Meanwhile Gannon also met with President and CEO Ed Policy, General Manager Brian Gutekunst, executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball and Parsons, who was in town rehabbing, during his trip to Green Bay.
He was attracted to the stability of the Packers’ organization and a roster that he feels is set up to win, on both sides of the ball, with a healthy mix of veterans and youth. He called his interview with LaFleur “intense” as their conversation jumped around amongst a smorgasbord of football topics.
“I was in a coat and tie, and I think I was sweating a little bit,” Gannon said. “It was fun. I got home off the plane and told my wife, Gina, ‘This is where I want to go.'”
Since arriving, he’s been involved in the hiring of new defensive assistants, gone through all the Packers game film from last season, and collaboratively given his players action plans – specific areas to focus on for improvement.
He’s also been reunited with a couple of accomplished players from his past, as the Packers signed defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, who had two of his best seasons playing for Gannon in Philly, and traded for linebacker Zaire Franklin, whose NFL career began in Indianapolis when Gannon was the defensive backs coach there.
He described Hargrave as a “team-first guy, loves football, smart, works his butt off and is tough as nails,” and said some of the same things about Franklin.
Those two were probably more aware of Gannon’s approach than others when he first stood in front of the team, as the process of putting together this defense has only just begun.
“We develop the playbook when we get here,” he said. “I told the players this. I said this is going to be a little different for them because as we’re teaching them things, they’re going to see tape of Philly, Minnesota, Arizona, Green Bay, San Francisco, Buffalo, Alabama, Georgia. I don’t really get caught up in … ‘This is my playbook. Here’s what we’re going to run.'”
He confessed there are basic principles, as well as concepts he likes to utilize, but they won’t be part of the package if the players can’t make them successful. He emphasized the defense needs to look more complicated to the opposition than it really is, and it’s his task to simplify the players’ jobs so their playstyle – his primary concern – can be effective and impactful.
“I just believe you’ve got to continually every year try to adapt and solve problems with your guys in mind,” Gannon said. “Before scheme, I truly believe it’s not what you play, it’s how you play.
“It’s a players’ game, man, you know what I mean? And everybody fits into winning. Everyone’s role might be different, but it all fits into winning, and you have to perform your role at a high level.”
