Matt LaFleur has hired a new defensive coordinator. Not from the list that Packer pundits have been tossing around for weeks. Not a current NFL coach. Jeff Hafley has been a college coach for four years.
He has not been in the NFL since 2018 and his defensive coaching experience in the NFL was as a secondary coach for three different teams, Tampa Bay, Cleveland and San Francisco. He has six years of NFL coaching experience. LaFleur did go outside his comfort zone and picked a coach outside of his coaching tree with no L.A. Ram background.
A New Direction for the Packer Defense
In fact, Hafley has coached a 4-3 defense for four of his six years in the NFL. His current college team ran a 4-3 defense. So, what impressed LaFleur that Hafley could lead the Packer defense?
Perhaps it was Hafley’s journey with his last team at Boston College. In 2023, the B.C. Eagles did not start well. They went into Louisville and got pounded by the Cardinals giving up 56 points. They had already lost to Northern Illinois in their home opener and barely slipped by Holy Cross at home.
The Eagles were 1-3, and a playoff bowl game looked like a pipe dream. But Hafley’s Boston College team regrouped, won five in a row and ended the season beating 22nd ranked SMU in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl.
Sound familiar Packer fans? When Hafley was interviewed by Steve Roche in the Fighting Gobbler, Virginia Tech’s news blog, Coach Hafley talked about how his team stayed together during the rough start. Hafley was quoted saying:
“Well, I think you guys have asked a bunch of the players and the same thing that I keep hearing is the consistency. Whether it’s from me, whether it’s the staff…and then I think it’s the belief. I think it’s the belief I had in them, the belief they had in me and it’s the belief they had in each other…”
Jeff Hafley’s Ups and Downs at Boston College
Hafley’s Boston College teams haven’t always excelled. In 2022 Hatley went 3-9. His only bowl appearance was his final year. But in 2021, Hafley’s Eagle defense was ranked third nationally against the pass. On the flip side, his teams never had a winning record in the ACC.
Stats are great, but Packer fans will not know if Hafley can improve this defense until the games start. We know LaFleur wants a more aggressive approach.
Hafley has that reputation. His work ethic impressed Dave Wannstedt who hired him at Pitt. He also has a history of focusing on the angles and approach to tackling. Hafley’s focus on tackling was credited as a huge factor at Ohio State which saw the Buckeye defense leap up the national rankings from 72nd ranked defense in 2018 to best in the nation in Hafley’s first and only year at Ohio State.
The numbers give solid statistical support to LaFleur’s hire and Hafley’s reputation for an aggressive approach to defensive strategy fits with what LaFleur has communicated to the press he wants in his defense and found lacking in his former coordinator.
Hafley does not have the resume of Bill Belichick, but he wants to work in Green Bay and has a hunger to succeed. Next step, determining the other defensive coaches that will stay and then player evaluation.
Who will stay, who will Hafley want to replace. Packer fans have been asking for change but what we want is improvement. Wednesday, January 31st, 2024 is the start. Welcome to the team, Mr. Hafley.
I’ve watched several interviews with Hafley. Some at depth. He seems smart and articulate. He also seems aggressive in his approach. Much more so than the overly passive Joe Barry.
I can certainly understand his frustration with the college game and his desire to get back to the NFL. Like Barry, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. For now…..
I watched Brian Gutekunst’s presser yesterday. When asked if he was going to trade Jaire Alexander he flatly said, “no!” And why would he? Shut down corners don’t grow on trees. You don’t trade a guy that can literally shut down Justin Jefferson. He’s done nothing to warrant being exiled. Alexander needs to stay healthy. He also needs to be challenged. Maybe Hafley’s defensive scheme will keep him engaged.
When ask if he now felt vindicated for the Jordan Love pick after all the crap he took for the selection. Gutekunst played it off and said it was all part of the job. Still it’s got to feel good to put all the doubters and idiots in their place.
We had 66.5 million in dead cap money in 2023 yet still made the playoffs and won a playoff game. The way it stands now, we’ve got 5.5 million in dead cap money going into 2024. Still with players to cut and contracts to extend. Not to mention 5 picks in the top 93 in the up coming draft.
From team president, to GM, to HC, to staff. The Packers are a well run organization. With every day a great day not to be a Jets fan….
