When Jeff Hafley left Boston College to become the Packers’ defensive coordinator last offseason, giving up his role as head coach to take on an assistant position at the NFL level, some initially wondered what the move said about the state of college football. Now, having seen Hafley thrive in Green Bay this season, along with former college assistants Mike Macdonald (Seahawks HC) and Jesse Minter (Chargers OC), I think it’s time for a new topic of conversation: how the college game is preparing defensive coordinators to dominate the pros.
The Packers have emerged as contenders in 2024, and their defensive game tape is must-see viewing for anyone who wants to know why. Under Hafley, the Packers rank among the top 10 in the NFL in the two most important defensive categories: points allowed (20.5 per game, eighth-least) and takeaways (26, fourth-most). Championship teams keep opponents out of the end zone and find various ways to create turnovers, and Green Bay excels at both tasks — thanks to a creative approach featuring elements routinely found at the college level.
From their extensive utilization of simulated pressures (four-man rushes with linebackers or safeties/cornerbacks featured as the fourth rusher) to hot blitzes (six-man pressures with a three-deep/two-under coverage), the Packers are crushing opponents with a thinking-man’s scheme that challenges quarterbacks and play-callers to make sound decisions under mental and physical duress. Moreover, Green Bay is incorporating its entire defensive roster into the pass rush to keep opponents guessing each week — a whopping 16 Packers have at least half a sack this season.
The variety and versatility of Hafley’s defensive deployment creates headaches for opponents trying to identify potential rushers at the line of scrimmage and second/third levels. In addition, his unique approach enables the Packers to maximize a defensive lineup loaded with young, athletic defenders offering diverse skills.
Consider how pass rusher Rashan Gary serves as the so-called “queen on the chess board” in third-down situations, able to align anywhere along the defensive front to attack a weak link on the offensive line. Then there are linebackers Quay Walker (a 2022 first-round pick) and Edgerrin Cooper (a second-rounder this year), who have the speed, athleticism and physicality to overwhelm and overpower running backs in pass protection. Their interchangeable skills enable Hafley to mix in various blitzes and simulated pressures to keep quarterbacks guessing on every snap. And should Walker have to miss any time with an ankle injury that took him out of last week’s win over Seattle just before halftime, Cooper should be able to pick up the slack, based on the stat line he put together in that game (five tackles, one sack, one interception).
