You can tell he’s a communicator. I liked much of what he said, but what matters is not what he says but whether he can make it reality. Finding that FS or Post safety is clearly critical in his concepts. That’s got to be the biggest challenge this year.

Love the player first mentality and the understanding that one has to adapt to what they do as much as to opponents strengths and willingness to hybridize schemes to achieve that. Player capabilities over philosophy.

Pretty much skewered the player execution trope often used to defend Barry. Love the commitment to coaches that excel at player teaching and motivating too. He’s clearly going to be prioritizing looking for the ball not to minimize yards per snap.

Now the question is can all this translate to the NFL and how quickly. I’m encouraged but I’m not willing to gush as effusively as you do here till I see it delivering on the field.

Yes, I really don't see how that press conference could have been any better. Of course Andy is right that ultimately the first press conference doesn't have much (if any) predictive value, but you still want it to be good rather than bad. Hafley was confident, professional, and open-minded. He was enthusiastic but was not trying to puff himself up. The players must have liked hearing him say that he will listen to their ideas.

He didn't say much about the current defensive roster, which was smart. There's no reason to go down that road at this point. The roster is going to change in the next couple months anyway. That gaping hole at the safety position looms larger and larger, though.

Andy, you did a super job with that presentation.