New Packers DC Jeff Hafley ‘brings out the best of us,’ challenges HC Matt LaFleur, says Green Bay defender

Practice for the Green Bay Packers defense has taken on a significantly different tone under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

Former Green Bay DC Joe Barry, who worked with Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Sean McVay’s coaching staff in Los Angeles in 2017, did not challenge LaFleur, who is responsible for the team’s offensive play in much the same way that Hafley does Now for the defense. According to Green Bay cornerback and All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon, Hafley’s intensity is elevating the Packers’ defensive level to new heights by doing so.

“I like Haf. Man, Haf is a good guy,” Nixon said smiling in “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams on Monday. “Short guy, so he kind of has little man syndrome, I guess. [head coach] Matt LaFleur, which is something new to me. He brings the best out of us and we enjoy playing for him. This defense is ready to go for sure.”

Hafley spent four seasons as head coach at Boston College (2020-2023) before taking the Packers’ defensive coordinator job, but he returns to NFL seven seasons of coaching experience in the league with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (secondary/safeties coach from 2012 to 2013), Cleveland Browns (quarterbacks coach from 2014 to 2015) and San Francisco 49ers (quarterbacks coach from 2016 to 2018). Hafley promised to play a more aggressive, press-covering style of defense at his introductory press conference, a stark contrast to Barry’s zone-based scheme, and so far he’s delivering on that promise in organized team activities and minicamp. Challenging LaFleur and his offensive scheme is apparently something Barry didn’t do during his three seasons running Green Bay’s defense from 2021-23.

“He’s not afraid of the coach being an offensive guy,” Nixon said. “Some coaches praise offensive coaches in practice and stuff like that, but Haf came in right away on third down, stuff like that. bring this. I never had that in the league. I’ve never had my DC be the DB guy either, so it’s a great idea. I. I think it’s a great decision.

“[Hafley] go to him [LaFleur]. No matter what Matt says, we’re going to compete for sure,” Nixon continued. “I think some coaches praise offensive coaches if they’re the head coach, and I think Haf came in without really caring about that. He worries, ‘How can I get my defensive players to play like the best defense in the league?’ That’s really what [Hafley] he was.”

Given that Hafley’s scheme will likely place a lot of responsibility on the Packers’ secondary, it is of utmost importance that high-priced free agent safety Xavier McKinney, who signed a four-year, $67 million contract after four seasons with the New York Giants, Live up to your contract. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the NFL’s top coverage safety in 2023 (91.2 coverage grade) after he threw three interceptions without yielding a single passing touchdown last season. McKinney’s 41.4 passer rating as the primary defender in coverage ranked seventh-best in the entire NFL among the 146 players with at least 50 passes thrown last season. So far, McKinney, who turns 26 on Aug. 8, appears very capable of maintaining that level in Green Bay.

“I think X can fit into any defense, honestly,” Nixon said of McKinney’s signing. “He brings range from behind and is very intelligent and communicative. He is also a guy with good character. When he appeared, it was easy [for him] to match me and (cornerback) Jaire (Alexander). He’ll be fine. I think he’s really going to help us a lot.”

If the additions of Hafley and McKinney can make as big a difference as Nixon noted in June, then the NFL’s youngest team could be closer than many think to bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy back home to Titletown.