ESPN La Crosse 105.5

Packers ‘attack front’ under Jeff Hafley should result in more disruption

By: Paul Bretl 5/15/24

Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafely, one of the more noticeable differences in his system compared to Joe Barry’s will take place along the defensive front, where the defenders will be responsible for attacking one-gap rather than trying to defend two of them.

In Barry’s two-gap defense, as the name suggests, each member of the defensive line was responsible for two gaps, tasked with reading the movements of the offensive line and the backfield, then determining which gap was the most vulnerable and trying to fill it. Interior defenders are more so space eaters in this style of defense, helping to create opportunities for the edge rushers and linebackers to make the plays.

In Hafley’s defense, however, with the defensive line responsible for only one gap, there should be a much more proactive play style instead of reactive, with the front asked to get north and south quickly, penetrating their way into the backfield, rather than reacting to what the offense is doing.

Former Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels said that the role of the defensive line in this system is “simplified” as it allows them to “cut it loose.” Kenny Clark said that it should allow the front to be “way more disruptive.”

“It’s an attack front, guys,” said defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich. “If you put the tape on with San Fran, Houston, the Jets, things like that, been very fortunate in my background being in Buffalo and in Jacksonville and that’s really what we did back then, so been fortunate to be around it.

“But it is, it’s about TFLs and sacks. We’re going to look to create havoc in the backfield. Every down, we’re looking to penetrate and make something big happen. Offensive linemen, not moving so fast laterally, they’re going to have to stay on the line of scrimmage a little bit longer with the movements and the ability for us to get in the backfield.”

As already alluded to, this system should benefit the entire defensive front, but one player whose name keeps getting brought up as someone who will thrive playing this way is Devonte Wyatt, as this one-gap defense fits his skill set and play style to a tee.

Last season, Wyatt’s 48 pressures were the fourth-most on the team and the 20th-most in the NFL among his position group. He also ranked 12th in pass rush win rate, but a new level of play for Wyatt under Hafley could be unlocked.

“The thing about Devonte Wyatt he’s quick, fast, and athletic,” Rebrovich said. “So you’re going to have to develop things around him to use those attributes. So what a great opportunity for him and us.

“That’s the mindset that we’re working to develop is creating those TFLs, that mindset of getting into the backfievery one he executes everyone of those. He checks all the boxes. So we’re definitely looking for a great outcome for that young man for this upcoming season.”

If the Packers defense as a whole is going to improve in 2024, it starts with more consistent play upfront. In 2023, the Packers’ pass rush ran very hot and cold, recording seven games where they pressured the quarterback on 45 percent of more of his dropbacks, which is an excellent rate. However, on the flip side, there were also seven games where Green Bay pressured the opposing quarterback on fewer than 30 percent of his dropbacks, which is the opposite of excellent.

Then as we all know, the run game continued to provide this unit with issues, with the Packers ranking 23rd in yards per carry allowed, along with giving up a league-high four games of 200-plus rushing yards.

Success for any defense starts up front. The best way to slow any offensive play is with a quick push up the middle. Slowing the run puts the offense in obvious passing situations, giving the defense the advantage in coverage and allowing the front to pin its ears back, while pressure leads to mistakes that can hopefully be capitalized on.

Ultimately, it’s up to the players on the field to execute and make plays, but Hafley’s defense should create more opportunities for the Packers’ defensive line to be in positions to make that happen.

“Anytime you’re trying to create things in the backfield, you’ve got to have the whole group swarm to make the play,” added Rebrovich. “Can’t just be one guy making the tackle. So, you’ve got to make sure when you are creating a new line of scrimmage, when you are working to get in the backfield, there’s other guys that are going to converge. You can’t just sit there and watch one guy try and work to make one play.

“We’re the first line of defense. The rest of the guys are going to sit back there and do what they need to do. We are going to work to get our forces in first. If that force goes in and is able to create that great opportunity for us defensively, then let’s go to the next play.”

On Packers’ OL unit where versatility is key, Josh Myers’ sole focus is on center

By: Paul Bretl 5/14/24

Versatility is a hallmark element of the Green Bay Packers offensive line, providing them with seemingly endless combinations when it comes to constructing the starting five. However, for Josh Myers, his sole focus is on playing center.

“We need depth, so we’re going to cross-train them all,” said offensive line coach Luke Butkus. “Obviously, Josh Myers is our center but as far as everybody else, we’re going to cross-train them and put the best five out there. It’s competition so it’s making everybody better.”

Myers has battled up and down play throughout his career with the Packers, which is why, particularly over the last year, his role as the starting center has been brought into question, at least from those outside of the organization.

As last season progressed, much like the rest of the offense, Myers’ play improved. In five of the Packers final six games of the season, Myers allowed just three combined pressures and one sack. In the previous 13 games, he allowed four sacks and 19 pressures.

In total, Myers ranked 19th out of 38 centers in pass-blocking efficiency and 33rd in PFF’s run-blocking grade.

“Just to continue to grow, just like our expectations for everybody,” said Butkus. “Every day, get better. That’s where Josh excelled last year. He did get better as the year went on and he had command of this offense and took charge, was a little bit more vocal toward the end in commanding this offense. So, what do we need from him? Just to get better every single day. Keep improving.”

Although Myers’ play on the field is going to garner most of the attention – and understandably so – as offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich has pointed out, and what can go unnoticed, is the leadership role that Myers took on last season within the offensive line room.

