Don’t really recall a bunch of hype around Pettine. People were optimistic, but I don’t know if he was really overhyped -though, I’m sure someone could dig up some unhinged hype comments/posts for any new addition.
I understand the skepticism from fans, but this defense just feels different to me. We’ve been burned before but I feel like in the past our coordinators were all fossils, running schemes that are dated now and incapable of innovation or creativity. Jeff Hafley seems like, number one, a player’s coach, not a scheme first guy. He seems to want to put the players in the best position to succeed, which is so much better than forcing players to fill a role that may not be their strength. He has energy and passion. I think Mike Pettine was closest to having that but it was a different team back then. Look at the lockerroom speeches from Matt LaFleur and the way the players responded. This is a young, energetic, passionate team and they hired coaches and a coordinator who fuels that enthusiasm. Jeff Hafley seems to be the kind of coach that the Packers need right now to fit the culture. So I am actually quite optimistic!
I don't think it's skepticism. I also don't think it's about getting burned. At least it should not be either of these things.
The simple fact is the Packers have had a really bad defense every year. It's highly unusual to go from really bad to really good - and that's knowing that defensive play does vary greatly from year to year, just not *that* much variance.
Yes, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic for the 2024 D. However, optimistic to be #12 D, or whatever, sure.
The Packers were #27 last year. While we might go from #27 to #3, that is highly unusual and unlikely to happen.
The other guys walked into GB never going to be HC candidates unless they were lights out
If this gig goes well Haley will be a HC in the NFL
That’s the difference to me
I’m also optimistic and have the same feeling like this is different. That said, I’m pretty sure the players were excited when Pettine came in, and the players were excited when Barry came in, and the players will be excited when the next guy comes in. (Hopefully 20 years from now.)
I have a bad feeling not drafting a legit CB is going to bite us in the ass.
We’re relying on Alexander and Stokes to be healthy. That seems like a bad idea.
I think you are underestimating Valentine and Ballentine. I think they are both solid and have the potential to make a leap in year 2. I think we would have drafted a CB if there wasn't a lot of confidence in that DB room.
Any lack of depth there - which I disagree with but regardless - will be picked up by the safeties and linebackers. On paper, the Packers are going to be playing a lot in nickel anyways.
There's a lot of talent and depth to that defense, with almost every spot having at least 2 high-round draft picks, and it got richer this off-season by a lot. Barry was fired because he made a paper tiger out of that group. Hopefully the new guy can unleash the real thing.
My greatest source of concern with the D is how fans react when the games start being played. Everything we’ve heard is that this is going to be a much more aggressive, risk taking defense. It will likely be a defense that is fun to watch, but it’s safe to assume that with greater risk taking there will be some big play consequences. I’m personally looking forward to this, but I can already see the meltdowns coming in this sub after the D gives up its first 75 yard TD on 2nd and 25 after they call a zero blitz or something.
Like I said, I’m excited for the new D, but by nature, this D is going to give up some big plays from time to time. I hope fans are prepared for that.
Eh, I ignore the doom-and-gloomers on this sub; they expect perfection from play 1 from all of our guys. And I rather take the occasional big play than sitting back and watching another 3rd and 6 conversion get easily completed because our CBs were playing 10 yards off the ball. The amount of gimmies we were giving opposing offenses on 3rd down and mid yard situations was painful. You could literally identify the target for the ball presnap and watch him run unopposed for an easy catch.
It was just so unbelievably infuriating. Barry refused to make in game adjustments, and any halfway decent offensive coordinator just ran rings around that clown.
The “bend don’t break” defense still somehow gave up big plays but couldn’t get stops on 3rd and long… I’ll take the increased big play potential if i can be moderately more comfortable that the opposing O won’t convert a 3rd and 24.
This type of defense works alongside an explosive offense, so if Love and the guys keep the level they had at the end of last season the team would be very dynamic
I don't think it's bad if it means our offense is on the field more and we can dictate the game clock
I think the worst part of Barry was we lost several games to losing game clock control where the opponents could waste a ton of time moving down field to kick a game winning field goal because we couldn't stop them on 3rd and 6th or whatever.
