"Last season, Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson was named the NFC's defensive player of the month for September. And November. And December. That was on the way to winning the NFL's defensive player of the year award. Could Clay Matthews be following the same path? The Packers' outside linebacker will be named the NFC's defensive player of the month Thursday, according to a league source. In the three games in September, Matthews recorded a league-best six sacks thanks to consecutive three-sack games to start the season. Although he didn't record a sack in Monday's loss at Chicago, he had two hits on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and had perhaps his best game against the run by blowing up several plays, even ones in which others made the tackle. "I know it sounds cliché to say I've got something to prove, but especially coming out (of college), they said, 'Oh, he can rush the passer but can he play against the run?" Matthews said Wednesday. "So I take a lot of pride in how I approach the game." When asked whether he could keep up this pace, Matthews said: "I think it's a great start, and it's a long season. I think I've been playing at a high level, but I need to continue that the rest of the year and whether that's getting sacks or stopping the run, I'm here to do that." Bad showing Mark Tauscher didn't try to sugarcoat it or make excuses for his poor play in Monday's loss at Chicago, a game in which the Packers' starting right tackle had three penalties (including a holding call that wiped out a touchdown) and was responsible for several pressures. "I just need to play better," Tauscher said. "I didn't have a great game, and obviously I need to play better than I did last week." Tauscher also struggled in the opener against Philadelphia but played well in Week 2 against Buffalo. Monday's game might have been among the worst of his 11-year career. "I've always kind of looked at every week. I try to prepare to play as well as I possibly can," Tauscher said. "That hasn't changed. My preparation and everything is fine. You have a couple loose plays, and it dampens your performance. That's kind of where I was at last week."" http://packersnews.greenbaypressgaz...ews-to-be-named-defensive-player-of-the-month
