Packers Hire New Defensive Coordinator: Jeff Hafley, formerly Head Coach, Boston College

[milani]

Sure. Point being is it was not a good use of his services. Here’s a guy that ranked #6 in Rookie of the Year voting. In a Sophomore season where he’s poised to grow and potentially get into Probowl Voting or similar, he’s used like a babysitter for our secondary? That didn’t work very well imo.
He had 553 Coverage snaps which was the 15th most for his position group. He had quite a few more coverage snaps than he did Pass Rush and Run Support combined. He allowed a 94% Passer rating. While that’s adequate it’s not like he was a game changer wandering into coverage.

Would like to see better use of Edgerrin Coopers talent. He had double digit sacks his last year in Texas as an Aggie. 0.5 shared sacks across 2025? and he played the 12th most snaps of any LB in the NFL. Coop runs a 1.54 10 yard split, get him running at the QB more where can use his disruptive ability.

Like using Julius Peppers as a LB in the flat instead of a pass rusher. Or putting Aaron Kampman into a 3-4 instead of his natural 4-3 DE spot.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Like using Julius Peppers as a LB in the flat instead of a pass rusher. Or putting Aaron Kampman into a 3-4 instead of his natural 4-3 DE spot.

There is a lot of value in a HC, DC, and OC getting creative. Hafley confused a lot of OCs when he started lining Parsons up in the middle. I remember one play where Parsons would be facing a double or triple team. Hafley had him drop back and these defenders were standing in space wondering who to block. It was hilarious, but shows some creativity in using Parsons as a threat.

 

[DoURant]

Listened to parts of Hafley's press conference in Miami. He is just so well spoken, he doesn't fumble his words, he stated what his core beliefs are, very inspiring, just like he was here.... Oh, and no odd statements like, I hate this team, we're gonna kick these guys butts. Just down to earth this is what I want us to do, and how we can get there.

 

[tynimiller]

Listened to parts of Hafley's press conference in Miami. He is just so well spoken, he doesn't fumble his words, he stated what his core beliefs are, very inspiring, just like he was here.... Oh, and no odd statements like, I hate this team, we're gonna kick these guys butts. Just down to earth this is what I want us to do, and how we can get there.

I believe him when he said he wants GB to succeed in everything except when playing them. Hafley is good people and I wish him the same back honestly.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Packers have interviewed Al Harris for the DC. Lots and lots of interceptions where's he's coached secondaries in Dallas and now Chicago. I think he coaches like he played. Real aggressive and taking risks. If the Packers don't get Jimmy Leonhard, Al Harris is a good alternative.

 

[Magooch]

I'm back and forth on Harris.
Love him from his time here and there is a lot to be excited about.
But at the same time, it seems like his defenses (or position groups) have largely been feast or famine? I remember looking at this ahead of our matchups with the Bears. They had a ton of picks - he basically got career best years out of his DBs - but also were pretty awful in coverage. When they weren't getting picks the Bears secondary was one of the worst in the league for pass coverage. So I don't know. Would our guys who are already somewhat better "ballhawks" than "coverage" players lean into that strength and come up with more takeaways... or would those guys who are not the best coverage players to begin with get even more exposed in coverage? Hard for me to say. Feels like a high risk high reward option I guess. I wouldn't be opposed to the hire in general but I do carry some worry

 

[Heyjoe4]

I'm back and forth on Harris.
Love him from his time here and there is a lot to be excited about.
But at the same time, it seems like his defenses (or position groups) have largely been feast or famine? I remember looking at this ahead of our matchups with the Bears. They had a ton of picks - he basically got career best years out of his DBs - but also were pretty awful in coverage. When they weren't getting picks the Bears secondary was one of the worst in the league for pass coverage. So I don't know. Would our guys who are already somewhat better "ballhawks" than "coverage" players lean into that strength and come up with more takeaways... or would those guys who are not the best coverage players to begin with get even more exposed in coverage? Hard for me to say. Feels like a high risk high reward option I guess. I wouldn't be opposed to the hire in general but I do carry some worry

A great CB knows when to take a risk and jump a route, and when to maintain coverage. Easier said than done, I know. At the same time, Parsons forces a QB to throw a lot faster in the face of a pressure/sack. A good DC, and good CBs, would know when and how to do this. And that's why Gluten's first priority this offseason is to remake the CB group, as he did at S a few years ago. Again, easier said than done.

Finally, there are a number of ways to force TOs. INTs is one way.

I don't know a lot about Harris, so thanks for these data points. There are a lot of good candidates. Just doesn't seem like Harris would be high on the list for GB.

 

[Poppa San]

Finally, I don't remember the last time the Packers had a DC as good as Hafley. Fritz shurmur, maybe?

Not many complaints about Capers his first 2-3 seasons. Afterwards is when the "fire Capers" thread picked up some traction.

 

[milani]

Not many complaints about Capers his first 2-3 seasons. Afterwards is when the "fire Capers" thread picked up some traction.

Capers had some decent players in his initial years. Hawk, Matthews, Woodson, Harris, Raji, Shields, Nick Collins, Pickett, Desmond Bishop. Not a bad bunch.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Not many complaints about Capers his first 2-3 seasons. Afterwards is when the "fire Capers" thread picked up some traction.

Thanks for the reminder. Capers was the DC for the 2011 SB win, I think.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Has Parsons said anything about the Gannon hire?

 

[Heyjoe4]

Like using Julius Peppers as a LB in the flat instead of a pass rusher. Or putting Aaron Kampman into a 3-4 instead of his natural 4-3 DE spot.

Good point. I forgot that they moved Peppers around. Hafley was playing Parsons at edge and LB on occasion, and he;s talented enough to cause damage anywhere.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Listened to parts of Hafley's press conference in Miami. He is just so well spoken, he doesn't fumble his words, he stated what his core beliefs are, very inspiring, just like he was here.... Oh, and no odd statements like, I hate this team, we're gonna kick these guys butts. Just down to earth this is what I want us to do, and how we can get there.

Hafley is a very good coach. The jump to HC from DC is harder, IMO, than from OC. I wish him well, just not against the Packers. He has his work cut out for him in Miami. It's a ? whether or not TT will return, Hill as well after that gruesome injury.

 

[milani]

Good point. I forgot that they moved Peppers around. Hafley was playing Parsons at edge and LB on occasion, and he;s talented enough to cause damage anywhere.

Peppers still managed to make plays even out of place. One that really stands out was in the 2014 playoff against Dallas. He forced a fumble on what may have gone for a long TD by the Cowboy RB. We won 26-21.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Peppers still managed to make plays even out of place. One that really stands out was in the 2014 playoff against Dallas. He forced a fumble on what may have gone for a long TD by the Cowboy RB. We won 26-21.

Yeah Peppers played a lot of great football for the Packers. Makes it even better that he was a Bear before.