The Green Bay Packers have a lot to be excited about not only for the 2024 NFL Draft, but the 2024 season as well. Just one off-season removed from trading away Aaron Rodgers didn’t stop the Packers from being one of the pre-season favorites to make the playoffs and possibly make a run beyond that.
Kenny Clark has been a pillar for the Packers’ defense ever since he was drafted in 2016. Heading into next season, he’s excited for something big.
Green Bay Packers Star DT Kenny Clark Makes Announcement Ahead Of The 2024 NFL Draft
After years of underperformance, will the Green Bay Packers’ defense reach its full potential? Yes, that’s a good question. The new play-caller Jeff Hafley will bring a completely different approach to the defense.
Former defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s departure was the right decision by head coach Matt LaFleur. This conservative, keep-everything-in-front-of-us approach wasn’t working for ther defense. Rather than playing to the Packers’ strengths, Barry’s vision of preventing big plays backfired, as teams took advantage of easy yards and burned them after the catch.
Freddie Boston of FanSided highlighted exactly what Clark said about the upcoming season:
Clark is one of Green Bay’s most important defensive players. He met his new defensive coordinator during the Packers Tailgate Tour, and the three-time Pro Bowler is excited about the potential of the new-look defense and what Hafley brings to Green Bay.
“Fiery, his energy … he’s going to bring it,” said Clark, per Mike Spofford of the team website. “He’s going to challenge everybody – challenge everybody to be great. That’s what you want as a coach. You want them to hold guys accountable.”
Clark added that Hafley’s system will “allow us to be way more disruptive” along the defensive line.
It’s understandable why the players are excited. Barry’s scheme was all about keeping everything in front of them, which inevitably led to easy completions with the idea of swarming to the football and limiting big gains.
Under Hafley, the Packers will have a more aggressive approach, trying to disrupt the quarterback and get to the football. It increases the possibility of big plays and turnovers, even if it’s a riskier system.
The Defense Is Going To Look A Lot Different In 2024
“I’m big on technique and I’m big on fundamentals, but (if) a guy can play at a high level, don’t try to change him to fit exactly what you think he should be. Just get him better,” Hafley said via the Wisconsin State Journal. “I always try to take stuff from players. I’ve always been big on picking players’ brains and trying to learn from them.
“I probably have learned just as much from really good players as I’ve learned from players … I try to get in their head to see what they think and how they do things and how they see things, because they’re out there seeing it more than I am. I see it on tape, but it’s different.”
Green Bay will see a different defensive scheme in 2024 under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Hafley ran a 4-3 defense at Boston College. During Hafley’s last stint in the NFL as the defensive backs coach of the 49ers, Robert Saleh was his defensive coordinator. He ran the same base scheme as the New York Jets did last season.
Hafley has, however, worked in a variety of defensive systems throughout his career, including a 3-4 during his time with Tampa Bay and Cleveland.
It will be interesting to see what kind of defense Hafley runs, but one thing is certain, his players are excited to go battle with him.
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