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

[Heyjoe4]

When you play soft, its nearly impossible to stop a team from scoring on the last drive of the first half or game. It's hard enough to stop a team when they have 3 downs but when they are in a 4 down situation, a soft defense is always going to give up the play to keep the chains moving. Having an attack defense is especially appropriate when the offense can stay on the field and keep a healthy time of possession. That philosophy isn't new. Lombardi's defenses played attack mode. They gave up big plays but took the ball away consistently and had a lot of sacks and tackles for loss.

It was maddening watching the defense on 3rd and say, 8 or 9 yards. The corners would start out across from the WRs at the LOS. Then they would slowly start to back up until they were standing right in front of the first down markers. The QB would complete an easy slant for 5 yards, the receiver would get another 2 or 3 yards, setting up 4th and 1.

If the ball is anywhere between the 40 yard markers, the opponent is going for it on 4th and 1, with a very high success rate. Next thing, they are in the red zone and a TD or the occasional FG are imminent.

Hopefully, that's in the past and the D is going to be looking for people to punch in the mouth.

 

[Sanguine camper]

They certainly did.

I love watching NFL films from the Lombardi Era. The blocking was superlative but the defense played with its hair on fire. Wood and Adderly were tremendous and Jordan and Davis didn't waste any time getting in the backfield. They gave up big plays but what they did frequently is break open a close games with sacks and interceptions. It could be 10-10 in the third quarter and the next thing you knew the defense would create a scoring burst and the game would end 31-10.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I love watching NFL films from the Lombardi Era. The blocking was superlative but the defense played with its hair on fire. Wood and Adderly were tremendous and Jordan and Davis didn't waste any time getting in the backfield. They gave up big plays but what they did frequently is break open a close games with sacks and interceptions. It could be 10-10 in the third quarter and the next thing you knew the defense would create a scoring burst and the game would end 31-10.

And that's why that old saying is pretty much true - defense wins championships. Now a great offense will get a team to the playoffs. From there though, it's the team with the best D that usually takes home the Lombardi.

I don't recall the source now so take it FWIW. There have been six times when the SB pitted the #1 offense against the #1 defense. The team with the #1 defense won 5 of the 6 games. The only exception was one of the Joe Montana Niners teams. That source is a few years old too so it may have changed. The point remains the same.

 

[milani]

It was maddening watching the defense on 3rd and say, 8 or 9 yards. The corners would start out across from the WRs at the LOS. Then they would slowly start to back up until they were standing right in front of the first down markers. The QB would complete an easy slant for 5 yards, the receiver would get another 2 or 3 yards, setting up 4th and 1.

If the ball is anywhere between the 40 yard markers, the opponent is going for it on 4th and 1, with a very high success rate. Next thing, they are in the red zone and a TD or the occasional FG are imminent.

Hopefully, that's in the past and the D is going to be looking for people to punch in the mouth.

The Lions did that to us a few years ago in that game in which we had a chance to get the wild card. Really hurt us.

 

[milani]

I love watching NFL films from the Lombardi Era. The blocking was superlative but the defense played with its hair on fire. Wood and Adderly were tremendous and Jordan and Davis didn't waste any time getting in the backfield. They gave up big plays but what they did frequently is break open a close games with sacks and interceptions. It could be 10-10 in the third quarter and the next thing you knew the defense would create a scoring burst and the game would end 31-10.

And they did it to some of the top QBs in the game; Unitas, Tarkenton, Gabriel, Ryan, Tittle, Brodie, Plum, Layne, and Meredith. When you watch pre-Lombardi Packer films you see not only their defenses out of position but they lacked the intensity of his teams.

 

[milani]

And that's why that old saying is pretty much true - defense wins championships. Now a great offense will get a team to the playoffs. From there though, it's the team with the best D that usually takes home the Lombardi.

I don't recall the source now so take it FWIW. There have been six times when the SB pitted the #1 offense against the #1 defense. The team with the #1 defense won 5 of the 6 games. The only exception was one of the Joe Montana Niners teams. That source is a few years old too so it may have changed. The point remains the same.

They called that the Irresistible Force against the Immovable Object.

 

[Poppa San]

When you watch pre-Lombardi Packer films

Cameras existed then?

 

[Heyjoe4]

They called that the Irresistible Force against the Immovable Object.

Yeah that's pretty much it! To bring it home for a minute, the Packers haven't had a very good D for a very long time, like their last SB in 2011. I really hope that the changes to the defensive side, and there have been a LOT of them this offseason, pay big dividends for the Packers.

Even a great offense will get worn down if it has to be the primary way a game is won. There should be balance between all three units - something that made all those Patriot teams so great.

And at least for me, a good defense is fun to watch. Coaching and personnel have been addressed so it's time to put that into action.

 

[milani]

Cameras existed then?

Bell & Howell 8mm reel to reel.