GREEN BAY, Wis. – Clay Matthews wants to be known as more than just a pass rusher, and he thinks his new role in the Green Bay Packers' defense will help him accomplish that.

Or at least that's the line he was giving on Wednesday, when the linebacker spoke extensively about the way defensive coordinator Dom Capers has used Matthews, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, through two games this season.

"Hopefully at the end of the season, when it's all said and done, we'll have a multitude of tallies in every category along the board and you guys will be saying he's a complete player and has showcased that this year," Matthews said.

Matthews' role has been the subject of much debate early in the season.

After playing almost exclusively as an outside linebacker – primarily on the right side in 2009, 2012-13 and on the left side in 2010-11 – Matthews has played all over in the early portion of this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, his 110 snaps at outside linebacker have been split almost evenly (58 on the right side and 52 on the left). He also has played off the line of scrimmage, which is something almost entirely new. Mostly in a Capers' new 4-3 alignment, Matthews has played snaps at middle linebacker, right and left inside linebacker and also in the slot, like a safety or cornerback.

"Ultimately it's about mismatches, and I think over the years I've proven that I can rush against not only against tackles but guards, tight ends, running backs, whatever it is," Matthews said. "And we're trying to present mismatches, because if you do line someone up in the same spot for the same time, they're just going to figure out a way to slow you down. Ultimately, we need to find ways for our playmakers to make plays, and this seems to be working and it seems to be one of them."

The biggest takeaway from it all is not necessarily where Matthews has lined up, but rather what he has done after the ball is snapped. The team's best pass rusher has dropped into coverage at a higher rate than at any point since his rookie season of 2009. He has rushed on just 72.5 percent of opponent passing plays for which he has been on the field, according to ProFootballFocus.com. That's a significant drop from the past two seasons, when he rushed nearly 85 percent of the time.

Perhaps Matthews is willing to make the change because he already secured his contract extension. But if Matthews had not signed his five-year, $66 million deal in 2013, it's worth wondering if he would be as receptive to the changes that so far have produced one sack in two games. (He also had a shared sack with Julius Peppers in Week 1 wiped out by a penalty.)

"I think over the years I've been known as a sack guy," Matthews said. "But I think what's been lost in the shuffle is the fact that I can cover, I can play in space and rush the passer as well."

And now he's getting more of a chance to show it.