Also, not to be forgotten about, is Myers’ rapport with Jordan Love, along with his ability pre-snap to identify blitzes and communicate protection responsibilities so that everyone is on the same page. Of course, at the end of the day, a player has to perform on the field, but at the center position, all of these other elements matter as well.

All offseason, GM Brian Gutekunst has harped on the importance of competition within each position group. While Myers’ sole focus this summer will be on playing only center, that doesn’t necessarily mean he is just going to be handed that starting job either.

The Packers draft class has provided them with a few potential options when it comes to challenging Myers. From the sounds of it, Jordan Morgan will begin at left tackle, where he spent his college career. But regardless of whether it is Morgan or Rasheed Walker who wins that battle, the other could slide over to right tackle, allowing Zach Tom to potentially move to center.

Fifth-round pick Jacob Monk has the versatility to play all three interior offensive line positions, but at the NFL level, he could be at his best playing center, potentially challenging Myers this summer.

“It’s a great deal, man,” added Butkus. “Drafting three guys that we brought in and the two free agents that we brought in but, just like anything else, it’s May. What we’re going to try to do is put the best five out there. I think Steno says this, Matt says it, as a group, collectively, we’ll decide which five are out there.

“The challenge is for these young guys to come in and quickly learn our language, quickly how we do things. So, they’re a little bit behind; our guys have been here for a few weeks already. These guys got to get caught up. It’s a good challenge to have and, like I said, starting May, we have until August, so it’ll be fun.”

Myers has provided the Packers with stability at the center position, starting there since he was drafted. However, he also hasn’t provided the Packers with the level of play that they were hoping to get from a second-round pick, either.

Myers is now entering the final year of his rookie deal and on a unit where having versatility is a must, he won’t be cross-training like his counterparts will. Obviously, a lot can change between now and the regular season, but if Myers is going to be starting come Week 1, center appears to be his only path to doing so.

Packers CB Jaire Alexander carrying late-season momentum into 2024 offseason

By: Paul Bretl 5/10/24

As the defensive coordinator, it’ll be Jeff Hafley’s job to get improved play from the entire defensive unit. However, a key factor in that happening at a macro level will be helping cornerback Jaire Alexander return to his All-Pro form.

Injuries limited Alexander to only nine games last season, including the playoffs. He was also suspended for the Packers Week 17 game against Minnesota for going on the field the week prior during the coin toss when he wasn’t one of the elected captains.

Matt LaFleur discussed how difficult the decision to suspend Alexander was, but added that it provided a good learning opportunity for both sides. And upon Alexander’s return in Week 18, his play improved as well.

In the six games prior to the suspension, Alexander allowed 24 completions on 31 targets at almost 13.0 yards per catch with five pass breakups. However, in the three games following the suspension, two of which were playoff games, Alexander held pass-catchers to four receptions on eight targets at 6.8 yards per catch with an interception and a pass breakup.

After finishing the 2023 season on a high note, Alexander has continued to ride that momentum into the 2024 offseason. Alexander did not participate in the voluntary offseason activities last year, but this offseason, he has been present and helping to lead a relatively young defensive backs room.

“I can’t really speak on what happened last year, and in the past,” said passing game coordinator Derek Ansley, “but when I’ve gotten here and Haf’s gotten here, we’ve seen nothing but his best. He’s been in here two or three weeks before we started Phase 1, working with the strength coaches, getting ahead. Phenomenal attitude.

“He’s been here every day for Phase 2. He’s leading that group the right way. He’s breaking down the groups. A lot of energy every morning. He’s been the same guy, so he’s been a joy to work with that way. We’re proud of that. We don’t take that for granted and we expect a lot out of him because he’s got a lot to give.”

During training camp last summer, the cornerback position was considered one of the strongest position groups on this Packers team–if not the strongest. But as we saw throughout last season, things can change quickly in the NFL. Now, entering the 2024 season, this is a group with some unknowns.

The starting boundary spot opposite of Alexander will be up for grabs this summer, with Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes competing for that role. The Packers need a Year 2 leap from Valentine, but that’s never guaranteed. And I’m not sure anyone knows what to expect from Stokes, who missed most of 2023 and was having a down 2022 season prior to his injury.

At the nickel, the Packers have Keisean Nixon back, who had some ups and downs last season, and we could see rookie safety Javon Bullard taking some snaps there as well.

If the Packers defense as a whole is going to improve, then more ball production on the back end is going to be required. Last season, the Packers’ seven interceptions were the second-fewest in football and they also ranked 23rd in pass breakups.

Hafley’s vision-based, more man-heavy defensive approach should help put the Packers’ cornerbacks in better positions to make plays on the football. Hafley has also been praised by former players – including Richard Sherman – for his ability as a teacher and to build game-plans that allow the defenders to play fast and physical, another aspect that can contribute to improved play from this unit as a whole.

“I think Jaire Alexander can play in any system,” said Ansley. “He’s a football player; very instinctive, very talented, got cat-like reactionary quickness. He’s tough. He’s got really good power that can shut it down with those big guys out on the red line.

“We always talk about being out on the red line, there’s no help out there. There’s no Wi-Fi service. There’s no phone a friend. You gotta be able to hold up out there on Doubs, Justin Jefferson, some of those guys and he has that skillset to do it.”

