Agreed.
Let the kid cut it loose.
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"Back to where he was" both in terms of his productivity, but perhaps even more importantly in terms of his availability. I agree, unless we get incredibly lucky in the draft, Alexander is probably the only guy who can make a press man defense effective. But can a new DC afford to put any real emphasis on a scheme that depends completely on a man who missed 13 games in 2021 and 10 games last season?
I really don't see press man being a big part of our D next season.
Its just hard to say. As I said somewhere we need an eraser like Earl Thomas. I have not watched Johnson at all to be honest, but we need an instinctual safety who has a feel for where the ball is about to go. Someone like...Rasul Douglas maybe. I'm not sure if Johnson is that or not. None of our current corners convert to that skillset though (that I can tell). And we have no legit Safeties on the roster so...
Rob Demovsky
@RobDemovsky
Packers defensive quality control coach Justin Hood is joining the Falcons as secondary coach. He’s reunited with Jerry Gray in Atlanta.
Peter Bukowski
@Peter_Bukowski
League sources tell
@TheLeapGB
there WILL be changes to the #Packers defensive staff.
This will including a shuffling of responsibilities among coaches already on the staff including an elevated role for Jason Rebrovich who was promoted to pass rush specialist last year.
Brady Henderson
@BradyHenderson
Former Rams, Vikings and Seahawks QB Sean Mannion is ending his nine-year NFL playing career and has accepted a position on the Packers’ coaching staff, a source tells me. He’ll work with QBs and the passing game.
Packers News
@PGPackersNews
All coaches on the Packers defense have been given permission to apply for other jobs after the team hired Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator.
DL coach and running game coordinator Jerry Montgomery will not be back.
Quay :lol::lol::lol:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/maJ...ibextid=KsPBc6
Not convinced they'll suddenly become a '4-3' team. Nickel is more or less the base defense nowadays anyhow. I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to play it similarly on the front (2 DT, 2 EDGE with a choice of standing up or 3pt., 2 ILBs). The coverage will be different - I think they go more MOFC coverages and throw in a bit more man coverage and maybe even some press. I would expect there to be more pressure dialed up, and there will still be a healthy amount of zone coverage. All NFL defenses play a lot of zone. I don't think he'll line his CBs as far off the LOS compared to Barry or Pettine.
My first response was "who?" and feeling generally underwhelmed, but he has worked with some smart people and I would expect a guy like Saleh to give MLF an honest assessment. He doesn't have the stink of an 0-16 season on him. My impression of BC is that they are basically in the bottom half of the ACC, getting beat by Clemson, FSU, and Louisville, the way Indiana gets beat by Michigan or OSU.
I'm firmly in the wait-and-see camp on this one; I suspect he'll be like a slightly better Pettine, which would be an upgrade.
I expect this hire will steer draft strategy a bit -- probably using 5+ total draft picks among CB, S, and LB.
I've adjusted my fly many times before.
The key is "maximizing the talent of the players." If you have players with a certain skill set, you put them in positions to use those skills, and try to keep them out of situations that ask them to do things they don't do well, just because it's your "system." That was apparent in the two Minny games - was it last year? - where in the first one, Joe Barely didn't match up Alexander with Jefferson, and Jefferson went wild. Second game, Barely did match Alexander up, and Jefferson was much quieter.
Ladies and gents, fellow humans of the expression of our gratitude for the shared love of this Franchise, which allows us to intimately behave as fans of grown men scheming other grown men who run around in tight uniforms do..
I like the hire. After watching and reading and researching and spending time understanding this man's character, he's the exact hire we need. This is how you play defense in 2020s, and he seems to be a great fit. Barry lacked versatility and knowledge, which you can get away with when you have smart players and great guys in key positions of importance, but if you're putting them out of position I don't think you belong I the nfl as a coordinator in any capacity because you can't adjust to what you're seeing in the same way inept quarterbacks continue to display conduct detrimental to the growth of the team.
The resume doesn't matter if you think you can coordinate 11 men to make plays in unison and have them give you the credit, credit is due in your ability in allowing them to get there by putting them in the best position to succeed in the circumstances given to them by following the trust you have in your instruction to succeed. Calling plays means nothing of you're defending the inevitable destruction of what you built and in essence allowing your confidence in who you are to be questioned by the opponent who either outscored you with coaching or with talent, and if you lose more than 3 battles a year due to coaching you either get better or you get fired.
