthews hopes to keep his nephew Clay (left) off QB Jake Locker on Sunday in Green Bay. (US Presswire) |
When the 2012 NFL schedule came out in April, the league created a holiday reunion of sorts for the Matthews family.
Sunday’s matchup between the Tennessee Titans and the Green Bay Packers will mark the first time Bruce Matthews will coach against his nephew Clay Matthews III since the former USC linebacker entered the league in 2009. Titans OL Kevin Matthews, Bruce’s son, was set to line up against his cousin before suffering a high-ankle sprain last week.
“He plays with passion,” said Bruce Matthews of his nephew. “It’s really fun to watch, and I’m very proud of him. I love to see him do well, just not this week.”
“With Kevin, it’s tearing at his gut to be injured. He was really looking forward to it.”
Competition is in the Matthews’ DNA, as the family members closely compare their stats on the field and engage in hotly contested backyard basketball games off it. During his Hall of Fame playing career, Bruce hated to lose to his brother Clay, the Packers’ Pro Bowl linebacker’s father. Bruce and Clay met 24 times during their respective careers, each getting 12 wins against their sibling. Bruce prevailed in their only playoff meeting, a 24-23 win by the Houston Oilers over the Cleveland Browns in 1988.
When asked if his nephew reminds him of any of the 3-4 rushers he faced in his career, Bruce instantly likened him to his father.
“They’re both from the jacked-up side of the Matthews family,” Bruce said with a laugh. “They both play with energy, great leverage and are very explosive.”
Last week, Matthews III had two sacks and four TFLs in his first game back since suffering a hamstring injury in mid-November. On both sacks, Matthews III executed a stunt up the middle to get to Bears QB Jay Cutler. If Mitch Petrus or Kyle DeVan start at left guard Sunday it will be the Titans’ third different starter at the position in their last four games.
The left side of the Titans’ line faces a daunting challenge against a rusher who already has 11 sacks in 10 games.
“They use him in a lot of interesting ways as far as rushing the passer, have him on the edge, stunt him and have him drop in coverage,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “He does a little bit of everything. He’s making plays that you wouldn’t think he’d make, even in the run game. He’s fitting that system very nicely for them.”
Bruce, who has six children besides Kevin, is unsure how many members of his family will be at Sunday’s game. Matthews III younger brother Casey, a linebacker with the Eagles, has 11 tackles this season. Bruce joked Thursday that the family doesn’t have plans to go out to dinner Saturday night unless Clay is paying.
“Clay is very proud of his family, and rightfully so,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “They’re a close family. I know his parents are out here quite a bit, so I’m sure he’s really looking forward to it.”
Petrus could start at LG: With Matthews likely out, OL Fernando Velasco will probably slide back to center. Velasco started the Titans' first 12 games at the position before moving to left guard earlier this month. Petrus and OL Kyle DeVan have split reps this week.
The Titans claimed Petrus off waivers from the Patriots on Dec. 5 after Steve Hutchinson went on IR. The Giants selected Petrus (6-3, 315), a former lineman from the University of Arkansas, in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. In three seasons, Petrus has appeared in 29 games, including three starts for the Giants. Munchak doesn’t think that Petrus will have any trouble with the Titans’ blocking schemes.
“It’s not real complicated, the team we’re playing it’s going to be a quick game,” Munchak said. “It’s going to be loud and all those things. As far as assignments, that shouldn’t be a big problem. The game is not too big for him by any means.”
Inclement weather in Green Bay and Nashville: While more than six inches of snow hit Green Bay on Thursday afternoon, the Titans were forced inside their practice bubble by winds that exceeded 40 miles per hour. The bubble swayed back and forth throughout warmups.
“I didn’t pay attention, you just don’t look up,” Munchak said. “During the walk through, I think some of the guys noticed it. This thing has held up really well, which has been good.”
The Packers may need up to 600 workers to clear the snow from Lambeau Field, the Associated Press reported. The team is reportedly hiring shovelers of 15 years of age or older at a rate of $10 an hour.
“We’re assuming it’s supposed to be close to 30 and sunny, but that could change,” Munchak said. “That field, they do a great job of keeping it in great condition. I don’t know that it will be much of a factor, unless we do get some rain or snow while we’re there.”
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Tennessee Titans, follow Matt Rybaltowski @CBSTitans.