At this stage of the offseason, Hafley’s focus for the cornerbacks, and the entire defense, is on fundamentals and technique, because without those elements, the scheme doesn’t much matter.

As Hafley said on Monday when meeting with reporters, the vibes are high right now in the cornerback room, where it’s going to be a competitive environment–and a key contributor to those vibes is Alexander’s presence within the building.

“I think Jaire’s been outstanding. He looks great, he looks like he’s in great shape. He’s really been busting his butt. He’s been the leader we expect him to be, so it’s been a great start to the offseason for him.”

Year 2 leap for Carrington Valentine key to adding stability at CB for Packers

By: Paul Bretl 5/9/24

That Year 2 leap, which so many successful NFL players make, is going to be crucial for Carrington Valentine in helping to provide stability at the cornerback position for the Green Bay Packers.

“Biggest jump in my opinion in my years and time of being in the NFL is from your rookie to sophomore year,” said defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich. “Every guy that you see that luckily I’ve been around, I say I, we, us, organization, coaches, from Year 1 to Year 2 that is when that light, that is when it clicks.

“At this level as you guys have heard me say, it’s knowing about you’re matchup. It’s knowing about protections. It’s knowing about the scheme. You’ve got to know where the fit is. You’re not looking over at the sideline and looking at a card to tell you where you’re alignment is like college football is right now. And it’s different and these guys have got to take the time to learn it.”

On the one hand, you can look at the cornerback position for the Packers and see a room with Jaire Alexander on one side, along with Eric Stokes and Valentine competing for playing time on the other, Keisean Nixon in the slot, and Corey Ballentine as experienced depth.

On the other end of that spectrum, a jump for Valentine isn’t a given. Stokes, at this point in his career, is an unknown after missing most of 2023 and struggling in 2022 prior to his injury, while Nixon had his ups and downs at the nickel.

In order to prevent the latter scenario from taking place, Valentine will play a key role in doing so.

As a seventh-round rookie in 2023, injuries forced the Packers to rely heavily on Valentine, who rose to the occasion. Valentine played 846 snaps, allowing a completion rate of 56 percent on 72 targets, with five pass breakups and a passer rating of 80.2 when targeted.

“When you just watch his POA tape throughout the season,” said new passing game coordinator Derek Ansley, “you don’t really see a rookie. At least I didn’t. Obviously, he has some things he has to clean up and he knows that and we’ve been working hard attacking those things, but Carrington’s wired the right way.

“He fits right in with that group very well, with Ja and Stokes and Keisean, and Corey Ballentine, Robert Rochelle. All those guys are all wired the right way. Credit to Gute and his staff for identifying those guys and they all have unique skillsets. They’re long and they’re fast. With that skillset, we have a lot to work with.”

Contributing to what hopefully becomes a Year 2 leap for Valentine will be playing in a defensive system under Jeff Hafley that utilizes more man coverage, which suits Valentine’s skill set well.

Hafley’s coaching background is also rooted in working with defensive backs, and he has been praised by former players for his ability as a teacher, and to simplify the game-plan, so defenders are playing fast rather than overthinking.

If this Packers’ defense as a whole is going to take a step forward in 2024, they have to be better on the back-end. This was a unit that generated only seven interceptions last season, the second-fewest in football, and ranked 23rd in pass breakups. A more aggressive play-style should help in this regard, but at the end of the day, players have to make plays.

At this stage of the offseason, Hafley’s focus for the cornerbacks, and the defense as a whole, is on fundamentals and technique, because without those elements, the scheme doesn’t much matter.

As Hafley said on Monday when meeting with reporters, the vibes are high right now in the cornerback room, where it’s going to be a competitive environment. When it comes to Valentine, he has attacked the offseason and as we progress towards training camp, the next step is seeing those strides on the field, something this Packers’ secondary would benefit greatly from.

“Carrington Valentine looks so much better, physically in terms of – it’s hard for these guys,” said Matt LaFleur. “They go through the draft process, go on all these visits and training for the combine. When they get a real offseason to just focus on their bodies, it’s amazing how much growth they can have. I think we’ve seen that from C.V. It’s a very competitive defensive backfield, one that we’re really excited about.”

‘Big jump’ coming for Packers backup QB Sean Clifford in Year 2

By: Paul Bretl 5/9/24

The Green Bay Packers selected Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt in the seventh round of this year’s draft, however, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t bullish on Sean Clifford as the backup either.

“He developed throughout the year,” said quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, “which is what you’d like to see. He’s doing a great job in this offseason. So I think he’ll make a big jump from year one to year two.”

The Packers’ choosing to draft a quarterback shouldn’t have come as a surprise. In fact, GM Brian Gutekunst told us at the NFL Combine that he wanted to get back to drafting and developing the quarterback position.

My sense is that drafting Pratt was more so about adhering to an organizational philosophy that goes well beyond Gutekunst’s tenure as GM, where the development of the quarterback position is prioritized, almost regardless of what the depth chart looks like, and it was less about the Packers feeling a sense of urgency to find an upgrade for Clifford.

From the outside looking in, we saw very little of Clifford last season. He completed his one pass attempt for 37 yards to Bo Melton in the Packers’ Week 17 blowout win against Minnesota. In the preseason, he completed 72 percent of his 57 attempts at 6.9 yards per attempt, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

One intangible trait that LaFleur often used to describe Clifford was ‘resiliency.’ Regardless of what had just happened, whether it be a turnover, a sack, or a missed throw, Clifford was very quick to bounce back and move on. He’s a competitor.

