We’ve heard from NFL players who used to play for Jeff Hafley discuss their experience with the Green Bay Packers’ new defensive coordinator. With prospects starting to do interviews at this week’s NFL Combine, we’ve heard from his recent college players, too.
Defensive back Elijah Jones spent the last four seasons under Hafley, who left his head coaching job at Boston College to return to the NFL. On Thursday, Jones talked about his time with Hafley and how he helped him as a defensive back.
“I love coach Haf,” said Jones. “Great football mind. The biggest thing I think he helped change with my game is how I learn about football. It’s not just going out there and playing the game; it’s more about understanding your opponents and how you’re going to get attacked. He was just a great teacher.”
Last week, when the Packers officially introduced Hafley as the defensive coordinator, he did not go too in-depth about his scheme, but he did speak openly about his coaching philosophy and how he instills confidence in his players.
“The things I believe in defense – whether you’re playing 3-4 or 4-3, press man, which I do love, zone coverages, vision and break, quarters, match, it comes down to can you take your players who you have and put them in the best position to succeed? And can you take your players and maximize their ability? Like, every player wants to get better, and that’s our job to do.
“We try and make it simple for the players so they can play fast, so they don’t have to think, so they can be confident and not be afraid to make mistakes, so I can get them the information – we can get them the information – that they need, so they can go out there and be fearless and play with their hair on fire and run and hit and cover and get off blocks and tackle. That’s the beauty of the scheme,” said Hafley.
Jones also said he believes he has an advantage over other prospects thanks to Hafley’s teaching methods. According to Jones, he thinks he is the “smartest DB in the draft.”
“Anytime I go on the board, I can draw all 11, and he instilled that within us,” Jones said. “It’s not just learning your position; it’s about one learning where your help is and two why things happen, not just how things happen.”
Boston College DB Elijah Jones on new #Packers DC Jeff Hafley: pic.twitter.com/II6c48KBVQ
— Joey Van Zummeren (@JoeyVZ_) February 29, 2024
Under Hafley, Jones intercepted seven passes over the past seasons and logged 21 pass breakups — the Draft Network projects him to be a Day 3 pick.
Hafley’s background with coaching defensive backs played a big part in Matt LaFleur’s decision to hire him to lead the defense.
From 2012 to 2018, Hafley coached defensive backs for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, and San Francisco 49ers. Then, in 2019, Hafley was the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for Ohio State.
“His preparation is some of the best I’ve seen,” said former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, who played for Hafley in 2018. “I’ve had some great defensive back coaches, some great defensive coaches, great defensive minds, and he’s right up there with his preparation and how he breaks down film and how easy and simple he makes the gameplan sound. How easy he makes it for guys to understand. He paints a very vivid picture of what you’re going to see, and it’s all about executing on it.”
A common theme among Hafley’s former players has been how he makes his scheme easy to understand so they can go out and execute without thinking. The Packers hope that will continue to be the case, especially for a defensive back group that struggled with inconsistent play and coverage breakdowns under previous defensive coordinator Joe Barry.