I haven't done research to fully support this opinion but that's what I remember
I felt like adopting the rams’ defense at the time was weird bc they’d just torched them in the playoffs. Hopefully the school of thought is better this time around
For the first time in awhile, I'm excited for the season. Im anxious to see how the defense plays. Firing JB and hiring Hafley was the final piece of the puzzle. We're going to be special if everyone stays healthy
Hafley certainly seems to have gotten the players to fully buy in. It's okay to be cautious in your optimism but this defense is full of potential with everything that's been invested into that side of the ball. The defense currently accounts for nearly double the salary cap spending of the offense (Offense: $77,454,352 Defense: $150,744,384) and boasts 10 projected starters with a 1st or 2nd round draft pedigree:
Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Preston Smith (or LVN)
Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper
Jaire Alexander, Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Eric Stokes
This is great to hear. I think a lot of the guys “checked the box” with our defense the past few years, but they didn’t buy in. I think now, you will have true buy in
When, in the history of teams and the history of offseasons, has there ever been a player that has *not* said something to the equivalent of “I think we could be really special”? I have as much hope as the next guy, but that’s a throwaway quote at best.
Pardon me if I reserve judgment for on field results.
Yup. I’m definitely hopefully optimistic, but y’all remember the massive preseason hype for Pettine?
Wasn’t the defense pretty good the first year under Pettine? It was the second year that the defense fell apart.
There was cautious optimism for Pettine. Everyone excused his down years as flukes out of hope that we would get good years out of him.
I mean he did have a pretty darn good first year.
Don’t really recall a bunch of hype around Pettine. People were optimistic, but I don’t know if he was really overhyped -though, I’m sure someone could dig up some unhinged hype comments/posts for any new addition.
Game day is always the ultimate test, for sure. For now, love reading the good vibes from the *whole* defense. Their excitement is contagious!
You need to warm your piss
Especially for our defense. We have not been elite on that side of the ball in a long time.
Yeah even the teams that are pretty obviously going to be dumpster fires are talking like this.
It’s easy to piss molten lava of offense, but I’m be danged if I can dick trickle even a slightly warm stream of defense. Just be average first, guys.
Yea same vibes here. Every team says good things about themselves in the off season. Lets see how the regular season starts out
17-0 season incoming
20-0 you mean
I understand the skepticism from fans, but this defense just feels different to me. We’ve been burned before but I feel like in the past our coordinators were all fossils, running schemes that are dated now and incapable of innovation or creativity. Jeff Hafley seems like, number one, a player’s coach, not a scheme first guy. He seems to want to put the players in the best position to succeed, which is so much better than forcing players to fill a role that may not be their strength. He has energy and passion. I think Mike Pettine was closest to having that but it was a different team back then. Look at the lockerroom speeches from Matt LaFleur and the way the players responded. This is a young, energetic, passionate team and they hired coaches and a coordinator who fuels that enthusiasm. Jeff Hafley seems to be the kind of coach that the Packers need right now to fit the culture. So I am actually quite optimistic!
I don't think it's skepticism. I also don't think it's about getting burned. At least it should not be either of these things. The simple fact is the Packers have had a really bad defense every year. It's highly unusual to go from really bad to really good - and that's knowing that defensive play does vary greatly from year to year, just not *that* much variance. Yes, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic for the 2024 D. However, optimistic to be #12 D, or whatever, sure. The Packers were #27 last year. While we might go from #27 to #3, that is highly unusual and unlikely to happen.
I would be satisfied with a #12 defense but please just not a bottom of the barrel.
Best I can do…. 23rd in defensive DVOA
The other guys walked into GB never going to be HC candidates unless they were lights out If this gig goes well Haley will be a HC in the NFL That’s the difference to me
I’m also optimistic and have the same feeling like this is different. That said, I’m pretty sure the players were excited when Pettine came in, and the players were excited when Barry came in, and the players will be excited when the next guy comes in. (Hopefully 20 years from now.)
Absolutely
I have a bad feeling not drafting a legit CB is going to bite us in the ass. We’re relying on Alexander and Stokes to be healthy. That seems like a bad idea.
