After overhauling the defense and the linebackers in particular, Jeff Hafley has a host of options for players to send after the quarterback.
Attack, attack, attack. That appears to be the message and philosophy that new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has for the Green Bay Packers’ defense, and particularly for the linebacker unit.
The front office has supplied Hafley with a few new linebackers this offseason, and those players — along with returning starter Quay Walker — share some similar attributes. Speed, of course, is the biggest one, as each member of that group runs exceptionally well. That speed is a quality that certainly helps a linebacker chase down ball-carriers and stay with receivers in space, but it also helps when blitzing quarterbacks, something that this group can expect to do quite a bit more than has been the case for Packers’ linebackers in recent years.
The switch to a 4-3 base defense helps that somewhat, though the nickel base will not change personnel groupings too much. But there should be a bigger focus on off-ball linebackers rushing the quarterback under Hafley, particularly given the skill set of the new arrivals.
Let’s take a look at those players’ fits in Hafley’s scheme as we close out the week.
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Edgerrin Cooper’s fit in Green Bay under Jeff Hafley is mentioned here, in part due to his blitzing ability and how that will play into Hafley’s aggressive playcalling style.
Packers have built a LB room that can blitz the quarterback | Packers Wire
Indeed, the whole of the linebacker group should be able to put some good pressure on opposing quarterbacks, as Hafley indicated on Thursday. Quay Walker is already a solid blitzer, while Ty’Ron Hopper brought some good juice in that role as well.
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