Packers’ Matt LaFleur expects smooth transition to Jonathan Gannon’s 3-4 defense

PHOENIX – Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur held court for his annual interview at the NFC coaches breakfast March 30 at the NFL owners meetings. Here are some substantive topics LaFleur addressed: Matt LaFleur expects smooth transition to 3-4 defense under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon While the Packers will continue to predominantly be a subpackage defense like the rest of the league, they appear to be moving to more of a base 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon . LaFleur does not expect it to be a difficult transition from the 4-3 they incorporated under former coordinator Jeff Hafley.

“If you really look at it last year,” LaFleur said, “I know on paper we were 4-3, but we ended up getting into a lot of odd structures. Whether it was [linebacker Isaiah] McDuffie going down on the ball or [linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper] or whoever. So we played a lot of 3-4 principles, I would say, last season.

It’s just who was in that position more so than that scheme. ” LaFleur had to consider the change when he hired Gannon. He had rarely crossed paths with Gannon before interviewing him, though LaFleur made clear he was impressed with his new defensive coordinator entering last season’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, where Gannon was head coach.

The Packers cast a wide net in their search to replace Hafley, and LaFleur said he pulled others into his interview with Gannon. “It wasn’t like a quick interview,” LaFleur said. “It was a long interview.