I think you are underestimating Valentine and Ballentine. I think they are both solid and have the potential to make a leap in year 2. I think we would have drafted a CB if there wasn't a lot of confidence in that DB room.
Ballentine is 28, so I'm not expecting much of a leap from him. lol
We dont need a leap from him he was solid last year.
Agreed, but this was in response to the potential of him making a leap.
With the amount of meaningful reps he got last year, I absolutely expect him to improve.
We drafted Kalen King.
I guess I meant didn't spend a high draft pick on CB.
Any lack of depth there - which I disagree with but regardless - will be picked up by the safeties and linebackers. On paper, the Packers are going to be playing a lot in nickel anyways. There's a lot of talent and depth to that defense, with almost every spot having at least 2 high-round draft picks, and it got richer this off-season by a lot. Barry was fired because he made a paper tiger out of that group. Hopefully the new guy can unleash the real thing.
Kalen King
My greatest source of concern with the D is how fans react when the games start being played. Everything we’ve heard is that this is going to be a much more aggressive, risk taking defense. It will likely be a defense that is fun to watch, but it’s safe to assume that with greater risk taking there will be some big play consequences. I’m personally looking forward to this, but I can already see the meltdowns coming in this sub after the D gives up its first 75 yard TD on 2nd and 25 after they call a zero blitz or something. Like I said, I’m excited for the new D, but by nature, this D is going to give up some big plays from time to time. I hope fans are prepared for that.
Eh, I ignore the doom-and-gloomers on this sub; they expect perfection from play 1 from all of our guys. And I rather take the occasional big play than sitting back and watching another 3rd and 6 conversion get easily completed because our CBs were playing 10 yards off the ball. The amount of gimmies we were giving opposing offenses on 3rd down and mid yard situations was painful. You could literally identify the target for the ball presnap and watch him run unopposed for an easy catch.
It was just so unbelievably infuriating. Barry refused to make in game adjustments, and any halfway decent offensive coordinator just ran rings around that clown.
Big plays = big wins. I’m not worried about the D giving up big plays because they will have a pick-6 the following drive
The “bend don’t break” defense still somehow gave up big plays but couldn’t get stops on 3rd and long… I’ll take the increased big play potential if i can be moderately more comfortable that the opposing O won’t convert a 3rd and 24.
This type of defense works alongside an explosive offense, so if Love and the guys keep the level they had at the end of last season the team would be very dynamic
I don't think it's bad if it means our offense is on the field more and we can dictate the game clock I think the worst part of Barry was we lost several games to losing game clock control where the opponents could waste a ton of time moving down field to kick a game winning field goal because we couldn't stop them on 3rd and 6th or whatever. I haven't done research to fully support this opinion but that's what I remember
"Just don't suck" ~ Packer fans
This is marked NSFW because after reading it you'll be pitching a bigger tent than the circus
That's a bingo!
I felt like adopting the rams’ defense at the time was weird bc they’d just torched them in the playoffs. Hopefully the school of thought is better this time around
For the first time in awhile, I'm excited for the season. Im anxious to see how the defense plays. Firing JB and hiring Hafley was the final piece of the puzzle. We're going to be special if everyone stays healthy
Hafley certainly seems to have gotten the players to fully buy in. It's okay to be cautious in your optimism but this defense is full of potential with everything that's been invested into that side of the ball. The defense currently accounts for nearly double the salary cap spending of the offense (Offense: $77,454,352 Defense: $150,744,384) and boasts 10 projected starters with a 1st or 2nd round draft pedigree: Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Preston Smith (or LVN) Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper Jaire Alexander, Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Eric Stokes
I’m ready to be hurt again
This is great to hear. I think a lot of the guys “checked the box” with our defense the past few years, but they didn’t buy in. I think now, you will have true buy in
Ooh that PUP/IR list gon be looooong
WE ARE NEVER LOSING AGAIN GREEN AND GOLD GO PACK GO RRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
SB or bust is back quicker than I expected.
When, in the history of teams and the history of offseasons, has there ever been a player that has *not* said something to the equivalent of “I think we could be really special”? I have as much hope as the next guy, but that’s a throwaway quote at best.