Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. Today's installment covers:
But first, a look at one coordinator who appears poised for a seat in the big chair ...
The NFL coaching carousel has not started spinning, but expect Jeff Hafley to have a premium spot on it when owners and executives start discussing hot candidates for the 2026 cycle.
The former Boston College head coach and current Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator can step into any job interview with an intriguing résumé. Having run a well-respected program in a Power Four conference for four years, Hafley understands the demands of being the head honcho. The defensive-minded coach has delicately balanced operating as a CEO while also crafting schematic solutions to stifle a wide array of offensive attacks at the collegiate level. Granted, he wasn't shy about voicing his frustrations with the increasing off-field demands for college coaches, something that clearly played a role in his departure from BC. But the responsibilities of an NFL head coach are much more focused than those of a college HC. In this league, the job is "all about ball" and managing the relationships that make the X's and O's come to life. From building and maintaining a championship culture to crafting a comprehensive three-phase plan (offense, defense and special teams) that enables a team to master the art of playing complementary football, NFL head men spend the bulk of their time on the on-field product, as opposed to fighting recruiting battles and closing NIL deals.
Since Hafley took the reins of the Packers' defense in January of 2024, the coach has earned high marks for his work with a unit that underachieved through most of the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay. The 46-year-old coach is getting the most out of a collection of former first-round picks, turning them into a turnover-obsessed group that excels in a "see ball, get ball" scheme. As a vision-and-break enthusiast who prefers zone coverage over man-to-man -- because defenders can react quicker when they have their eyes on the quarterback -- Hafley has been able to position his designated playmakers in spots that enable them to snag interceptions on tipped or overthrown passes. Green Bay tied for third in the NFL with 17 interceptions last season. Star safety Xavier McKinney led the way with eight picks, ranking second in the NFL (Kerby Joseph had nine) and earning him first-team All-Pro honors.
Additionally, under Hafley, the Packers have a knack for forcing fumbles when defenders deliver "bang-bang" shots on pass catchers venturing into their zone. Considering the outsized impact of turnovers on game outcomes, Green Bay's decision to play more zone coverage under Hafley has paid off spectacularly, leading to more game-changing plays from a group of defenders who are flying to the ball with reckless abandon.
The Packers' superior front-line personnel has also played a significant role in the unit's increased takeaways. Before Micah Parsons' arrival via trade, Rashan Gary led the charge off the edge as a freakish combination of size, strength and athleticism, while Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks and Edgerrin Cooper chipped in as complementary pass rushers. Now, with Parsons in the mix as an elite game-wrecker, all of those players benefit. A Pro Bowler in each of his first four NFL campaigns, Parsons commands significant attention as a disruptive force with unique skills as an edge rusher or off-ball blitz specialist. His combination of speed and power overwhelms blockers, forcing opponents to utilize double-teams or chip strategies to slow him down. With so much attention on one player, the rest of the Packers have been able to run through creases on the simulated pressures (four-man rushes with a second-level defender as the fourth rusher) and five-man blitzes. And this elevates the play of Packers beyond the guys listed above. Defensive end Lukas Van Ness, a first-round pick in 2023 who'd yet to live up to his draft pedigree, is showing more promise with Parsons in the fold.
Hafley's ability to maximize talented players within his scheme (SEE: Parsons and McKinney) speaks to his adaptability as a schemer. He understands how to build around the strengths of his top players while minimizing the deficiencies of his role players within the same scheme.
While there is no direct correlation between success as a coordinator and effectiveness as a head coach, Hafley's experience and expertise would help him thrive if he were to receive a head-coaching gig. And that's something that appears to be in the offing very soon.
Yes, the Packers (2-1) just suffered a shocking defeat in Cleveland, but don't blame Hafley. His defense gave up just 13 points (yielding one touchdown on a 4-yard "drive" following a Jordan Love interception) and 221 total yards. And the Pack completely stifled Detroit and Washington -- two of the best offenses in the league last year -- during the first two weeks of this season. Green Bay will be in a bright spotlight this Sunday night, with the Packers visiting the Cowboys in Parsons' highly anticipated return to Dallas.
With the football world closely monitoring Hafley's work for a contender, the former Boston College head coach could get another chance to wear the big whistle in a few months.
What Dart can do for Big Blue
Russell Wilson's benching this week was hardly a surprise, given the 36-year-old quarterback's overall play during New York's 0-3 start to the year. But I understand why the team waited a bit before turning to first-round pick Jaxson Dart, even after his stellar preseason.
