Matthews: We're gonna hit QBs this year

After last season's frustrating divisional round loss to the 49ers, Packers LB Clay Matthews is claiming that his defense is ready to effectively stop read-options this year, by hitting the QB as hard as possible. Here's the quote from his appearance earlier today on ESPN:

"One of the things that the referees have told us is that when these quarterbacks carry out the fakes, they lose their right as a quarterback, a pocket-passing quarterback, the protection of a quarterback," Matthews said Monday on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike." "So with that, you do have to take your shots on the quarterback, and obviously they're too important to their offense. If that means they pull them out of that type of offense and make them run a traditional, drop-back, pocket-style offense, I think that's exactly what we're going for. So you want to put hits as early and often on the quarterback and make them uncomfortable."

In the end, the Packers defense will still be terrible this year. But at least they think this strategy'll work.