National Football League

Matthews, Packers getting familiar with Vikings' new rushing leaders

Published Sep. 30, 2014 7:58 p.m. ET

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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon. Those are the names of the two Minnesota Vikings running backs. As far as Clay Matthews knows, it's just "that one guy who can run really hard" and "the little guy."

Well, that one guy who can run really hard and the little guy combined for 213 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a Vikings win Sunday. Asiata and McKinnon might have to introduce themselves to Matthews before Thursday's game in Green Bay, but facing a Packers defense that ranks last in the NFL in stopping the run will give the two of them a chance to become more well-known without exchanging greetings.

It's not that Matthews wasn't impressed with the new Minnesota duo. It's just that, after years of preparing for Adrian Peterson, Matthews still had homework to do in putting names to running styles.

"You'd think with the dropoff of AP (Peterson), or that there would be a dropoff, but there really isn't," Matthews said.

For as well as the Vikings ran the ball against Atlanta in Week 4 (241 total rushing yards and a 5.5 yards-per-carry average), Green Bay nearly allowed its opponent, the Chicago Bears, to top it. The 5.7-yard average and 235 rushing yards that the Packers gave up to Chicago played a significant role in Green Bay falling all the way to the bottom of the league rankings.

"We're going to have our hands full, especially with what we put on film this past weekend," Matthews said. "They've got to be coming in here thinking that they're going to run it on us. It's just a great opportunity for us to showcase that that's not the case."

Head coach Mike McCarthy thought fundamentals were part of his team's problem against the Bears. However, he didn't seem overly concerned about it.

McCarthy's harshest criticism was saying, "I'm aware what the numbers are; nobody likes it."

Matthews wasn't too worried, either.

"Very simple assignment issues, technique, where we're fitting," Matthews said. "I know we said this in the past, but that's really all it comes down to is just fundamentals and trusting the guy next to you and understanding that person is going to be there; you don't have to be a playmaker and make every play out there. Just fit within the scheme.

"It's simple. We just need to do it, really."

With a short week of preparation, there's even less practice time than usual for the Packers to fix the problems ailing them in stopping the run. Even if those problems are relatively minor like McCarthy and Matthews believe, and even if "statistics are for losers" like McCarthy often says, being No. 32 in the NFL in any category is not a desirable spot to ever be in.

"As a defender, you obviously don't strive for those goals," Matthews said with a smile. "You try and be a little higher than that. Shoot for the stars."

Defensive coordinator Dom Capers has been happy with his run defense in two games this season, and not happy with his defense in the other two games. It's easy to figure out which games belong in each category. Green Bay held the Detroit Lions to 115 rushing yards (3.0 average) and the New York Jets to 147 rushing yards (4.0 average). The Bears and Seattle Seahawks, however, combined for 442 rushing yards against the Packers, with both teams reeling off at least 5.6 yards per carry.

"We've got to get it back to where it was against the Jets and the Lions," Capers said. "I know we're capable of doing it because I've seen us do it."

If Green Bay does get its run defense back to where Capers wants it, perhaps Asiata and McKinnon will have to wait until the Nov. 23 Packers-Vikings rematch for Matthews to figure out their names.

Follow Paul Imig on Twitter

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