Jeff Hafley Packers New DC

[Fritz]

Finally, something that we can agree upon. The best DC are able to adjust their plan to maximize the talent of the players. They are also smart enough to watch a game and see that their plan isn’t working and adjust on the fly.

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.

[australianpackerbacker]

A total surprise.


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

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.

[Fritz]

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?

[Joemailman]

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.

[Fritz]

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.

First time he drops an easy interception he's Geno "Hands of" Stone.

[Joemailman]

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.

[Arctic Fox]

I like the DC choice. I hope he doesn't have Preston Smith covering wide receivers. I also hope he blitzes alot.

[Frozen Tundra]

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.

For wat it's worth, Spotrac estimates his market value this year at 3yrs/$7M per year. I don't know why they value him so low, but that's half what the really big names are projected to get.

[Joemailman]

For wat it's worth, Spotrac estimates his market value this year at 3yrs/$7M per year. I don't know why they value him so low, but that's half what the really big names are projected to get.

The 7 INT's might be a bit of a fluke. Prior to this year, he had 1 career INT.

[texaspackerbacker]

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.

[Joemailman]

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.

[Arctic Fox]

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.

I was thinking more of a safety blitz or Cornerback. Someone who can get there quick. I'm not really sure what a zone blitz is.. You mean from a specific part of the field??

[Anti-Polar Bear]

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.

[sharpe1027]

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.

[Joemailman]

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.