One area that will see changes, or daresay, upgrade, is the defense. Good thing for him, he got defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
LaFleur was present at the NFC coaches’ breakfast held The Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida and there, he discussed and previewed many things about his team.
Among those discussed was his dynamics with Hafley who joined the team at the start of the 2024 season to replace Joe Barry. He arrived when the team was coming off a relative successful 2023-2024 season where they played two games in the postseason.
LaFleur said Hafley provides balance when it comes to coaching decision because of his calm approach.
“He’s just so consistent, whether it’s good or bad, he’s always the same guy. I don’t think he makes decisions out of emotions,” he told reporters.
That’s what made them different from each other according to LaFleur, as attested by his wife.
“I talk to my wife about this all the time,” he said. “I always have better conversations when I’m less emotional.”
Matt LaFleur on Jeff Hafley’s first year
Green Bay Packers won more games in the last season compared to the year before. However, the only played one postseason match after losing to eventual Super Bowl winners Philadelphia Eagles.
Despite it, LaFleur thinks Hafley did a great job as the DC by being more technical and bring out the best in players.
“Initially, we were going to jet off the football with our front and try to create havoc that way, and then we started to play a lot more technique. … And then from a coverage standpoint, I think the basis was going to be more your three-deep (coverage) and we played a ton of split safety,” he said.
“But I think that’s (good coaching). You’ve got to constantly evolve and adjust to the pieces that you have. That’s what coaching is, is trying to maximize each individual, put ’em in the best position possible to help the team win.”
