{
  "id": 7677668,
  "title": "Packers Defense: Jonathan Gannon has a lot of answers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/packers-defense-jonathan-gannon-has-a-lot-of-answers",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-16T01:28:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/packers-defense-jonathan-gannon-lot-012830658.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley typically called defenses using predictable structures, primarily out of a 4-3 base and nickel defense. However, Jonathan Gannon, who runs a 3-4 base defense, promised a more diverse set of answers. The Packers' defense featured several variations of the 3-4 family and nickel family structures during a game against the Minnesota Vikings.\n\nIn the 3-4 family, the Packers fielded two edge defenders, three interior defensive linemen, and two off-ball linebackers in the box. Gannon added a sixth player, Will linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, to address heavier formations with obvious running situations. Cooper would drop down on the edge to replace the reduced weak-side edge defender, effectively clogging running lanes at the point of attack without giving away the Packers' new personnel package.\n\nIn the nickel family, the Packers fielded two edge defenders, two interior defensive linemen, and two off-ball linebackers. The Nickelback, safety Javon Bullard, replaced the strong-side linebacker in this formation, creating a more flexible defensive arrangement. Gannon introduced various subpackages from this group, such as the penny defense, which operated as a 3-4 defense with a single off-ball linebacker, and the penny defense out of nickel personnel, which featured edge defender Lukas Van Ness moving inside to take a defensive tackle position.\n\nThe Packers also used a three-off-ball-linebacker set in one instance, against screens and draws, to help run and chase on tackles. This unique set-up allowed the team to respond to specific situations, such as two-receiver sets played in obvious passing situations or heavy offenses in pass downs.",
  "summary": "Green Bay’s defense leads the NFL in yards per play after showing a diverse gameplan on Sunday",
  "key_points": [
    "Jonathan Gannon uses 3-4 base defense for diverse answers.",
    "Will linebacker Edgerrin Cooper added to address heavier formations.",
    "Various subpackages like penny defense and three-off-ball-linebacker set used."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Packers' defense, under Jonathan Gannon, appears more adaptable and responsive to specific situations, offering a wider range of formations and personnel packages to counter opponents' strategies.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}