The Green Bay Packers were without linebacker Clay Matthews again at Tuesday's training camp practice as he nurses a sore knee.  With Matthews out, the others fighting for a roster spot had another opportunity to benefit from increased snaps.  Head coach Mike McCarthy expected them to do just that and judging by his comments after practice, it doesn't sound like they made their coach proud.  McCarthy told his linebackers that they need to start making more plays.  After just a few padded practices, the coaching staff is already starting to form big opinions on who sticks on this year's final roster.

McCarthy did admit that they're still installing parts of the defense and that the learning curve is high for some of these younger players.  Still, he expects them to think less and just play.  Third year man Nate Palmer agreed with McCarthy, saying that even if it's just a few snaps in practice, it's up to each of them to make the most of those valuable reps.  Rookie Jake Ryan hasn't made any major headlines yet, after some hopes that he might jump up and grab more playing time to free up Matthews to get back outside.

The fallout of no one stepping into one of the newly vacated inside linebacker spots is Matthews having to spend more time inside.  It helped and produced results last year, but it's not the ideal scenario for a Packers defense that is looking to take a big step forward and get to a championship-caliber in 2015.  Andy Mulumba is reportedly having a good training camp so far as he returns to his outside linebacker position after recovering from ACL surgery last year.  That's good news as far as getting some production outside if Clay is inside.  But let's see how it all comes together in a preseason game.  A few padded practices isn't enough for the Packers to hang their hat on.

Inside linebacker was a position of need and high interest as the draft approached back in late April.  While Packers general manager Ted Thompson doesn't have a long history of drafting strictly for need, many saw the Packers addressing the hole in the middle after letting go of two starters from last year and moving their star defender out of position.  Fortunately, Matthews is a gamer and is never really out of position because he can play well inside or outside.  When Thompson didn't take a linebacker until round four, it became clear that he and the team felt that they had a plan to replace A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones.  

It's too soon to say that the plan in question is not working, but they aren't raising any eyebrows either.  This will continue to be an area that will get a lot of attention and have many eyes on it through the rest of the summer.  The Packers have solid starters and depth in so many areas and look to be strong contenders for a Super Bowl this season.  They cannot afford to allow a shortfall at a key defensive position to hold them back, especially when it was a known need going into the offseason.  This is a situation that will tell us a lot about the coaching staff and what they can do with the talent they have.  Winston Moss is now the sole linebackers coach and has been with the team for many seasons under McCarthy and this is partly his time to shine.  The rest is up to the guys wearing the jerseys.  When opportunity knocks, they must answer.