Wink martindale was the only other option but I think he's a bit of a hard headed guy and that's traditional dc type character and he took us to the cleaners in new York but he doesn't have the upside of this guy. The game against tampa showed lafluer was really in control of the Barry defense and what type of schemes he wanted to play, which only confirms the game is offensive, meaning lafluer knows d enough to know you don't call certain plays in certain circumstances because the probabilities are all fucked and basically Barry was a yes man.
What I'm looking for from this guy is to have a clear command of the defense just like I would expect from an OC. Trust. Get your guys in the right spot so when you're reviewing film you're not explaining why this was a bad call against this offense in front of your defense. As a leader of a team you're allowed to fuck up provided the consistency of error isn't your fault and you have the ability to ask of your players what many respects they expect of you. In this case he's at fault. But also don't hire yes men because subservience an education of free thought and creativity isn't a building block.
Sounds like it's more of an attack scheme, which I have to think the players will like. Who really wants to read and react? Defensive guys tend to be aggressive, so that doesn't sound that appealing. I would think guys like Alexander and Valentine will benefit - and Rudy Ford if they decide to bring him back. And Quay Walker. He could be a good blitzer.
But they are going to need a maestro on the back end to coordinate and direct it all. Can a rookie come in and do that? Or will Guter restructure some contracts and bring in a free agent?
This is a strong class of FA safeties. I don't think Gute will go after one of the top guys. But he should be able to find someone not too expensive who is an upgrade over Owens and Savage. A name I've heard mentioned is Geno Stone of Baltimore. 2020 7th round pick. But he started 11 games in 2023 and had 7 INT's so his asking price could be pretty high.
Rob Demovsky
@RobDemovsky
Defensive backs coach Ryan Downard and pass rush specialist Jason Rebrovich will remain on the Packers staff under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, per a source.
There also could be more who return, but those two are locked in.
I like the DC choice. I hope he doesn't have Preston Smith covering wide receivers. I also hope he blitzes alot.
I didn't like that either in hindsight, but if you're gonna do zone blitzes - which Hafley apparently likes, using Quay Walker as a blitzer, etc., somebody needs to cover that short zone, and the way most zone blitzing teams handle that is with a D Lineman dropping back - as Preston would be in a 4 man line. I say use the element of surprise, and do what works. If P. Smith as a DE rushes the passer, it's not even a blitz.
Sometimes teams drop linemen into coverage. When B.J. Raji dropped into coverage and ended up with a pick 6, everybody thought it was awesome. When Preston Smith dropped into coverage and gave up a 12 yard completion, a lot of people lost their minds.
That’s cos ole Busari never lined up directly over Calvin Johnson or Andre Johnson or Chad Johnson or even Charles Johnson (former Pack 7th rounder).
Barry had P lin up directly over Tae Adams and Justin Jefferson. Someone shoulda barked an audible in those instances.
Zone blitz sends one or more blitzers from coverage position and drops a normal pass rusher into coverage. Often the dropping player is trying to disrupt a quick outlet for when the QB reacts to the blitz.
Tom Silverstein
@TomSilverstein
As new DC Jeff Hafley builds his staff, two #Packers defensive assistants who will not return are passing game coordinator Greg Williams and inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti a source said. Olivadotti will join the staff of new #Seahawks coach Mike McDonald.
There is a huge difference between where Raji dropped back to verses Preston. Chicago was backed up against their end line. Packers knew the pass had to come out fast. Preston dropped near midfield and they didn’t have to worry about taking a safety so they could wait longer for the route to develop.
Another strike against Barely who didn’t seem to take down, distance or game situation into his defensive play calls.
Tom Silverstein
@TomSilverstein
New #Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is bringing D-line coach Vince Oghobasse with him from Boston College, a source said. Oghobasse coached with Hafley with the #49ers and also spent time at Ohio State and UCLA. Oghobasse will replace D-line coach Jerry Montgomery.
Trying to summarize defensive coaching changes:
Quote:
Tom Silverstein
@TomSilverstein
Hafley has considerable NFL experience assistant DBs coach in 2012 and secondary/safeties coach in 2013 with Tampa Bay. Worked under Mike Pettine in Cleveland in '14. Coached DBs in San Francisco from 2016-'18. Was co-DC for Ohio State in '19 and has been BC head coach since 2020
Quote:
Rob Demovsky
@RobDemovsky
Packers defensive quality control coach Justin Hood is joining the Falcons as secondary coach. He’s reunited with Jerry Gray in Atlanta.
Quote:
Peter Bukowski
@Peter_Bukowski
League sources tell
@TheLeapGB
there WILL be changes to the #Packers defensive staff.
