Any training camp with a new coordinator often comes with a lot of talk about how much better things will be with the new leader.
However, the Green Bay Packers say their strong support for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is genuine. It’s not just the defensive players who are praising him.
“Talking to the offensive linemen and other offensive players, they are telling us the defense looks a lot different,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said. “It’s encouraging.”
Hafley left his role as Boston College’s head coach to return to the NFL, where he previously worked with Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and San Francisco from 2012 to 2018. He came to improve a defense that hadn’t lived up to the expectations based on the draft investments the Packers made.
The early signs show that Hafley is making an impact.
After every Packers workout, either the offense or defense has to do pushups, depending on which unit performed worse. Clark noted that the defense has only had to do pushups once so far.
“I just appreciate the buy-in and how hard they’re going, because they are going and they’ve been disruptive,” Hafley said.
The defense stood out during the first week of training camp while starting quarterback Jordan Love was missing practices due to his contract situation. Since Love returned to practice on Saturday after signing his four-year, $220 million extension, the offense has improved, but the defense continues to make big plays.
“I think the defense has done a great job of mixing up looks,” Love said. “They never really give you the same two looks back to back. They do a great job of mixing it up.
The safeties are always moving and they make everything look the same with their pressures and disguises. They’ll show pressure, drop out, so it’s really a mental challenge for the quarterback to figure out what they’re doing.”
Hafley is replacing Joe Barry, who was the defensive coordinator for three seasons before being let go after the Packers lost 24-21 to San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoffs. Hafley has brought a new approach, switching the defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3 setup.
“I played in this defense my third year with the Raiders,” cornerback Keisean Nixon said. “We went to the playoffs in this defense, and we’re a lot more talented than that team I played with three years ago.”
The Packers have had talent on defense. Last season, their defense included eight former first-round picks: Clark, Jaire Alexander, lineman Devonte Wyatt, edge rushers Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness, linebacker Quay Walker, cornerback Eric Stokes, and safety Darnell Savage. Savage has since moved to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the other seven first-round picks are still with the team.
Now, they need to show better results. Last season, the Packers were 17th in total yards allowed per game and 28th in rushing yards allowed per game.
“Last year we got into a lot of second-and-shorts, third-and-shorts and allowed people to just keep gaining yards,” Clark said. “This year we expect to get more tackles for loss, more stops at the line, whatever it may be. Guys are flying around, going after the ball, and playing with more intensity.”
Defensive lineman T.J. Slaton was straightforward about the potential of the front four. “It’s going to be hell for other teams,” Slaton said.
