GREEN BAY − For all of training camp, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has emphasized the need for the defense to force takeaways.
Hafley dubbed defensive quality control coach Wendel Davis the “Ball King” to focus on every turnover the defense creates.
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Attacking the football is the way Hafley wants his defense to play. It’s why the Packers finished fourth in the NFL with 31 takeaways last year.
In the Aug. 9 preseason opener against the New York Jets, the second-year defensive coordinator didn’t see enough attacking in the game.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Kristian Welch tackles New York Jets wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett.
“I don’t think it translated over as we’ve been practicing,” Hafley said. “Take the win or take the loss out of it, that’s probably the one thing that we take the most pride in and I don’t think we were good enough.
“The haymakers that we saw in practice and the way we were we attacking the ball, it didn’t show up.”
The lack of attacking the football could be attributed to the number of young, inexperienced players that took most of the snaps in the game.
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However, Hafley didn’t make any excuses, saying, “We’ve got to fix that, and it has to be better the next time we play in a preseason game.”
Here are some other takeaways from his Aug. 10 news conference:
From preseason: Packers coach Matt LaFleur isn’t panicking over loss to the Jets
Jeff Hafley encouraged by the newcomers on the defensive line
The Packers went with Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness as the starting defensive line in the preseason opener and they played a limited time together.
Coaches took the opportunity for the others to get some playing time.
When asked about players who stood out on the front, Hafley mentioned several, including newcomers Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson and Barryn Sorrell.
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“I thought they did a nice job,” Hafley said. “There’s things they need to get better at, but I thought they competed. I thought they played really hard and strained.”
About Sorrell, Hafley said, “He’s a young guy that’s learning how to play the position. You’ve got a guy that has pass-rush ability. He strains.
“He got better as the game went on. He made mistakes in the game and in the same drive he was correcting them, which says a lot. That doesn’t happen a lot for rookie players.”
From preseason: Special teams shine, but in fight to win roster spot, Mecole Hardman’s aggressiveness backfires
Expect more reps for Bo Melton
Bo Melton, the Packers receiver-turned-corner, saw extended time in the preseason opener, posting two tackles.
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It’s a position Melton hasn’t experienced in the NFL, but his new position coach, Derrick Ansley, has enjoyed the process of molding the three-year utility player.
“It’s been fun,” Ansley said. “He’s a blank slate with not a lot of bad habits.”
The upcoming joint practices − Aug. 14 at Indianapolis and Aug. 21 vs. Seattle − will give Melton additional reps to get comfortable with the position.
“The guy gives you everything he has,” Hafley said. “We just need to keep playing him.
“He needs experience. He needs time. I’m pleased with what he’s doing right now.”
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers Jeff Hafley pushing for his defense to focus on turnovers