Matt LaFleur sends strong message about Jonathan Gannon and the direction of the Packers’ defense
Green Bay’s defensive unit held the Jets to 17 points, and the head coach made clear how much he values what his new coordinator brings to the staff.
The Green Bay Packers secured a 20-17 overtime win against the New York Jets in Week 2, and head coach Matt LaFleur made sure to single out defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon for the role he played in making it happen.
After a Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings where the Packers defense played fairly well despite allowing 39 points due to wild circumstances mostly caused by offensive turnovers, Gannon’s unit was decisive against New York and gave Green Bay’s offense the room it needed to rally late.
Gannon can adapt his gameplan
Replacing Jeff Haffley as the Packers’ defensive coordinator was never going to be easy, but the early returns from Gannon have been positive.
“I can’t give enough credit to our defense, our defensive staff, and Jonathan Gannon for calling a very aggressive game,” LaFleur said. “I’m sure glad we got him because I think he’s an elite defensive coordinator, football coach, and just a great leader.”
The gameplan adaptation from Week 1 to Week 2 stood out. Against Minnesota, the Packers leaned more heavily on blitzing, drawing from what Gannon absorbed as a defensive assistant under Mike Zimmer in Minnesota. Against the Jets, Gannon dialed back the pressure and called something closer to the scheme he ran with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, a Brandon Cisse-blitz late in the game was key for the result. The shift suggests Gannon will be gameplan specific each week, adjusting his approach based on matchup rather than defaulting to a single identity.
That flexibility is a valuable trait for a defensive coordinator, and it’s something the Packers will need as the schedule intensifies.
Former first-rounder breaks out when the Packers needed the most
Beyond the praise for Gannon, LaFleur also addressed the breakout performance of edge defender Lukas Van Ness. The Year 4 defender finished the game with 1.5 sacks and nine tackles, including a sack on Geno Smith in overtime that helped put the offense back in action with a positive field position.
“It might be,” LaFleur said when asked if that was Van Ness’ best NFL Game. “He was all over the place. I thought he’s really coming into his own, and I think we’ve seen that. We’ve seen it all offseason. I think you even saw flashes last year. It’s just he was injured so much. I think he can be a very impactful player for us.”
Van Ness dealt with injuries that limited his ability to build momentum last year, but a healthy offseason appears to have changed the equation for Green Bay. If he can sustain this level of production, the Packers’ pass rush gains a weapon that complements the rest of Jonathan Gannon’s defensive vision, especially once Micah Parsons returns from PUP.
Green Bay now faces a short week, with a “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. The game will be the Packers’ home opener at Lambeau Field after two consecutive road games to start the regular season. Gannon and the defensive staff will need to adapt quickly once again, this time with limited preparation time and a Falcons’ offense that’s expected to start quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the first time this season.
