GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers Cornerback Jaire Alexander said the team’s new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has had an immediate and positive impact on defense.
“I love Haf. We had a good conversation yesterday,” said Alexander. “Haf’s super smart and he’s a DB’s coach, man. You would love to play for a guy like Haf because he’s going to break it down, and he’s going to cater to what we’re covering. It’s pretty plain and simple. Our edge rushers are flying off the ball every play, and our D-tackles are flying off the ball. That makes this defense very elite.”
Quarterback Jordan Love got a big contract extension over the weekend with the Packers. That was just fine with Alexander.
“I said last year he was the best QB in the league,” said Alexander. “It wasn’t a surprise when he got his deal. I was actually super happy for him,” he said. “I thought to myself I was playing the wrong position. Maybe I should have played quarterback,” he smiled.
“I was super happy for him. I think it’s only going to be up from here for him.”
While some things on the team have stayed the same, such as Love staying, others have not. The Packers’ kicking competition has changed. Rookie James Turner was released.
Alexander said the team has plenty of great players. He said he can tell from practice the development of receiver Romeo Doubs.
“I always want to go against Doubs,” said Alexander.
“That dude is freaking really good. I mean, you come in his rookie year, not catching a single pass on me, and now he’s contesting. I mean, we going over 50/50 balls now. I mean, dude is really good.”
Alexander thinks the sky is the limit for the Packers this season. He’s even had a very specific vision.
“I see us hoisting that trophy on my birthday, Feb. 9,” said Alexander.
Less than two weeks away from the Packers’ first preseason game at Cleveland, Matt LaFleur did not say if he had decided yet whether Love would play in the preseason.
“What I told our coaches — haven’t talked to the team about this yet but what I told our coaches — was right now, you got to anticipate all our guys are going to play at some point. Just when is that point,” LaFleur said. “And a lot of it’s going to be kind of where we’re at. So there’s going to be a little bit of feel to that.”