DC Packers Players should “playing with their hair on fire
New Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley plans to unleash ferocity on opponents by freeing up his players.
Hafley, the former Boston College head coach turned NFL coordinator, told reporters on Thursday he believes in system simplicity to allow players to react and make plays without overthinking.
“We try and make it simple for the players so they can play fast,” he said, via the team’s official website. “So they don’t have to think. So they can be confident and not be afraid to make mistakes. So they can go out there and play fearless and play with their hair on fire and run and hit and cover and get off blocks and tackle. That’s the beauty of the scheme.”
After hearing Hafley’s plan, Packers supporters who were enraged by former defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s strategy and calls must be ecstatic. Over the previous few years, Green Bay has frequently had communication disruptions. Now that it’s February, everything is “coach speak,” but fixing those breakdowns will raise the Packers’ profile right away.
In real life, Hafley intends to use a 4-3 scheme, something the Packers haven’t used consistently since 2008. With this adjustment, perhaps, Preston Smith and Davante Adams won’t be matched one-on-one any more.
Although the foundation may differ, Hafley thinks that adaptability and the capacity to change tactics in order to undermine an opponent’s strongest points and make use of his strengths
“Whether you’re playing 4-3 or 3-4, the defense principles I hold dear—press man, which I adore— What matters is if you can make the most of the players you have and position them for success.” said Hafley. “Are you able to take your players and make the most of them? All players aspire to improve, and it is our responsibility to help them do so. It’s our responsibility to set up the players for success and to make plays.”
With a strong defensive foundation going into the offseason, the Packers still needed to address a few gaps in the secondary. Hafley will have more flexibility to carry out his intended plan if those elements are added.
Hafley spent three seasons as the head coach of Boston College before joining Green Bay in the offseason. Being an NFL coordinator instead of managing his own program is not a step down for the 44-year-old.
“It’s the Green Bay Packers,” Hafley declared. For myself and probably the majority of people who grew up enjoying football, this is like the mecca of the football world. It still seems strange to drive into Lambeau every day and to be here.
“The community, maybe the best fans in all of the world, as well, that made a really, really hard decision — leaving Boston College, players that I loved, staff that I loved, the leadership at the school — it made a really hard decision a lot easier, and ultimately that’s why I decided to come.”
