Official Fire Jeff Hafley Thread

[Fritz]

I like Hafley's style of D in general, but with the game on the line yesterday the last play, he shoulda gone with pressure instead of umbrella coverage. Our pass D just wasn't good enough, and if they had even only flushed the QB from the pocket as they had been doing all day, enough time woulda been used so that they couldn't have spiked it in time to kick the FG.

I agree here. That three man rush . . . rarely works. And it didn't here, again, because Williams felt comfortable and the coverage was loose.

I am hoping they get Williams back for the playoff game. He seems to me to be a key to this defense, and if he can play it will allow Halfley to do more of what he wants to do and not what he has to do because he's limited by the players available. To me, getting Williams back is way more important than getting Quay back.

[run pMc]

There were coaching gaffes before that call, and Kingsley's penalty didn't help... but I agree it was not a good call. Also, hey maybe when you tackle the guy, fight for the ball and lay on top of him for a little bit to kill some clock?
They should not have given up that much space in the middle of the field. They had the sidelines well bottled up, but the safeties were too far back. If they want to try and chuck it over your head, good luck with that - that takes time off the clock.

Also, I'm a believer on long passing downs at end of game that you should absolutely try to pressure the QB to speed up their clock. I get the counterargument that Caleb likes to hold the ball and a 3 man mush rush might work, but I don't like giving him time to sit back there and read the field without pressure.

I'm more mad at MLF for calling the timeout before the FG. CHI had a timeout and likely would have burned it to stop the clock; would have been their last one and not available when they got the ball. Also, if you're going to call the timeout, maybe burn more clock first. Bisaccia has to be in his ear about the distance for McAnus - it shouldn't be some mystery. If he's good from 55 in warmups and it's his number you go with it. The TV broadcast shows the FG line - the coaches should have it too. Just dumb. If they force CHI to use their last TO or find a way to burn more clock, CHI doesn't have a chance to take the FG.

MLF pulled an Eberflus IMO. I feel like he's been too emotional on the sidelines this year and it's hurt the team with his in-the-moment decision making.

[sharpe1027]

The team is playing better fundamentals. The last play call was executed correctly by the players, it was just a miscalculation on time by the coahces.

They get any sort of pass rush with their front four next year, they'll be so much better.

[Fritz]

I’m calling for a pre-emptive strike: Fire Half-Assley NOW!

So what if they haven’t even played the game yet! Let’s get riled up early!

[Jaire]

Seriously?

I didn't even notice how high Packers ended up on defensive stats. As Hafley says, point/turnovers are what matter. Great job, especially the run improvements. ... Still, the passrush is disappointing. But, with all the injuries this year, hat tip to Hafley, who I liked from day one. Sone growing pains, but this defense is actually fun to watch most Sundays, not somehing I could say since at least 2014.

[Deputy Nutz]

Need to get stops when they matter, that to me is a mark of a really good defense. The Packers closed to within 6 last night of the Eagles but the defense couldn't stop them and gave up a field goal. I thought the scheme last night was interesting they wanted to keep Hurts in the pocket and the defensive line seemed content to try and walk back the offensive line. No twists or stunts.

[MadtownPacker]

I don’t see how the defame could have been better yesterday. Total offense meltdown doomed us.

[call_me_ishmael]

I don’t see how the defame could have been better yesterday. Total offense meltdown doomed us.

Agreed. They played a pretty legit defensive game and shut down Saquon pretty well until garbage time. He had a couple decent runs but otherwise he wasn't doing a whole lot. Not dissimilar to Jacobs. Both players had rough games IMO and the stats look better because of a couple big plays. They weren't regularly moving the sticks.

[King Friday]

Need to get stops when they matter, that to me is a mark of a really good defense. The Packers closed to within 6 last night of the Eagles but the defense couldn't stop them and gave up a field goal. I thought the scheme last night was interesting they wanted to keep Hurts in the pocket and the defensive line seemed content to try and walk back the offensive line. No twists or stunts.

They held one of the best offensive units in the league to 22 points when the offense/special teams continued to hand the ball back to Philly. You can’t expect any defense to stop Philly every time in that scenario. The defense played out of their minds. Twists and stunts weren’t going to work against the best OL in the league. It took all out blitzes and complimentary coverage, which they largely pulled off. You absolutely want to keep Hurts in the pocket. What idiot wants him running all over the place making plays? You leave your gaps against the Eagles and they will make you butt sore.

[George Cumby]

I'm excited to see Halfley's second year defense with some new parts installed.

[Patler]

A lost fumble, two interceptions and a missed field goal all in the first half, with the offense generating just 101 yards; yet the Packers trailed just 10-0. The defense kept them in the game.

[George Cumby]

A lost fumble, two interceptions and a missed field goal all in the first half, with the offense generating just 101 yards; yet the Packers trailed just 10-0. The defense kept them in the game.

This is the defensive performance so many of us have wanted for so long, had the O been even remotely functional, a win was very much within reach.

[run pMc]

I thought the defense held up their end especially given the extra possessions the O and ST were gifting PHI.

Reminder: Joe Barry's D let Hurts run for over 100 yards in the first quarter of a game. GB's D has plenty of warts, but it's not without some bright spots and I thought they were better this year than last year.

[call_me_ishmael]

The past few years they've been really solidly defensively by the end of the season. I like that trend. Overall I'm really encouraged by what I saw this year. A lot of folks smarter than I think the Packers will find a pass rusher this off-season. What does that say about Gary, who is paid top 5 edge money, and LVN? Is one of them not starting? Will an OLB be a pass rusher? Lots of open questions there.

[Joemailman]

The past few years they've been really solidly defensively by the end of the season. I like that trend. Overall I'm really encouraged by what I saw this year. A lot of folks smarter than I think the Packers will find a pass rusher this off-season. What does that say about Gary, who is paid top 5 edge money, and LVN? Is one of them not starting? Will an OLB be a pass rusher? Lots of open questions there.

Packers like to rotate their edge rushers to avoid fatigue. Gary play the most snaps at 59%. So you really need at least 3 guys you consider a starter. At this point, Gary is the only solid starter.