However, a big part of Clifford’s responsibilities as the backup was running the scout team offense each week. In that role, just like many of the other Packers’ rookies, Clements saw growth in Clifford as the year went on.

“Sean, he definitely did grow,” said Clements. He’s like a game-type gamer. A little bit of Matt Flynn in him. Once the season started, and he was running the scout team, and he started to become more familiar with our offense and then running opposing team’s offenses, you usually have a lot of similar plays, and he ran the scout team very well, ran the huddle well, he’s a good leader, and he started to make plays throughout the year.”

As the backup quarterback, obviously, that player has to be ready to step in at any time if an injury happens. There is also leading the scout team offense against the starting defense each week as well. But another key part of the role is being an extra set of eyes for Jordan Love, whether that be in the flim room, on the practice field, or the sidelines on Sundays–and this is a role that Clifford has fully embraced.

“Well, as a backup,” added Clements, “you want someone if the starter is out for a game or a couple of games to come in there and run the team. Be able to lead the team and get a win because you want to continue to win if you’re starter is not there. Got to know the offense, which I’m sure that will happen and have the confidence of the other guys in the huddle and I think that will happen.”

I’m sure if Pratt is able to come in and push Clifford, creating some additional competition, the Packers will be thrilled. All offseason, Gutekunst has continually mentioned the importance of competition within every room.

With that said, don’t forget about Clifford either, just because there is a new quarterback on the team. The Packers are ‘super excited’ about what they have in him, as LaFleur put it, and with Clifford having a full year in the NFL and in LaFleur’s offense, he is going to have a massive leg up in any potential competition that takes place this summer with Pratt.

“As I said, usually there’s a big jump from year one to year so I anticipate that to be the case,” Clements said. “You just have to be ready to go. Sean is very into the game. If you watch him on the sidelines, he’s always talking to Jordan, learning, watching what’s going on out on the field. He loves football, so he just needs to continue to work and be ready.”

A more versatile role for Packers RB AJ Dillon?

By: Paul Bretl 5/8/24

Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon could potentially take on a more versatile role with the team this season, perhaps filling the void at H-back with Josiah Deguara now in Jacksonville.

“AJ is another guy that I think can be a high-volume guy,” Matt LaFleur said at the NFL Owners Meetings. “Unfortunately, this year, he battled through a lot of (injury) stuff throughout the course of the season, but I thought just from the things he was able to bring from a pass-protection standpoint this year, this was his best year at pass pro.

“So we know what we’re getting with AJ Dillon. I think there’s some versatility we can start to use with him moving forward, and start to use him more as a movable piece, not just a tailback.”

As the H-back, Deguara played roughly 15-20 snaps per game with the emergence of Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft at tight end. However, this is a role that is an important part of the Matt LaFleur offense.

During LaFleur’s tenure as the head coach, at various times we’ve heard him use the phrase ‘the illusion of complexity.’ In short, this means keeping defenses off-balanced and guessing by running a wide variety of plays from just a few personnel packages, along with concepts building off each other throughout the course of the game with like-plays–or plays that start similarly but end up quite different.

In order to have the ‘illusion of complexity,’ it requires versatile players, and the H-back plays a role in that with the player’s ability to line up all over the formation, in addition to being able to impact both the run and passing games.

Dillon has proven to be a reliable option for the Packers in a variety of situations, whether that be in pass protection, as a ball carrier, and in the passing game, where Dillon has caught 82 percent of his career targets along with lining up in the slot and out wide.

“I think he’s definitely capable of that,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans when asked if Dillon can play H-back. “I still remember a play we have called 18 Zoro where he helps the tight end blocking off the edge and roll up to the next level.

“He did a great job with that and so many other things that we had him leading to even if he was blocking for a wide receiver so he can do some of those things and with him doing that, obviously it’ll make our offense a lot more diverse because you saw how he is catching the ball out of the backfield, especially the last half of the season, he can make things happen. Having him being that diverse is going to help this offense.”

If Dillon does take on more of an H-back role this season, there could be a trickle-down effect when it comes to the roster construction. When Deguara was the H-back, he operated out of the tight end room. Current fullback Henry Pearson, who could also fill the H-back role, is with the tight ends as well.

If the Packers keep Dillon with the running backs, that likely means that Emanuel Wilson will be left off the roster–it’s hard to envision the Packers keeping four. Admittedly, it’s also hard to imagine Dillon with the tight ends, but if that were to happen, it either means releasing Tyler Davis – a core special teams contributor – or rostering five tight ends, which can impact numbers at other positions.

Regardless of what position or role Dillon takes on, while reliability is important, the Packers also need more playmaking from him.

Dillon averaged just 3.4 yards per carry for the season but he did improve during the second half prior to his injury.

Through the first seven games, Dillon averaged 3.13 yards per rush with only one game where he averaged more than 4.0 yards per attempt. During his final eight games, he averaged 3.73 yards per carry with four games over 4.0 yards per rush.

Dillon is back on a one-year deal and is far from a roster lock with the Packers incurring a dead cap hit of only $167,500 if is released. With Josh Jacobs and Marshawn Lloyd, an opportunity at H-back could allow a path for Dillon to carve out a role.

