Green Bay’s new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is rolling out a wild Penny package, and it’s completely changing how they’re using linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. This isn’t just some minor tweak; it’s a specific defensive alignment that’s got the first-team unit looking totally different from what fans are used to seeing in the NFL.
Gannon’s Penny Package: A Whole New Look
Let’s break down this Penny package because it’s a twist on the familiar. Essentially, it’s a 3-4 defense right on the line of scrimmage, but with only one true off-ball linebacker, split safeties, and then another deeper safety roaming the middle. Packers fans know the 3-4 base well, thanks to guys like Dom Capers, Mike Pettine, and Joe Barry running it back in the day. And yeah, the league mostly runs that standard 4-2-4 Nickel defense these days. But Gannon’s Penny wrinkle? It’s different. It’s not your typical setup, and it’s making some waves in how players are deployed.
Edgerrin Cooper’s Shocking New Role
Here’s where it gets interesting, especially for Edgerrin Cooper. Usually, when 3-4 defenses go into a Penny look, they pull their Will linebacker off the field to bring in a slot defender. But Green Bay is flipping the script. Their baseline doesn’t even use a slot defender, they bring in a third safety instead! Even crazier, with the first-team defense, they are *not* taking their Will linebacker, Cooper, off the field. Because Cooper is one of their top defenders, Gannon has actually lined him up on the edge. This move displaces the edge defender who would normally be opposite Lukas Van Ness, someone like Barryn Sorrell, during preseason action. So, instead of subbing out the Will for a slot guy, the Packers’ first-team defense is taking off an edge defender, playing a third safety, and then sliding Cooper into an on-the-ball position. It looks like a smart game plan to keep one of their best players on the field, while also still jamming up the line of scrimmage with three defensive tackles to shut down the run. We’ve seen Cooper playing on the edge against the opposing offense’s passing strength, with Van Ness taking the opposite side.
So far, we haven’t seen any clips of Cooper actually rushing the passer from this specific alignment. On passing plays, it’s typically just three defensive tackles and Van Ness coming after the quarterback. But with Gannon cooking up these kinds of schemes and putting his best players in unique spots, you gotta wonder what’s coming next for that Packers’ defensive line. Keep an eye on Cooper and that Penny package!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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