Is This Finally the Year?
Every year, without fail, Green Bay Packers fans everywhere look to the heavens (usually after a 49er’s playoff loss) and ask the same thing of the football gods……
I have a strong feeling that the Green Bay Packers new 4-3 defensive scheme will put an end to this tradition.
Off To A Great Start
Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley gave the first look at the new 4-3 scheme the Green Bay Packers will run during the 2024 campaign.
Granted it was preseason (meaning it’s pretty basic compared to a regular season game), but it was still nice to see some press coverage. They even had a couple solid 4th down stops in their own territory.
Then, my jaw hit the floor yesterday after seeing Larry “The Rock” McCarren give the breakdown below.
Green Bay Packers LB Turned Defensive End Lukas Van Ness Turning Heads
There’s no denying that Lukas Van Ness was playing out of his MIND against Cleveland!
The sophmore edge rusher set the tone for what to expect this season with 3 tackles for a loss. He has freakish size, strength, and speed. I heard more than one comparison to Clay Mathews this week, and I am not hating that thought. I’m excited to see what Hercules dials up against Denver with the confidence he no doubt built last week.
Devonte Wyatt’s “Monster Leap” In 2024
Devonte Wyatt certainly took a step up as well. You can see the intensity he’s bringing alongside Van Ness. He even assisted him with a sack against the Browns.
Wyatt is poised to anchor the middle of the line backing up Kenny Clark, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they find more ways to get him on the field as the season progresses. He was bullying the Browns offensive line and consistently saw the backfield.
It’s no shocker to anyone that was paying attention to the beginning of training camp.
Listen to what HC Matt LaFleur had to say about Wyatt and his expectations of him this season from a presser a couple weeks back.
These guys are playing fast and are disruptive as all get out. It’s really amazing to see just how different this defense looks even with the caveat of it being the preseason. I think that the defensive back mindset that Hafley brings to the table is curating a defense that will get into the backfield and let our stud secondary feast on quarterbacks all season long.
Safeties Bolstering Containment
Watching the Safeties step up and being as physical as they have been may finally give us all piece of mind that teams wont be able to drop the ball 4 yards up over the middle or hit the outside sweep for 3rd & long conversions.
Green Bay Packers Safety Evan Williams had a great debut performance. The rookie was flying around and consistently in on tackles and making plays. Here’s a great write up on Williams’ play during the matchup from Packerstalk.com writer Zack Upchurch.
I called this out a couple weeks ago, but with the ball hawk mentality and just overall high football IQ that players like Javon Bullard, Xavier McKinney, and Evan Williams bring to the table, I think the days of tight ends and short slant plays gashing the Packers may ALSO be in the rear view.
Looking Ahead For The Green And Gold
It is definitely way too early to say, but I I will put my neck out on the line and say that I think Jeff Hafley has to come to 1265 Lombardi to cure our run defense blues!
I can’t wait to see the full force of this new 4-3 scheme develop.
And maybe, just maybe, this is the season that the talent on paper translates to success on the field. Rather than the annual defensive hype train going full steam off the rails as we have grown accustomed to.
We’ll see what else Hafley has in store this Sunday as the Green Bay Packers take on the Denver Broncos in Game 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