“I think really just like as you mentioned his second half of the season,” added Sirmans, “I think that’s what he expects of himself as well as what we expect of him is when this thing kicks off, for him that’s the floor of where we want him to start and where he wants to start. It’s like I told him and sometimes you can even see it, like if you took a bunch of his best plays and you put them – I know highlights make everybody look great – but if you put some of his best plays on a highlight reel, which we do when we do our POA tapes at the end of the year, you’re sitting there saying to yourself, ‘Man this guy’s got the makings of a stud’ with some of the things he’s able to do catching as well as running back and his pass protection got way better this year.

“When you add all of those things and you figure out, OK, we just got to have a level of consistency with you playing like this and then this is when you’re the monster that we know that we have. That’s why I feel pretty good that’s the guy we’re going to see a lot of more that consistent AJ.”

‘Building a fast and physical’ Packers defense starts with fundamentals for Jeff Hafley

By: Paul Bretl 5/7/24

While the Packers make the shift to new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s system, which includes transitioning from a 3-4 base defense to a 4-3, the emphasis at this time of the year is on fundamentals and technique. Without those aspects, nothing else really matters.

“There’s nothing more important than fundamentals and technique,” said Hafley on Monday. “Whether it’s the D-line getting off the ball and working on their stance and starts, whether it’s a guy learning how to play man to man or zone drop and where to put his eyes and what to do and how to react when certain things happen, tackling and attacking the football, the things are going to be most important during a game, taking on a block, where to put their eyes, getting off the block.

“Those are the things you’ve got to teach these guys because without that, you can’t play, right? And that whether you’re hitting a sled or tackling a bag. You can’t take those things for granted. We want to diagram all these blitzes and all these coverages, which we all can do, but if we’re not playing fast and physical and getting off blocks and tackling then none of that matters.”

That’s the goal: fast and physical. It’s a phrase we’ve heard countless times over the last week-and-a-half since the NFL draft, but it’s a big part of Hafley’s recipe for success.

If Step 1 of this implementation process is having the players become really good at the fundamentals of playing defense, then Step 2 for Hafley and his staff is figuring out where each of these defenders is at their best so they can be put into positions to make plays.

As Hafley gets to know the Packers defenders better, both on the field and who they are off of it, he will insert them into different spots to see how they fit and will move them around if necessary. Rather than fitting the players to the scheme, even if at times it’s like putting a square peg into a round hole, Hafley will mold his scheme to the skill sets that his players bring to the table to get the most out of them.

“So that’s what we’re going to teach them right now,” said Hafley about the fundamentals, “and then you start to insert them where we feel they fit, and then we’ve got a pretty good defense.

“Because it’s still about the players. It’s not about the scheme right now. It’s about the players. It’s our job to maximize their ability, which I talked to you guys about when I got here. And now that we see what we have, we’ve got to make sure we do that. And that’s why you love coming to work every day right now. It’s just football again, and these guys are so bought in.”

With all of that said, it’s not as if Hafley and the position coaches haven’t been implementing his new scheme on the practice field during Phase II of offseason programs or in the classroom–they absolutely are.

However, Hafley’s point is that, to a degree, the scheme at this stage of the offseason takes a back seat to fundamentals and learning about where each of the defenders fits best. These two elements will result in fast and physical play, helping to elevate the scheme. Whereas, on the flip side, without those factors, the scheme doesn’t much matter.

“One, we had the staff here, so we sat down and we kind of looked at our vision of what we wanted this defense to be,” said Hafley on implementing his defense. “And then you decide what you want to install early and see how much we can get in in this short time that we have. And then you look at all the meeting time that we’ve been able to get with these guys, and you have a lot of time in the classroom, so we just kind of mapped out our installation, we detailed the fundamentals and techniques of the coverages that we want to play first.

“And we’re kind of going from part to whole, right? We’re teaching certain drops, we’re teaching certain coverages, and then we’re kind of showing them how they can plug-and-play and become a whole bunch of different coverages. So we’re kind of stressing the fundamentals and techniques within the coverages because without those I don’t think you can be good at anything.”

As Hafley goes through this process, there is a certain balance that has to be struck when relying heavily on several rookies at linebacker and safety. With versatility being so important to Hafley’s defense, he will, of course, want to maximize those abilities within the players, but he also has to make sure they get comfortable and really good in one or two specific areas.

Accomplishing this involves circling back to Steps 1 and 2 of the process, which is fundamentals, and putting the players where Hafley believes they can make the biggest impact.

For returning players, there will be an adjustment as well, and at some positions more than others. The defensive front is going to be attacking, as Hafley put it. This isn’t going to be a passive read-and-react front. Instead, they’re job is to get upfield and get after the quarterback.

At linebacker, there will be heavy coverage responsibilities, while the cornerbacks will see more man coverage opportunities, and the safeties will be lined up in Cover-1 more often.

“For the D-line, they’re going to be asked to do some different things than they would playing in 3-4 spacing,” Hafley said. “Some are going to have their hand down on the ground more. But when it comes to getting off blocks and tackling, those guys have all done that. It’s just sharpening it, making it better.

“But there’s certainly some things in coverage that are going to be new, and that’s what we’re trying to spend the most amount of time on now so they get a good understanding. I think that’s going to be process and our job is as we go just to keep getting better and faster and get better at it and get faster at because they have to be comfortable.”

Whether it has been Matt LaFleur or some of Hafley’s former players like Jordan Fuller, Tashaun Gipson, or Richard Sherman, all of them have praised Hafley for his ability as a teacher and to keep the gameplan simple so players are out on the field reacting rather than overthinking.