By listing Dart behind Wilson on the depth chart and limiting him to a handful of snaps in the first three weeks, the Giants were clearly trying to do right by the prospect, giving him a chance to acclimate to the pro game while they ramped up his reps and prepared him for the leading role.
"I don't think any rookie quarterback is ever just ready to play," Daboll told reporters at a press conference announcing the quarterback change. "You put him in there because you think that he's done enough to show you that he can go out there and compete, and he's done that every step of the way. And that's why I made the decision.”
That said, after reviewing the All-22 coaches film from Dart's preseason performances, it is easy to see how he could jump-start this struggling attack.
The Ole Miss product is a dual-threat playmaker with the arm talent, athleticism and moxie to thrive in a system that meshes collegiate concepts with traditional pro-style tactics. Whether he's executing RPOs (run-pass options), designed quarterback runs or movement-based concepts (bootlegs and sprint-outs), or dropping dimes on quick-rhythm throws between the numbers, Dart’s rapid release and superb diagnostic skills enable him to swiftly distribute the ball to his playmakers on the perimeter before the defense can react to myriad flash fakes and misdirection actions in the backfield.
Additionally, Dart's athleticism and mobility allow him to improvise when opponents blanket his initial reads or apply enough pressure to force him out of the pocket. His impromptu playmaking ability will add another dimension to New York's offense, giving the Giants more answers against the league's ultra-aggressive defenses.
In terms of talent and athletic gifts, Dart is not quite on the level of Josh Allen, whom Daboll helped transform into a star while serving as the Bills' offensive coordinator -- but Dart does flash similar traits as a mobile playmaker. From his ability to find creases on option plays and designed quarterback runs to his improvisational skills outside of the pocket, Dart is the kind of dynamic force around whom Daboll can build, with the potential to elevate the weapons in his supporting cast.
With Dart joining rookie RB Cam Skattebo and second-year WR Malik Nabers, the Giants' newest set of triplets is comprised of explosive playmakers ideally suited to play in an RPO attack that puts constant pressure on opposing Ds. These exciting talents will enable the team to utilize more movement-based concepts and vertical shots off various play fakes, creating more big-play opportunities for an offense attempting to find its identity.
This league is all about matchups and systems. Pairing Dart with a forward-thinking head coach/offensive architect should unlock parts of the Giants’ attack that we have not seen since Daboll took over in 2022. Yes, I know Daboll already had some early success in New York with an athletic quarterback (Daniel Jones), but the coach has not yet been able to deploy some of the tricks and gadgets that made his Bills offense pop with Allen under center.
Dart certainly doesn't have an easy assignment this Sunday, making his starting debut against the 3-0 Chargers. Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter once again have one of the league's stingiest defenses. But I'm excited to see how he settles in during the coming weeks, running a system that utilizes some of the concepts that helped him play well enough at Ole Miss to become the 25th overall pick in April's draft. The team's new franchise quarterback could help Daboll showcase his offensive wizardry and QB development skills over the 14 games that remain in 2025, thus proving he should stay on as HC into 2026.
What is a 'dirty kick'?
The dynamic kickoff has changed the way special teams coaches are approaching an aspect of the game that had decreased in importance prior to last season's implementation of the new format. Before this season, the league tweaked the rules -- moving touchbacks from the 30-yard line to the 35 -- in hopes of increasing the rate of returns. So far, so good. Now, kickers are combating the surge in returns with a strategic technique that discombobulates returners.
The "dirty kick," as it's coming to be known, is a squib kick into the landing zone (the area between the receiving team's goal line and its 20-yard line) that bounces and rolls around, forcing returners to field the ball like a fast-moving grounder in an MLB infield. The unpredictable bounces test the hand-eye coordination of returners, while also disrupting the timing and rhythm of the blocking scheme. As a result, returners are unable to find creases in the coverage, leading to minimal gains and routine tackles inside the 20-yard line.
In last week's Rams-Eagles game, Los Angeles kicker Joshua Karty effectively utilized the dirty kick to completely disrupt Philadelphia's return game. The combination of a knuckleball kick, random bounces and aggressive coverage had Eagles returners in hell, giving the Rams' defense a significant advantage before each Philly drive even began. Moreover, this forced the Eagles to scour the waiver wire for a returner (Xavier Gipson) with the talent, temperament and tools to fix their return woes.
It's safe to assume the rest of the league is studying the Rams' kickoff reel to steal an idea that could become a difference-maker in a league where field position increasingly matters. Given Karty's success, we're sure to see more squibs and pop-ups that befuddle returners and tilt this special teams battle in the kicking team's favor.