Jonathan Gannon new Packer DC

[milani]

Make that 4 now... Ex-Packer Al Harris has entered the chat.

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Well, we all are taking about miserable playoff performances. This dude was the one who told Hasselbeck, " I'll take your ball and I'm gonna score. " ....And he did!

 

[El Guapo]

Interested what she tells others.

She told me to put clothes on...

 

[tynimiller]

Well, we all are taking about miserable playoff performances. This dude was the one who told Hasselbeck, " I'll take your ball and I'm gonna score. " ....And he did!

I was young when that happened but I remember my dad literally telling me "Ty, confidence is ALWAYS a good thing - but don't let that cross over to cocky - let your game do the talking." when he heard Al say that.



Then the pick happened....we both laughed, and he said my point still stands but man that was awesome.

**Edited it should have said Matt say that. I thought he said something about his point and such still stands but maybe he was talking about something Al did after scoring I don't know. I just remember that moment and him quickly correcting any thought I might have been having of mouthing off in that fashion.

 

[Capitol 8805]

Dallas hired Christian Parker. I was secretly hoping he would be the choice for G.B.

Dallas Cowboys jump ahead of Packers for defensive coordinator target

Christian Parker interviewed with both the Cowboys and Packers on Wednesday, but Dallas was ready to make a decision.

www.acmepackingcompany.com

 

[tynimiller]

Dallas hired Christian Parker. I was secretly hoping he would be the choice for G.B.

Dallas Cowboys jump ahead of Packers for defensive coordinator target

Christian Parker interviewed with both the Cowboys and Packers on Wednesday, but Dallas was ready to make a decision.

www.acmepackingcompany.com

Of the guys interviewed - that was my pick.

 

[AmishMafia]

Arrrgh! I was thinking he was going to be our pick. I wonder if he chose Dallas over Green Bay, or Jerry gave him a take it or leave it offer. Can't blame either of them. But GB has to be the more attractive job.

 

[AmishMafia]

Who knows, we may be waiting for someone on the Seahawks or one of the other teams still in it. Other than Leonard, which we already know of.

 

[El Guapo]

Who knows, we may be waiting for someone on the Seahawks or one of the other teams still in it. Other than Leonard, which we already know of.

Through my history of posting on this site, it's quite clear that I am an optimist. However, it could also be that the Packers plan is unraveling.

The problem with waiting for a coach that is still in contention is that they may say no, or change their mind if you already think that the deal is locked up. Then you're really up the creek. I've been up the creak before. It's low water and a lot of muck - you'll get dirty but you can still succeed.

 

[swhitset]

l

I was young when that happened but I remember my dad literally telling me "Ty, confidence is ALWAYS a good thing - but don't let that cross over to cocky - let your game do the talking." when he heard Al say that.

Then the pick happened....we both laughed, and he said my point still stands but man that was awesome.

lol this sounds like a little bit of revisionist history…. I watched that game… It was Hasselbeck that did the talking not Harris. Seattle won the coin toss… Hasselbeck then said “ We want the ball and we are gonna score!” He was right… First play from scrimmage he threw the pick six to Harris.

 

[tynimiller]

l

lol this sounds like a little bit of revisionist history…. I watched that game… It was Hasselbeck that did the talking not Harris. Seattle won the coin toss… Hasselbeck then said “ We want the ball and we are gonna score!” He was right… First play from scrimmage he threw the pick six to Harris.

Oh I mistyped it. It was Matt for sure who mouthed off.

 

[milani]

Through my history of posting on this site, it's quite clear that I am an optimist. However, it could also be that the Packers plan is unraveling.

The problem with waiting for a coach that is still in contention is that they may say no, or change their mind if you already think that the deal is locked up. Then you're really up the creek. I've been up the creak before. It's low water and a lot of muck - you'll get dirty but you can still succeed.

There's always Eberflus.

 

[AmishMafia]

Through my history of posting on this site, it's quite clear that I am an optimist. However, it could also be that the Packers plan is unraveling.

The problem with waiting for a coach that is still in contention is that they may say no, or change their mind if you already think that the deal is locked up. Then you're really up the creek. I've been up the creak before. It's low water and a lot of muck - you'll get dirty but you can still succeed.

Possible. But I suspect they have a good idea if someone will be interested or not. Each coach probably has and agent that represents a coach on the Packers and there is talk.

Im starting to like the idea of rolling the dice on Leonard.

 

[Voyageur]

I think Leonhard is a good choice to be honest. He has the chops having been a DC already. I also get the idea he's been hanging out anticipating a call from either the Packers or the Badgers. Of course, with the Badgers, it would be Head Coach.

Smart money said we were going to lose Hafely to Miami, and with Leonhard being a real defensive secondary guru, this could work out well. Also, if Fickell doesn't cut it this coming year, the Badgers could come calling if Jim keeps the Packers defense viable.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Make that 4 now... Ex-Packer Al Harris has entered the chat.

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Honestly He was one of my all time favorite packers players. He sure had the bears secondary running top tier. If that was in fact what he was coaching. I assumed....

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Al is still VERY young coaching in the NFL. I’d rather not be his early experimental voyage of being a DC in this window we are in. He’s two years out from likely candidate.

Well said.

 

[rdawsoniii]

Al is still VERY young coaching in the NFL. I’d rather not be his early experimental voyage of being a DC in this window we are in. He’s two years out from likely candidate.

Agree. Needs more experience. If he weren’t a former Packer player I doubt anyone here would want him.

Since we missed out on Parker I think Leonhard would be a good choice.

 

[Magooch]

It's actually kind of interesting. There's part of me that agrees, he doesn't really have a ton of top level experience yet, and in that way it feels "too early"

But at the same time...part of me says...WHY doesn't he have more experience yet? Or why is he yet to make much of a move "upward"?