That’s a simple concept, but one that isn’t always easily attainable either. Seeing that play style come to fruition in September starts with what is being done in early May by building a unit that plays fast and physical, and ultimately, that will create a confident group that is able to thrive in the new system.

“Like I talk about,” added Hafley, “I want a defense that’s going to be confident, and it’s not going to be nervous about making mistakes. Play style’s important to me and how fast we play and physical and attacking the ball and all that stuff, but the only way to do that is they’ve got to know what they’re doing.

“So you teach all those things we talked about, then you learn the scheme and then you let them go play. So there are some things that are new, but the cool part is is right now they’re all buying in and really focusing on learning it and that’s what gives us a chance each day when we come in. So give those guys credit for that.”

Versatility gives Packers seemingly endless OL configurations

By: Paul Bretl 5/6/24

With the versatility that the Packers have from a number of different players along the offensive line, predicting the starting five in early May feels a bit like rolling five dice and knowing not only what numbers will pop up but the exact order.

“Very excited about it,” said Adam Stenavich on Monday about the versatility this unit has. “I think it’s just a matter of putting the best group out there and there’s a lot of different combinations, like I said, that we’ll see. We’ll see how it all shakes out. That’s one thing we’re always pretty intentional about is working guys at multiple positions to just see where they fit best. I think that’s kind of what we’ll be doing in OTAs and the early part of camp.”

When it comes to offensive line play, the sum of the parts is greater than any individual. It’s why when Brian Gutekunst, Matt LaFleur, or Stenavich are asked about the offensive line configuration, their response is often that it’s about putting the best five players on the field–which may not necessarily mean, however, that each individual player will be at the position they play best. An example of this could be Zach Tom lining up at right tackle instead of center, where the Packers reportedly think extremely highly of him.

This also makes it even more difficult to decipher, particularly at this time of the year, what the starting configuration up front is going to look like.

From the sounds of it, Jordan Morgan will compete with Rasheed Walker at left tackle–at least for the time being. While Walker finished the season strong, LaFleur has said he still has “a lot of room for improvement,” specifically needing to become more consistent over the course of the 60-70 snaps that are played on offense each week. Although the Packers do remain confident in him.

However, one of the reasons that the Packers drafted Morgan was because of the versatility that they believe he possesses, which means not only playing either tackle position but playing guard as well, where he could push Sean Rhyan on the right side, who does have to improve in pass protection.

“I wouldn’t say he’s a tackle,” said Stenavich of Morgan, “I wouldn’t say he’s a guard, I just wanna see where he fits best for us and with our best five out there. So that may be at tackle. It might not be, but I’m excited to work with him and you can see his athleticism when he’s out there. He’s a pretty talented guy.”

Along with Morgan, the Packers also drafted Jacob Monk, who has the ability to play all three interior offensive line positions and could potentially challenge Rhyan and/or Josh Myers for playing time as well.

Moving Tom to center could be another option that Packers have, and has been a topic of conversation over the last year. When it comes to possibly replacing Tom at right tackle, the Packers do have options on the roster. Morgan or maybe Walker could take over at right tackle if the Packers are willing to have either swap sides of the line. The Packers also have Luke Tenuta and Caleb Jones who they have been developing the past two seasons, with both players on a similar path as Yosh Nijman was when he joined the team in 2019.

With that said, a recent article from Tom Silverstein suggests that a move inside for Tom may not be in the cards, or at least not at this time.

While Myers has experienced his ups and downs, it’s also important to note the leadership role he has taken on in that offensive line room, and his ability pre-snap to identify and communicate pressures effectively so that everyone is on the same page are important factors that often go unseen.

“Like last year, other guys had to step up and basically take the room over and that’s where you saw guys like Elgton and Josh Myers really just become the leaders of the room, so that was fun to watch from that aspect. Obviously losing David (Bakhtiari) wasn’t fun, but that’s one thing about football. You just gotta move on and play with the guys you have and make the best of it.”

So very quickly, you can see how it would be difficult to get a beat on what the Packers want to do up front. Presumably, Morgan and Walker could play either tackle spot. Morgan could also play guard, while Tom and Jenkins can play all five spots. Rhyan and Monk, meanwhile, could both play either guard spot, with Monk also able to play center. If needed, Myers could move to guard as well. The combinations seem endless.

Competition was a cornerstone behind the improved offensive line play we saw over the second half of last season, with in-game rotations taking place at left tackle and right guard. But the Packers did lose Yosh Nijman and Jon Runyan, two experienced players who were a part of those rotations, during the offseason to free agency.

However, the fact that the Packers will be relying on less experienced players this summer won’t stop them from fostering that competition. In fact, with all the versatility that they have, along with their willingness to move players around, competition should flourish.

“We got a lot of good depth that it’ll raise it up,” said Stenavich of the competition in the trenches. “There’s guys that maybe don’t have as much experience as opposed to a Sean Rhyan versus Jon Runyan, but there’s still a lot of guys who can play. We’re never afraid to play young guys. It’s just one of those things that’ll give them all opportunities and see who rises.”

There’s no reason that this Packers offense shouldn’t be among the best this season, but it’s my belief that the ceiling for this unit will be determined by the play of the offensive line. A run game to lean and to open up opportunities in the passing game, along with give Jordan Love time, will be the catalyst behind any consistent success they have.

