By Jason Wilde
Channel3000.com's Packer Insider from ESPN Madison

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Clay Matthews is only beginning his second year in the NFL, but he learned enough from his dad and grandpa – both of whom played in the NFL – to know this about the preseason:

“It doesn’t mean anything. That’s the great thing,” the Green Bay Packers outside linebacker said Monday after practicing for the first time in a month. “Now’s when it really starts. This is it, this is what we all strive for and shoot for – winning these games, getting to the playoffs and hopefully making a Super Bowl run. Now’s when it really matters.”

And the Packers defense can only hope that, as the meaningless preseason gives way to the meaningful regular-season opener at Philadelphia on Sunday, it won’t mean anything that their preferred 11 defensive starters didn’t take a single preseason snap together.

The Packers had the NFL’s second-ranked defense last season, ranking No. 1 against the run and No. 5 against the pass. But Matthews, who played in the Pro Bowl after recording 10 sacks as a rookie, missed all four exhibition games with a pulled left hamstring suffered during the annual Family Night Scrimmage Aug. 7. The other starting outside linebacker, Brad Jones, missed the final three exhibition games with a shoulder injury, while starting defensive end Cullen Jenkins missed the final two preseason games with a strained calf.

When the players returned to practice at Clarke Hinkle Field on Monday after having Friday, Saturday and Sunday off, it marked the first time all 11 defensive starters worked together since the scrimmage.

Matthews and Jones participated in all aspects of practice – coach Mike McCarthy said they were “full-tilt” – while Jenkins took part in the jog-through portion at the start of practice before going inside the Don Hutson Center with the injury rehabilitation group.

If anyone was worried about whether the defense could flip the switch in time for the Eagles, they weren’t saying so Monday. McCarthy made it clear that he would hold nothing back in terms of game-planning – “We will not play with any restrictions as far as volume or creativity,” he said – and his players didn’t sound concerned, either.

“You know what? We don’t have time to worry about that. We have no choice but go out there and work with whoever’s going to be out there on Sunday,” said cornerback Charles Woodson, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. “We just have to go get it done. That’s the only way to look at it.”

Added Jenkins, whom McCarthy expects to be cleared for full practice on Wednesday or Thursday: “As far as playing together, you’d definitely like to have more time out there playing with each other to be able to feel each other out, but when it comes down to it, it’s still football, and we all know how to play it. We just have to go out there and do what we’re supposed to do.”

There are complicating factors, though, because Matthews, Jones and Jenkins are directly involved in one of the few changes defensive coordinator Dom Capers made during training camp: Switching Matthews, who spent all of last season at right outside linebacker, to the left side, while moving Jones, who started the final eight games (including playoffs) of last season on the left side, to the right. Jenkins, as the right defensive end, worked on the same side as Matthews all of last year but now will be working in concert with Jones.

“I think we’ll be fine. If anything, we’ll be fresh,” Matthews said. “I know I felt great out there today as far as my conditioning and my overall physical well-being. … If anything, (being out with an injury) makes you a better player when you can sit back and reflect on the game and see what you maybe don’t see when you’re in there.

“We know what we need to do. We’ve got a great coach and we’ve got great expectations on our shoulders. I don’t think there’s going to be a drop-off. I think you’re going to see the same thing we did last year — shutting down the run, making them throw the ball and hopefully getting after the quarterback a little bit more.”

Jones, who is wearing a protective harness on his shoulder, dismissed the suggestion that the position flip-flop with Matthews would be an issue, but McCarthy acknowledged that the move isn’t a simple one.

“I don’t think anything is simple anytime you change positions. There is a difference; there is no denying that,” McCarthy said.

But McCarthy also said the move should give Matthews more pass-rushing opportunities. By playing on the left side, he’ll face lesser offensive linemen – an opponent’s right tackle usually is a lesser player than its left tackle – and will also be separated from Jenkins, the Packers’ best rusher among the defensive linemen.

That should decrease the number of double teams Matthews will see, since offenses will have to protect against Jenkins on one side and Matthews on the other.

“(Matthews) is going to have opportunities over there that he may or may not have had on the other side,” McCarthy said. “Scheme is designed to put the player in a one-on-one situation and the player’s responsibility is to win the one-on-one situation. Whether it is right side or left side, we’ll continue to give him the work.

“Clay is a gifted young man. He brings a lot to the table in terms of his physical gifts and the way he plays the game, so I am fully confident he’ll be very productive over there.”

Matthews, who said he felt “great” physically but admitted that “mentally, I’ve got to catch up,” said the week of work he got on the left side early in camp was enough to get him comfortable with the position. He said the most significant difference working on the left side is seeing how pass routes unfold and slight differences in setting the edge against the run.

“We played together last year and know where everybody’s going to fit,” Matthews said. “I think we’ll be all right.”