Cory's Corner: How Creative Can Hafley Be?
Can the Packers defensive coordinator do something that no other defensive coordinator has been able to do?
The script remains the same.
There’s a reason why Giants free agent Isaiah Simmons was working out in Green Bay.
Quite simply — versatility.
He has experience at linebacker, safety and slot corner. He was drafted eighth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft from Clemson and has mainly been a rotational player. He has started only 42 of 84 years.
“He’s just unique,” said Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney before the 2020 draft. “In a day and age of football where everybody is looking for the hybrid guy, to me, he’s the model of what you want to find.”
In 2019, he earned the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. He racked up 104 total tackles and eight sacks. He also led all linebackers with a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
“He can be as good as he wants,” said former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury. You see the flashes … the sky is the limit.”
Even Lions general manager Bob Quinn has described Simmons as someone that can “cover tight ends, play sideline to sideline and is a very good blitzer.”
And that’s what is so confusing. If someone is oozing with this much talent and athleticism, you’d think a team would be able to find a spot for him right? I mean, even Simmons’ character is fantastic.
But the Cardinals and Giants have been unable to find a suitable position for Simmons, which has led to his inconsistent playing time and lack of production.
Simmons needs a scheme that will fit him best. Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and his 4-3 scheme could be a perfect fit for an athletic player that has been lost in the NFL wilderness.
He could play defensive end or linebacker, depending on the game situation. Most importantly, he would be a tremendous shot in the arm for a defense that has desperately needed playmakers to attack the opposing quarterback.
He could also mix things up and guard tight ends — especially Lions standout Sam LaPorta — one-on-one.
Adding a player like Simmons just gives a defense more options. It can afford to take more chances because of his speed and athleticism. The Packers only blitzed 27 percent of the time last year, but with a player like Simmons that can do just about anything, that number is bound to go up.
Dating back to Ted Thompson, the main thing that the Packers defense desperately coveted were athletes. Guys that could go sideline-to-sideline and do multiple things.
Simmons is exactly that. If he were on offense, teams would find a way to get him the ball. Similarly, defenses have to find a way to keep him involved in order to stop the ball.
Simmons might be the most athletic defensive player in the league right now. It takes creativity to find a perfect fit.
The question is, how imaginative can Hafley be?
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
__________________________
Comments (28)
TKWorldWide
April 15, 2025 at 07:12 am
If he’s good at football and comes at a reasonable price, why not take a chance? But I am not convinced both of those get a “yes.”
crayzpackfan
April 15, 2025 at 09:01 am
This feels more like GB, with these last couple FA signings, is becoming the land of misfit toys. I'm trying to make sense of it. But like you said, if it isn't costing us much?
dobber
April 15, 2025 at 07:28 am
"Quite simply — versatility. "
He's a ST'er at this point in his career who has limited defensive acumen...in the same vein and as a replacement for Erik Wilson with more pedigree that will probably cost more. A stab to see if there's anything there.
"He has experience at linebacker, safety and slot corner. He was drafted eighth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft from Clemson and has mainly been a rotational player. He has started only 42 of 84 years. "
Well, if he's 106 years old, he'll probably take the league minimum.
Guam
April 15, 2025 at 07:34 am
I dunno Dobber, if Simmons is that experienced he may want a signing bonus...........
LeotisHarris
April 15, 2025 at 08:29 am
People forget that Methuselah could fly to the ball and go sideline to sideline.
Guam
April 15, 2025 at 07:29 am
If two other NFL teams have given up on him, why would we expect the Packers (Hafley) to magically unlock his potential? I like Hafley a lot but I doubt he is a miracle worker. If Simmons comes really cheaply then give him a chance, but I certainly wouldn't pay any premium to get him in camp.
dobber
April 15, 2025 at 07:57 am
Jaylon Smith...Jamin Davis ...now Isaiah Simmons: plenty of pedigree but not much else. Kicking the tires. That's what we want Gute to do, right?
From his nfl.com draft profile:
"Instincts near the line of scrimmage are a work in progress. Delayed read and respond as inside linebacker. Hasn't figured out angles and timing as downhill linebacker yet. Needs to fill out and learn to punch and play off blocks. Has issues getting unglued from blocking tight ends. Will lose contain duties from time to time. Doesn't have early speed burst from transitions in man. Confusion with coverage duties against North Carolina. Leggy short-area footwork in change of direction."
Sounds like he's an absolute machine athletically, but is still running a 386 processor.
Guam
April 15, 2025 at 08:53 am
You are seriously dating yourself Dobber when you reference a "386 processor".......:) Sadly I can go back even further to the 8 bit processor in the first Apple computer. Yikes!
I'd love for the Packers to "unlock" Simmons, but I wouldn't bet much money on it.
dobber
April 15, 2025 at 12:21 pm
We have some old equipment around here that still run on desktops that I swear must be that old.
LLCHESTY
April 15, 2025 at 01:59 pm
After the Cardinals traded him the rumor was he struggles with the mental aspect of the game. I liked him as a prospect but how often does the light bulb suddenly turn on after a players 5th season? Edge players and DTs sometimes take awhile to develop but after 5 years what you see is what you get 99.9% of the time. I don't follow the Cardinals but my guess would be they changed coaching staff after his last year there and he wasn't picking up the new scheme.
Coldworld
April 15, 2025 at 04:34 pm
“He struggles with the mental aspects”
+
playing him in 5 different roles
=
Stupid coaching or an excuse for it.