Sitting here in early May, we can all make our best guesses and predictions about who the Packers starting five is going to be come Week 1, and the fact that there are so many possibilities says quite a bit about the depth that they’ve built. But until training camp and the preseason take place, and we see how each of these players are performing and where they’re lined up most often, these projections are educated guesses, at best.

“I mean the fun thing about where we’re at right now with the O-line is you can look at it and there’s a a lot of different combinations of guys,” added Stenavich, “whether tackle, guard, center, whoever, that you could move around and still have a pretty good O-line. So I’m excited to kind of see how it all shakes out.”

Observations and takeaways from Packers rookie minicamp

By: Paul Bretl 5/4/24

The Green Bay Packers held their two-day rookie minicamp on Friday and Saturday following the 2024 NFL draft–the first opportunity to get the recent draft picks in the building while trying to get them up to speed on everything as quickly as possible.

“Well first of all,” said Matt LaFleur on Friday, “it’s just good to get ’em in the building to start to form a relationship with these guys and find out what they’re all about and try to push them to be their best. You wanna see everything they do, from the meeting room to on the field and how they compete. I think that’s huge for us.

“I think my time here, Gutey and his crew do such a great job of bringing in high character, especially high football character individuals, guys that truly love the game, that wanna be great and that makes our job a hell of a lot easier and it makes it a lot more fun, too, when you’re working with guys that wanna put in the work, that are willing to do all the little things that it takes in order to be their best and so, yeah, it’s great to get the guys in the building, get ’em acclimated and start to get to know ’em.”

As is always the case at this time of the year, any thoughts or takeaways on what occurred should be taken with a rather large grain of salt. However, there were a things from the locker room availability and two days of practices that did stand out.

What is rookie minicamp? Matt LaFleur prefers to have rookie minicamp right after the draft as a way to get the players in the building right away to give them the playbook and other information prior to joining the veterans for Phase II of the offseason programs on May 13th. The rookies get acclimated to the facilities, meet the coaches, go through meetings, and participate in a few practices.

Who participated? There were 50 players on the Packers rookie minicamp roster. This included their 11 draft picks, the eight undrafted rookies they signed, and several players from last year’s practice squad, such as Grant DuBose, Henry Pearson, Ellis Merriweather, Anthony Johnson (the cornerback), Keshawn Banks, Kadeem Telfort, Joel Wilson and Kenneth Odumegwu. Also invited were 18 players in for a tryout, highlighted by former Washington quarterback Jacob Eason. Below were the tryout participants:

Duke punter Porter Wilson
Buffalo kicker Alex McNulty
Samford receiver Rory Starkey
Troy cornerback Don Callis
Kansas cornerback Kalon Gervin
Pittsburg State tight end Devon Garrison
Eastern Kentucky linebacker Logan Blake
Texas A&M linebacker Chris Russell
Florida International defensive lineman Jack Daly
Arkansas defensive lineman Roje Stona
California wide receiver Brian Hightower
Albany receiver Julian Hicks
Iowa State receiver Dimitri Stanley
Limestone receiver Drew Dixon
Northwest Missouri State receiver Kaden Davis

These tryout candidates aren’t only here to fill out the rookie minicamp roster so the Packers can run some productive 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, but the coaching staff is taking a good look at each player to see if they want to consider signing them. If the Packers were to make a move, because their roster is currently at max capacity, a cut would have to follow.

“Oh absolutely,” said LaFleur when asked about looking at the tryouts. “That’s always – as a matter of fact, we had some discussions out on the field today. They’ve already started. I think it is best – you gotta go back and watch the tape to really get a better vantage point of how they performed but some guys flashed out there on certain plays and it sparks your interest. As long as they’re out there on the field, they have an opportunity.”

Matt LaFleur thought Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper “really stood out.” As I was watching the linebackers go through individual drills, you could really notice the quickness and speed that both Cooper and Hopper possess, something Brian Gutekunst spoke very highly of after Day 2 of the draft. Hopper was at inside linebacker – although that doesn’t mean that is where he will stay – while Cooper came away with a one-handed interception.

Former quarterback Alex McGough made the move to wide receiver. My guess is that the Packers go into training camp with three quarterbacks on the roster, which they now have after drafting Michael Pratt. McGough moving to receiver gives him a better chance to stick.

“He’s just he’s a really athletic guy,” LaFleur said. “And one thing that you guys didn’t get to see last year is he spent a lot of time on the practice squad on the scout team running receiver routes. I mean, he did such a great job.

“And you know, we feel like he’s just such a talented athlete, why not give him a chance there? He’s a smart guy, works his tail off. I think he can definitely contribute on “we-fense” (special teams) as well. So we felt like that might be his best chance here.”

While many draft analysts believe Jordan Morgan would be best at guard, he is determined to prove that he’s a starting left tackle, and by all accounts up to this point, that is where he’s going to begin carving out a potential role.

“I was out there today at left tackle,” said Morgan during Friday’s rookie minicamp media availability. “I’m trying to show that I’m a true left tackle and show I’ll be out there on the edge to protect the quarterback.”

My UDFA to watch this summer is Donovan Jennings from USF. Jennings checks a lot of the boxes that the Packers look for in an offensive lineman–he is a very good athlete, is an experienced player coming out of college, and is versatile. While he spent most of his time in college at tackle, the Packers will start him out at guard. On top of that, there is an opportunity to make the team with only Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, and Sean Rhyan as roster locks along the interior.

