Jonathan Gannon's influence as the Green Bay Packers' new defensive coordinator is already being felt in training camp. His schemes and wrinkles are giving the offense all it can handle. In the same vein, Gannon's trust and creativity also allow defensive backs to make more plays, according to third-year safety Evan Williams.
"It's been a lot of fun. It's been very fluid. They give us a lot of freedom to be places before the snap," Williams said.
Perhaps counterintuitively, that individual freedom has Williams and fellow safeties Xavier McKinney and Javon Bullard playing with greater unity:
"It feels like me, X, and Bull are really tied in with our disguises, being on a string. I feel like I'll have the opportunity to do a little more than just playing the post or playing a quarter, getting some blitzing opportunities as well. I'm definitely excited for it."
The pads have only just gone on, but it certainly sounds as if Gannon's defense has a chance to restore the playmaking element less prominent in the Packers' secondary last season. Granting DBs more flexibility to move around the field - asking them to do more than simply cover post routes or their assigned "quarter" of the field in a Cover 4 scheme -Â should be a big part of that.
Jonathan Gannon can restore chaos to Packers secondary
Green Bay's defense last season ranked 27th in total turnovers (14) and 28th in interceptions (seven). Seven. That's one fewer than McKinney recorded by himself in 2024.
That year, the Packers finished third in interceptions (17) and fourth in total turnovers (31). Obviously, that kind of dropoff isn't all on the defensive coordinator, but clearly something went stale in Jeff Hafley's second season on the job.
Williams still managed to set a personal best with a team-high three picks. In part, that is the product of playing time that nearly doubled from his rookie year. He earned a PFF grade in the top third at the position, and he's only on the rise.
To hear him eagerly describe the playmaking leeway in Gannon's defense is exciting for Packers fans who can't wait to see what Williams brings in Year 3.
Just as exciting, if not even more so, is the prospect of a 'bounceback' season from McKinney, who went from eight INTs in 2024 to just two last season. Williams repeatedly emphasized the importance of taking the ball away to the identity of a dominant defense, and Gannon is embracing that mindset.
Interceptions are not, of course, the only way DBs can make plays. It's interesting to hear Williams look forward to more blitzing chances. Last season, he saw only 10 pass-rush snaps, per PFF, and Pro Football Reference credited him with only six blitzes.
Picking the right spots to unleash DBs in the pass rush could be another way the Packers compensate for Micah Parsons' absence early in the year. And for Williams, getting the green light to wreak havoc more often is something to be excited about.
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