Anthony Campanile will be the Jacksonville Jaguars new defensive coordinator under head coach Liam Coen. So what do you need to know about this hire?
Campanile comes to Jacksonville after spending the 2024 season in Green Bay as the linebackers coach. Before that, he was the Miami linebackers coach from 2020-2023.
“Anthony Campanile represents exactly what we want to be as a defensive unit and football team,” Head coach Liam Coen said. “He brings an aggressive defensive mindset and a system that is adaptable to our players and allows them to play fast and physical.”
Now let’s take a closer look at this addition:
Campanile has a wide-ranging coaching background
During his NFL coaching career, Campanile has spent time under Brian Flores and Vic Fangio–two very different defensive schemes.
Flores operates one of the most aggressive and blitz-heavy schemes in the NFL, while Fangio’s system uses a heavy-dose of shell coverages to limit big plays and force the offense to string together long scoring drives.
Both have been incredibly effective, with the Vikings defense this season (Flores) and the Eagles defense (Fangio) both ranking top five in scoring.
Then most recently with Jeff Hafley in Green Bay, the Packers utilized simulated pressures to throw eye candy at the offensive line and quarterback, along with proving to be very adaptable overall, adjusting weekly based on the opponent.
Campanile has also coached in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. This wide-ranging background should help him adapt his scheme to the players on the roster along with being able to adapt quickly.
Campanile was also the run game coordinator in Green Bay
Along with being the linebackers coach for the Packers, Campanile also had the title of defensive run game coordinator as well.
Under Campanile, the Packers run defense was one of the best in football, ranking third in yards per carry allowed and seventh in rushing yards per game. For the first time since 2009, the Packers held their opponents to under 100 rushing yards per game.
Coen recently discussed the importance of the run game for playoff teams. The best are moving the ball on the ground on offense and stopping the run on defense.
“That’s where it starts,” said Coen of the trenches. “To go win playoff games and to go and do it, you’ve got to be able to run the football and stop the run, first and foremost.”
Packers linebackers impress
Rookie Edgerrin Cooper was among PFF’s highest-graded linebackers in the NFL last season. Cooper was a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week, the NFC Rookie of the month in December, and made the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Quay Walker, meanwhile, had arguably his best season in the NFL. As he got more comfortable in the new defensive scheme and his Mike linebacker role, his play really started to take off.
There was a four game stretch prior to Walker injuring his ankle in Week 15, where he was doing a bit of everything for the Green Bay defense, ranking among the best at the linebacker position during that span of games in yards per catch allowed, quarterback pressures, and run stops, according to PFF.
Devin Lloyd could end up being a big winner with Campanile taking over as the defensive coordinator.