You are actually convincing me that we ought to give Simmons a go.
LLCHESTY
April 15, 2025 at 07:43 pm
I didn't say 5 different roles, I said after 5 years he is what he is.
Coldworld
April 15, 2025 at 07:44 am
Or maybe we should just find him a role and let him play it. For a guy who is a good tackler, good in coverage and showed instincts coming in, his actual performance has not got close to that potential. In his case, being asked to be the jack of all trades because he’s such a freakish athlete may have been his downfall. He will be 27 this summer. If any coach is going to unlock that potential then it most likely comes from letting him settle not continuing prior usages.
beerandbrats
April 15, 2025 at 05:55 pm
Would he not be an upgrade over McDuffie, who struggles in coverage? Do we still need another LB after signing Welch? I don't see any downside to giving him a shot. Cooper, Walker, Simmons sounds pretty formidable.
LLCHESTY
April 15, 2025 at 07:48 pm
Good coverage LBs are hard to find but that rareness doesn't make them expensive. You can usually grab one in the last three rounds. Carson Bruener is a good one this year from Washington. 6th or 7th rounder.
gsd3
April 16, 2025 at 06:03 am
If his role would be special teams ace and sub package linebacker, so be it. I would like to see him be given the opportunity to focus and compete. It may be a case of coaches trying to use him all over because of his athletic ability. Too tempting instead of just letting him settle into a position. The temptation to weaponize him due to his freak athleticism is a detriment.
Cheezehead72
April 15, 2025 at 07:49 am
It is Gute's job to kick the tires on any players available. You never know where you might find a gem. We need guys that will play their assignments and run to the ball. I like the idea of adding a versatile LB. Take a chance if the price is right.
GregC
April 15, 2025 at 07:55 am
Another salvage project, like Mecole Hardman. Maybe he could be an LB in passing situations. That would complement Isaiah McDuffie, who is not very good in coverage, and Ty'Ron Hopper may not be good in coverage either.
Coldworld
April 15, 2025 at 08:48 am
Mecole Hardman is not someone I see as a salvage project. He’s a proven NFL returner and depth gadget/slot on league minimum. Decent pick up for us, nothing more.
mnbadger
April 15, 2025 at 07:56 am
Cory's article paints Simmons as the second coming.
What are we missing?
Maybe he's just a guy that looks great coming off the bus.
I'd give him a shot to see if his game has matured, but we need better fb players, not just better athletes.
GPG!
Hope to see some of you at the draft!
mrtundra
April 15, 2025 at 08:08 am
I can see Bisaccia wanting this guy for STs. He'd be a back up everywhere else, on the team, IMO. Would he be a defensive version of Deguara?
BuckyBadger
April 15, 2025 at 08:09 am
He never lived up to the hype. He is an undersized LB who can't quite run with WRs and is too small to live in the box. I didn't see it in the kid when he came out of college, I thought he was a guy with no position in the NFL can would make a living on ST. There is a reason he is available and most forgotten.
Coldworld
April 15, 2025 at 08:21 am
He’s not an undersized LB. He was 236 when he was drafted. Closer to Walker’s weight than Coopers. He’s an undersized OLB.
Cheezehead72
April 15, 2025 at 08:29 am
I don't know how a player that ran a 4.39 cannot keep up with WRs. Yes I do know there is a football speed. If he is slow he just need to learn to read the WR and be decisive.
I would say we pass on him just because we do not have a real need unless they are looking for guys that can fill in if needed and saving the draft pick for a different position.
He was singed last year for only 2 million. Which for an experienced back up is not to rich.
LLCHESTY
April 15, 2025 at 07:51 pm
My 1st and best guess is he didn't run the agilities tests for a reason. Running really fast in a straight line is sometimes helpful on offense but not really on defense.
T7Steve
April 15, 2025 at 08:29 am
The prize is yours if; "The Price Is Right!"
I'm not going to put this guy down just because AZ and NY couldn't get the best out of him. Look how many other players they've done that to. Some we've taken from them and had great results.
LeotisHarris
April 15, 2025 at 08:35 am
You rubes! Bringing Simmons in is just another distraction by Gute to keep the focus off how he's going to move up *and* down in the draft to engineer trades for Maxx Crosby, Ja'Mar Chase, and Myles Garrett.
Alberta_Packer
April 15, 2025 at 02:19 pm
Once again - Gutekunst (and Pro Scouting) are looking at a 27 yr. old and under, lower-tier FA - which is one of their personnel strengths. So reviewing the current LB hierarchy - there is:
1. Quay Walker
2. Edgerin Cooper
3. Isaiah McDuffie
4. Ty'ron Hopper
5. Kitan Oladapo ?
6 Kristian Welch
- Walker and Cooper are clear no.1 and no.2 - as both can rush, tackle and cover.
- McDuffie is good at the line of scrimmage - but not good in coverage.
- We don't know what Hopper can do. And the Packers aren't volunteering any information. So....?
- There is reason to believe that Oladapo can be an effective situational LB. However, it's more of an unproven theory at this point.
- While Welch certainly fits on STs but question marks after that.
So it makes sense why the Packers brought in Simmons - as there are deficiencies and uncertainties after LBs 1 and 2. If Simmons can just provide value on STs - as well as a coverage LB - he can very well merit a league-minimum (or close to) veteran's contract.