Some quick hits:

As the Packers were going through warmups under new Strength and Conditioning coach Aaron Hill, the skill position players were going through different stretches than the bigger players. Warmup also lasted for 20 minutes, which was longer than training camp last summer.
It took less than a minute of watching the inside linebacker drills to see the energy that new Linebacker Coach Anthony Campanile brings to the team. Throughout this offseason, you can tell that having more juice from the defensive coaching staff is something LaFleur emphasized as he helped put that group together, including the hiring of Jeff Hafley.
As already mentioned, Jordan Morgan was at left tackle. Next to him was undrafted rookie Donovan Jennings and then Jacob Monk at center. You can really see Morgan’s initial burst and quick feet in space.
After the draft, Gutekunst talked about Pratt’s “big arm,” and even on easy throws over the middle, you could see the zip he was putting on the ball. It was also noticeable that he was going through his progressions.
A name to watch this summer is Henry Pearson, who is listed as a fullback after spending most of 2023 on the practice squad, but he is a prime candidate to fill the Josiah Deguara H-back role. He had a few catches during 7-on-7s.
Right away, we saw the versatility of Javon Bullard and Evan Williams. Both had opportunities as the deep safety, while Bullard took some slot snaps and Williams handled some box duties as well.
And speaking of the safety position, you could already see Hafley’s stamp on this defense with quite a few single-high looks.
Marshawn Lloy very much looks the part. In a locker room full of NFL athletes, he stands out. On the field when going through drills, his burst was really impressive.
Kitan Oladapo was in a walking boot after having surgery a few weeks ago on a broken toe that he suffered while going through position drills at the NFL Combine. He expects to be back on the field for training camp, but in the meantime will really have to emphasize the importance of mental reps to stay as caught up with everything as he can.

Packers face decision on CB Eric Stokes’ fifth-year option

By: Paul Bretl 4/30/24

The Green Bay Packers have a looming decision to make on cornerback Eric Stokes’ fifth-year option for the 2025 NFL season. By May 2nd, they must either pick up or decline the fifth-year option for next year.

All first-round picks get a four-year rookie deal, just like every other draft pick. However, a difference between being taken in the first-round versus the second-round, for example, is that all first-round selections come with a fifth-year option in addition to the four-year deal.

Sometimes, the obvious difficulty of these decisions is that they have to be made a full year in advance of when the contract and salary cap ramifications take effect.

If the Packers were to pick up Stokes’ option, his contract for the 2024 season would remain the same, but he would essentially play out the 2025 season on a fully guaranteed one-year deal unless an extension were to be reached beforehand, which it often is. In fact, we’ve seen this exact process unfold during the last two seasons with Jaire Alexander in 2022 and Rashan Gary in 2023.

The dollar amounts for these fifth-year options are predetermined by the CBA–so there isn’t any negotiating between the Packers and Stokes. The key factors in determining the amount are the position that the player plays, the amount of playing time they’ve had, and if they’ve made any Pro Bowls.

In Stokes’ case, if the option were picked up, the Packers would pay him $12.47 million in 2025. And as I’ve already alluded to, because this is a one-year deal, and there are no additional years to push cap charges towards, that entire $12.47 million would count towards the Packers 2025 salary cap.

On the flip side, if the Packers were to decline Stokes’ option, he will play out the 2024 season and then would become a free agent next offseason.

As far as what the Packers do, in all likelihood, they are going to decline this option. There are just too many unknowns around Stokes at this time.

Although Stokes put together an impressive rookie season in 2021, prior to his season-ending injury in 2022, he was struggling through those first nine games, allowing a completion rate of 84 percent on 25 targets at 13.1 yards per catch with no pass breakups or interceptions. Then last season, Stokes played just 110 defensive snaps, largely due to hamstring injuries.

By the Packers not spending a draft pick on the cornerback position until the seventh-round, they certainly showed that they have confidence in the group that they currently have on the roster. Jaire Alexander will, of course, be starting on one side of the field, with presumably Stokes and Carrington Valentine competing for the starting spot across from him, while Keisean Nixon, and perhaps Javon Bullard, in the slot.

“I feel pretty good about it right now because we’re running around in shorts and everybody’s healthy,” said GM Brian Gutekunst after the draft. “So, you know, I understand the question. If it would have fallen right, we would have addressed that probably. But it just didn’t. it was kind of one of those years with that position. But right now, I really like our group and I like the way they look. We’ve got a long way to get to September with everybody healthy, but I like the way it looks right now.”

Contributing to what is hopefully improved play from the Packers cornerback unit in 2024 will be the addition of Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator. Hafley has been praised for his ability as a teacher and ability to put together gameplans that allow the defenders to react rather than overthink. Hafley’s more man-heavy approach also suits the skill sets of Alexander, Stokes, and Valentine much better than zone did.

While Stokes may go into the 2024 season with some uncertainty around his future – assuming the Packers decline his option – at any point they still can extend him if he’s able to put together a bounce-back season.

“First of all, we’ve got a lot of confidence in those guys anyways,” said Matt LaFleur of the cornerback position. “Through two weeks of the offseason, the guys are really getting after it, all those guys – Jaire. We’ve got Corey Ballentine back. Obviously CV. Stokes looks great. We’ve got a lot of players that we’re confident in, in terms of going out there and playing at a high level.”