For the first time in a long time, it seems that there is a great deal of excitement surrounding the Green Bay Packers defense. The long-awaited dismissal of defensive coordinator Joe Barry meant that there were going to be significant changes, but few expected that they would be as exciting as they have become.
To replace Barry, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur hired Boston College’s Jeff Hafley. Upon his arrival in Green Bay, Hafley announced that he would be changing the Packers’ defensive scheme from a 3-4 to a 4-3. He also stated, to both his players and the media, that he does not want his defense to think too much on the field. Instead, he wants them to be aggressive and create havoc in the backfield.
Green Bay Packers Players Have Responded Well to New Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley
Even though there have been no regular season games yet, it is more than clear that the defensive players that are returning are loving the new defensive scheme and attitude. “I love Hafley,” fourth-year cornerback Eric Stokes said. He just want you to go out there and have fun and just play 110 miles per hour and that’s what I love about Hafley. He always say, ‘Imma go ahead and take the bullet. You just go out there and just have fun and you just play.'”
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark said of Hafley’s scheme, “Now this is giving us a chance to shut all that other stuff off … just use your ability, go up the field and be disruptive. I just think with my get-off and how I am, I think it’s going to suit me well.”
Rashan Gary also believes that there is a huge difference in the culture on defense: “You can tell the energy around the building from top to bottom is great, especially on defense. Kind of having a whole new coaching staff, a whole new life. We’re loving it on defense.”
Not only have the Packers added a new defensive coordinator and a new scheme, they have also revitalized their linebacker and safety rooms by drafting several players at each position. One of these players has caught the attention of third-year pro Quay Walker.
Green Bay Packers Linebacker Quay Walker Has High Praise for Second Round Pick Edgerrin Cooper
The Packers had two second round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft thanks to the Aaron Rodgers trade last offseason. With their first pick in the second round, they selected linebacker Edgerrin Cooper out of Texas A&M.
Cooper turned heads during OTA’s and the Packers’ mandatory minicamp. Quay Walker, who will share the field at the linebacker position with him, had some pretty high praise for the rookie:
“He’s showing flashes, getting downhill, playing, flying around. I just tell him, ‘Don’t do no thinking, bro. Just fly around. If you mess up, it is what it is. You a rookie. Just take what you can learn … and go from there.'”
One can easily see the impact that Hafley is having on both rookies and veterans right now. So many of the players have mentioned “not thinking” as something that they love about the new scheme. Being able to play based on their instincts and how they read the play on the field will make them much more aggressive.
Cooper obviously has those instincts already, and Hafley is going to put both him and Walker in better positions to succeed than they would have been in had Barry remained as defensive coordinator.
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