Alway a huge PACKER fan who wants to be kept updated all the time
It’s now being reported that Baltimore Ravens LB coach Zach Orr was offered the DC job and turned it down. It makes you wonder if there could’ve been more. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that Christian Parker did the same. This has happened before to both McCarthy and LaFleur when Leonhard turned him down prior to hiring Barry.
Jeff Hafley sought out LaFleur and campaigned for the job. The fact that he actually wanted it may have been the deciding factor. As I’ve said before the Packer DC gig isn’t the plum job everyone thinks it is..
The fact that Hafley wanted the job may have been the deciding factor in his hiring?
I want Murphy’s job, maybe i can be hired!! 😲😏🤷♂️
Wow, that’s brilliant Tommi…i should start taking notes again.
But then again, that’s coming from the same guy who told us Ladies in week 7…If i were GM, i’d tank the season and get a new QB.
Remember that Princess?
***************************
Whatever happened to Murphy’s declaration that players and coaches viewed Green Bay as the destination of dream jobs in the NFL?
To be fair……that was from the same guy who discovered the ‘silo’s’ in the building concerning upper management in 2018.
The same guy who told us, Ted will let me know when he wants to retire.
(As Ted was gazing up in the heavens, drooling out of the left side of his mouth.)
Even though…..Murphy worked with those people in the same building for 11 years prior to that discovery….lol.
Nothing gets by Murph much more than 10 years!! 🙄
So i think it’s safe to say….Mark Murphy may not have the grasp, or the understanding around him, that you’d like to see from the de facto President of the Green Bay Packers.
Thank God the Packers have a mandatory retirement age in it’s by laws.
(I’m surprised Murphy didn’t try to change that as well)
Maybe a lesson learn from Judge Robert Parins, or a smart executive decision implemented by Robert Harlan.
Anyway…in the meantime, you keep trying Tommi!!
Never give up.
And what are your qualifications Kevin to replace Mark Murphy? If you were to say you were Aaron Rodgers butt buddy, then you’d be qualified to replace Joe Douglas next year at this time when he’s fired as Jets GM. Somehow I just don’t see you smart enough to run a pharmaceutical conglomerate and therefore the Jets like Uncle Woody. No Kevin, I think the scope of your influence is limited to living with your momma and your sister in their double wide.
Bob Harlan, at retirement left the Packers in great shape. Ted Thompson as GM. Mike McCarthy as HC. And a young franchise QB in Aaron Rodgers. All to lead the way for the decade and a half that followed.
Likewise Mark Murphy’s stewardship as team president has equally been successful with Brian Gutekunst at GM. Matt LaFleur, one of the brightest offensive minds in the game today, as HC. And a young, extremely talented franchise QB that’s only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can do in Jordan Love.
Mark Murphy will turn the keys over to his replacement in about 18 months. He’ll leave the organization the way he found it. In great shape. And all you Murphy haters can’t stand it…..
There you go Tom M . . . You can not keep A. Rodgers out of your posts. Stay on topic.
The last time Tommi talked about Murphy’s retirement, he proclaimed that it would be in 5 years.
That was of course…..until i educated him to the actual truth when he’d be retiring.
You’re welcome Princess.
LMAO…I love you man!!!!
So entertaining 😁
********
Bob Harlan…agreed!!
He left the organization in great shape.
But it all started in 1991 when he put the power of football operations, to those most qualified…FOOTBALL PEOPLE!!!
You dumb F…
Murphy’s stewardship with MLF, Gute has been equally successful…is that what you wrote?
Really?
They are 0-2 in NFCCG’s
They are 0-3 against the 49ers.
The best record they had post Rodgers is 9-8.
Equally successful?
What’s wrong with you boy?
******************
“Mark Murphy will turn the keys over to his replacement in about 18 months. He’ll leave the organization the way he found it.” Goober
The way he found it huh?
So……….for that to be true Goober, he’d have to change the by-laws back to where they were before he put his greazy hand prints on them..
(You aren’t the brightest bulb in the room are you Ragnar?)
Thanks for playing Princess 🙄
You are a brilliant mind!! 👶🏻
Never stop trying.
Never give up!! 😏😁
“And a young, extremely talented franchise QB that’s only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can do in Jordan Love.” Sparky
Just for the record Sparky, this Jordan Love is the same QB you gave up on and wanted the Packers to replace in the draft, correct?
No response from our special needs reader in this forum?
Shocking!!