For instance, take Christian Parker. A lot of folks had him as one of their top candidates, seen as a young up-and-coming rising star type of guy.

Parker is 34. He's been coaching at the pro level for just ~7 years. And about 6-7 years at the college level before that. Overall he's been in coaching roles since 2013.
Or at lot of folks are interested in Leonhard. He is 43 and has just 2 years of NFL coaching experience. Before that, he had been coaching at the college level for ~8 years. He didn't start coaching until 2016.
We have Daronte Jones, he's 47. He's been coaching in some capacity since 2001, but for quite some time it was at the DII or high school level. He didn't make the move to coaching D1 college until 2010 and only has been coaching at the pro level since 2016.

Compare that to Harris:
He is 51, and went straight into coaching after a 14 year playing career. He came on to the Dolphins staff in 2012. Then he was the Chiefs' assistant DB coach for 2013, 14, 15, and the secondary/cornerbacks coach from 2016-18. After spending a season at FAU he got back into coaching in the league for the Cowboys where he was their DB coach from 2020-2023, before getting promoted to assistant head coach for the 2024 season. This past season for the Bears as their DB coach and defensive pass game coordinator.

So it's weird. In one sense he actually has more pro experience (both as a player AND coach) than guys like Parker or Leonhard, and about as much as Jones...but also has pretty much exclusively just DB coaching experience. He's been coaching for the league for over a decade now, and has seen relatively little "upward" movement. Contrast that with someone like Parker who in the span of just around 5 years being a "defensive quality control coach" for us to being the Broncos DB coach to being the Eagles DB coach and defensive pass game coordinator to being the Cowboys defensive coordinator.

Like I said then - yes he's kind of inexperienced in one sense, but I guess it leaves me wondering...if his coaching acumen/potential is so high, why has he seen relatively little advancement after having been a coach for a pretty respectable amount of time?

 

[OldSchool101]

I just think Leonard is the best option. Some things I like most about Jim Leonard.

He grew up in Troy, WI (Rusk Co) and he was a Die Hard Packer fan. A small town with 121 families.

He was a walk-on for the Badgers. Yet he defied the odds and became a 3 time All American.

He’s now been inducted into Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame.

Leonard was the only Undrafted player to make the Bills 53 man roster in his Rookie season. He went on to have a remarkable career. Helping the Jets and Rex Ryan to the AFC Championship game, where they lost to the Colts. After 2 injury plagued seasons 2010-2011 Jim didn’t go away, he played 1 season with a calf injury for 10 contests. He’s resilient and went on to play 3 more seasons before retiring after the 2014 season. He played 10 years in the NFL. Leonard recorded at least 1 INT in each of his last 7 seasons and logging multiple INT over 4 seasons.

He wanted to give back to WI and proactively inquired about Coaching for the Badgers before he was considered.
His loyalty to his native State and Alma Mater was unwavering. He once called the players “my kids” in an interview and he wasn’t going to leave them hanging once he was entrenched on the Badger’s Staff. What’s compelling to me is his loyalty and his commitment to excellence.

The timing was off in our first attempt to court him. The timing may be off again. Yet some people are worth waiting for. I believe he’s our #1 pick and everything else is planning for a contingency.

 

[AmishMafia]

I keep vacillating one way after another. My thinking at the moment is that one of the Packers problems is a lack of discipline. Stupid mistakes being repeated. Maybe the guy we need needs to be able to be a bit more aggressive, as a leader, than we have on our current staff. A guy who stops practice when a coverage is blown and lets everyone know what the mistake was.

Not sure who fits that bill.

 

[OldSchool101]

I keep vacillating one way after another. My thinking at the moment is that one of the Packers problems is a lack of discipline. Stupid mistakes being repeated. Maybe the guy we need needs to be able to be a bit more aggressive, as a leader, than we have on our current staff. A guy who stops practice when a coverage is blown and lets everyone know what the mistake was.

Not sure who fits that bill.

Yes. I’m very in tune with this. Interesting but my Wife expressed that sentiment regarding me one time. @AmishMafia Do you think this means she wants me to change or just get an upgrade?

 

[Firethorn1001]

A guy who stops practice when a coverage is blown and lets everyone know what the mistake was.

Is there evidence that this isn't happening?

 

[AKCheese]

l

lol this sounds like a little bit of revisionist history…. I watched that game… It was Hasselbeck that did the talking not Harris. Seattle won the coin toss… Hasselbeck then said “ We want the ball and we are gonna score!” He was right… First play from scrimmage he threw the pick six to Harris.

Exactly

 

[KMILLARD]

Daronte Jones may be the best hire if you want to tap into some of that aggressive BFLO magic.

 

[AmishMafia]

Is there evidence that this isn't happening?

I haven't seen it personally. I think the practices are scripted pretty carefully and any interruptions wouldn't allow the all the plays to be run. I only go to a few practices and that is my impression.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Agree. Needs more experience. If he weren’t a former Packer player I doubt anyone here would want him.

Since we missed out on Parker I think Leonhard would be a good choice.

I wonder if they're going to try and keep our current defense together, with same general strategy?

Or if it's going to be full new scheme and rebuild? That wouldnt be wise. GB is built to win now...

I wonder if we bring in Al Harris. An all time great GBP. And have him implement the same defensive scheme we had in 2025? Have Al Harris's version of it at least.... An established DC wouldn't be willing to abandon their scheme to do something like that... You'd have to promote from within. Which even though Harris is currently a Bear. We all know he is a GBP. Lol.

Bears defense had some of that ol Woodson/Harris/Collins magic where they could seemingly go get a turn over any time GB really needed one....