GREEN BAY – After tabbing Jeff Hafley as his new defensive coordinator in February, Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur was asked what he wants his defense to be in 2024 and beyond.
LaFleur's response came without pause.
"I want us to be fast and physical and attack the ball," said LaFleur at the time. "We will be a little more vision-based on the back end, and I think that's a great opportunity to be able to go out there and generate takeaways."
So far, Green Bay's defense has done precisely that. While two games do not a season make, the Packers are off to a promising start in terms of both effort and takeaways.
The combination has Green Bay currently leading the NFL with six takeaways and five interceptions, just two shy of how many picks the Packers grabbed in the entire 2023 regular season.
There still is work to be done. Green Bay sits 27th in total defense after conceding 414 total yards in the opener in Brazil, but Hafley's defenders have bought into his program, and it showed in Sunday's home opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Playing without starting quarterback Jordan Love, the defense knew keeping points off the board was paramount. The unit responded by pitching a first-half shutout and intercepting Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson three times in a 16-10 win.
"It's very encouraging. Anytime you can get takeovers is always fun," safety Xavier McKinney said. "It gives us confidence as a defense. We get a better feel of ... playing with our instincts and playing fast. I think that's what it's been doing. Obviously, the more that we get, we're building that confidence more and more every time we step out there on the field. We're executing. We keep doing that, we can do some really good things."
McKinney is only the third player in team history to post an interception in both of his first two games in a Green Bay uniform, joining linebacker John Anderson (1978) and defensive back Doyle Nix (1955), who both had an INT in each of their first three games as Packers.
The other four takeaways came courtesy of Jaire Alexander (INT), Eric Wilson (INT), Evan Williams (INT) and Devonte Wyatt(fumble recovery).
All told, it's the first time since 2001 the Packers have registered three takeaways in each of their first two games of the season while their six total are the defense's most through two games since Dom Capers took over the defense in 2009.
Hafley and defensive pass game coordinator Derrick Ansley harped on the importance of taking the ball away all offseason. According to nickel cornerback Keisean Nixon, that attitude and swagger instilled is at the root of the secondary's aggression.
It's not just in how the Packers mix their coverages, either. Nixon estimates he's blitzed the quarterback more from the slot through the first two games than he did all last season.
"We gotta get that ball," Nixon said. "That's our whole goal right now is taking it away. We want to lead the league in turnovers and right now I think we are, and we wanna stay on top."
There is a balance, Hafley cautions, and every call he makes has a reason behind it. The "vision" defense he employs has allowed his secondary to play free, which McKinney has enjoyed.
The 25-year-old safety also has appreciated Hafley's and the coaching staff's willingness to have dialogue with players about what they're being asked to execute.
Those conversations spur confidence. As one of Green Bay's prized free-agent additions in March, McKinney has already made himself at home on the back end while breaking in rookie safeties Javon Bullard and Williams.
"He's got the two picks in two games, but it's more than that – he's coming up in run support. He's helping some of the young guys in their checks," said Hafley of McKinney.
"He can tackle. He can cover. He can play in deep zones. We blitzed him last game, too. So, he's a very versatile player and I think he's off to a really, really good start."
The Packers' defense is set to collide this Sunday with a Tennessee Titans offense that has a league-high five turnovers through the first two weeks.
Second-year quarterback Will Levis has been responsible for all five of those giveaways (three INTs and two fumbles lost). While Levis has been sacked seven times, the Titans still have a bevy of offensive weapons at their disposal – including offseason acquisitions Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard.
"We can't go into the mindset thinking they're going to go into Sunday and make the same mistakes they've made before," McKinney said. "But obviously when you see that – you know that there's gonna be some opportunity in the game. When that comes, we just gotta make sure we do a great job of seizing that moment."
As encouraging as the Packers' start has been, Hafley sees room for improvement everywhere. The defense has had moments of dominance while also allowing too many explosive gains.
For all of Green Bay's takeaways, it's had several chances for even more. Last week, Wilson punched out the ball from running back Jonathan Taylor before it went out of bounds. Linebacker Quay Walker also nearly had a game-ending interception on the Colts' final drive.
Although rankings are what most often define a defense externally, Hafley's sole focus is playing winning defense whether that's getting takeaways, three-and-outs or pivotal third-down stops. That quest continues Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
"The only number that's important to me is if we win or lose the game," Hafley said. "I'm not going to be one of these guys up here that sits up here and brags about yards and takeaways. How can we win each game?"
