Packers Colby Wooden Speaks On Defensive Differences in 2024

The Green Bay Packers are undergoing a lot of changes on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. Personnel has changed at some positions, with some key players from last season’s defense not returning.

Atop that list is linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who was designated as a post-June 1st cut. The entire safety position was revamped as well, with Xavier McKinney being signed in free agency. In the 2024 NFL Draft, the team tripled down at safety, selecting Javon Bullard, Evan Williams and Kitan Oladapo.

They could all be relied upon in 2024 because of the changes Jeff Hafley is making to the scheme. The Packers are no longer a 3-4 base defense, as Hafley is installing a 4-3 base to work from.

That has led to some positional changes for players. For example, pass rushers were outside linebackers last season and are now defensive ends. The responsibilities of defensive tackles from last season have changed as well.

In the opinion of Colby Wooden, that is a good thing. He is excited about some of the changes being made/ The biggest, in his opinion, is what he will be asked to do as a defensive tackle under Hafley compared to his tasks under Joe Barry.

“I would say last year we were more reading,” second-year defensive tackle Wooden said. “This year we’re asked to just not think and go, which that plays into our favor. We would get stuck on, you know, play-action, they would hold us and because we’re reading we can’t get to a pass rush and so this year, we’re not reading we’re just going. Full stop running on the way to the quarterback.”

Not having to think as much on the field should benefit the Packers’ defense. Instead of reacting to what the offense is doing, they can focus on creating havoc and breaking into the offensive backfield to make plays.

The assignments given in 2023 led to sometimes passive and hesitant play on the field. The decision-making of Barry cost them a few times, as the game plan wasn’t always a fit for the talent on the roster.

No games have been played under Hafley yet, as it will be hard to judge until then. But players such as Wooden are providing positive reviews in the early going. Learning a new system is never easy, but they are taking to it in the early going.