This will including a shuffling of responsibilities among coaches already on the staff including an elevated role for Jason Rebrovich who was promoted to pass rush specialist last year.
Quote:
DL coach and running game coordinator Jerry Montgomery will not be back.
Quote:
Rob Demovsky
@RobDemovsky
Defensive backs coach Ryan Downard and pass rush specialist Jason Rebrovich will remain on the Packers staff under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, per a source.
There also could be more who return, but those two are locked in.
Quote:
Tom Silverstein
@TomSilverstein
As new DC Jeff Hafley builds his staff, two #Packers defensive assistants who will not return are passing game coordinator Greg Williams and inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti a source said. Olivadotti will join the staff of new #Seahawks coach Mike McDonald.
Quote:
om Silverstein
@TomSilverstein
New #Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is bringing D-line coach Vince Oghobasse with him from Boston College, a source said. Oghobasse coached with Hafley with the #49ers and also spent time at Ohio State and UCLA. Oghobasse will replace D-line coach Jerry Montgomery.
Tom Silverstein
@TomSilverstein
Pretty big coup for #Packers coach Matt LaFleur and DC Jeff Hafley. They are expected to hire former #Dolphins LBs coach Anthony Campanile, a source said. The #Giants had interviewed Campanile for their DC job and the #Eagles wanted him as a linebackers coach, the source said.
So we get theirs and they get Joe Barry? Sounds good to me hahahahaha.
Damn! This one's a great hire! Gute, Murphy, and Lafleur are dialed in on strengthening this team top to bottom. Campanile is the kind of guy who can turn Quay Walker into a star. He was rumored to be a possible candidate for our DC position, and an early possibility to replace Hafley at BC. He's a young, very passionate coach with a good track record everywhere he goes, and I think our defense just got significantly better.
That Mannion hire the other day is a brilliant move, too - a longterm investment in a very exciting new coach. I can't believe that one's completely slipped under the radar here, except for your mention of it the day it happened. I was tempted to start a thread, but I'm too new here so I didn't. I think he has a hell of a future, and he's getting a lot of buzz on some other forums.
Hiring Oghobaase was something I found interesting. Lafleur must have a ton of confidence in Hafley, because he's completely invested in him now. I'm a little skeptical of Hafley, to be honest, because BC's defense was terrible under his reign, and I'm not exacly doing backflips at the idea of Hafley bringing over one of the key coaches from that defense, but I'm just going to trust Lafleur and Gute to know what they're doing. A lot of Lafleur's coaching hires have been mediocre at best, and some downright awful, so I'm a little nervous. But maybe he's learned from his early mistakes, and developed a better eye for coaching talent.
Did ANYBODY ever bother to nickname him “Long Tall” Saleh??
Looks like the Packers need to draft an inside linebacker or two. Also, I wonder how Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness feel about going back to a hand-in-the-dirt position?
That's a good take on it, and there's no reason to doubt you're right. It's an optimistric take, but not a reach. Very reasonable expectation.
I'm trying to keep an open mind on Hafley, but I'm going to have some reservations right up until we start seeing how well the defense comes together and performs. Best case scenario is that Hafley is a defensive guru who's just not head coach material, got "peter principled" one level too high, and was too overwhelmed with head coaching responsibilities to have any substantive impact on the defense. Because there wasn't much to like about that BC defense the last couple of years.
I can't recall the entire play, but when James Harrison jumped upright and took a step back in the Superb Owl and grabbed a pick 6 right before the half (I'm pretty sure) was a prime example of a successful zone blitz. QB made a hot read and threw it right at Harrison who didn't even have much time to drop back.
I'm keeping an open mind on the new DC; it was a great move for him because he was a sitting duck at BC who was on a fast track to getting fired IMO
On paper I'm very underwhelmed with the hire. That is using logic.
But I can drink the spike Kool Aide as well
Time will tell
Rob Demovsky
@RobDemovsky
The Packers have the last major piece to the new defensive staff now in place. Former Chargers DC Derrick Ansley will be the new pass game coordinator, per a source. There will likely be a few quality control or assistant position coaches added but all key positions are filled.
Funny how these guys get passed around like hoes at a party.
Interesting. He fast tracked to DC. Hafley specializing in defensive backs, kind of surprised his prize coaching hire has a similar background. That’s good though. It’s not going to hurt Hafley to be able to really focus on playcalling and strategy, especially during the season. And when teaching the assignments, it’s not going to hurt to have two guys with different angles of how they teach. Everyone learns differently.