New Packers DC Jonathan Gannon says he will adjust his scheme to suit players' strengths
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — New Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon says he doesn’t consider himself a “huge rah-rah guy,” but there’s one point the former Arizona Cardinals coach is trying to make sure he gets across. This is his message: You are under no obligation to be the person you were five minutes ago.
“I said it for the players, but it’s for us, too,” Gannon said Monday during his first media session since taking this job three months ago. “And what that’s basically saying is grow and adapt and get better. And if we all have that mindset and can continually stick to the process, we’ll get better.
” That adaptability is apparent from Gannon’s schematic approach. The Packers had run a 4-3 defense during Jeff Hafley’s two years as coordinator before the Miami Dolphins hired him as their coach. Green Bay previously had utilized a 3-4 alignment under Joe Barry, the Packers’ defensive coordinator from 2021-23.
Gannon says he wants to adjust his scheme to reflect the strengths of his personnel. “I don’t really get caught up in 4-3, 3-4,” Gannon said. “We’re an NFL-style defense hopefully, right?
I just believe that you’ve got to be, you’ve got to continually every year try to adapt and solve problems and really with your guys in mind. ” Gannon has some specific principles he likes to utilize, but he said he’s not going to force a defense to do something that doesn’t suit its players’ talents. “We’ve got to put them in the best positions possible, that they feel comfortable that they can go out and play the game,” Gannon said.