Packers most recent roster move shows exactly what they want to look like

Spencer Waege played mostly as an edge defender at North Dakota State University. Of his 1,609 college snaps, 1,271 of them came off the edge. Undrafted in 2023, he signed with the 49ers and spent last year's training camp and preseason there. Waege didn't make the 53-man roster, but later in the season signed with the team's practice squad.

He was released by the 49ers earlier this week, and the Packers saw an opportunity to claim a player that fits what they want to be. And it's obviously inspired by what the 49ers are philosophically.

"It's an attack front. If you put the tape on with San Fran, Houston, the Jets – I've been very fortunate in my background being in Buffalo and in Jacksonville and that's really what we did back then, so been fortunate to be around it," said Jason Rebrovich, who was promoted from pass rush specialist to defensive line coach. "It's about TFLs and sacks. We're going to look to create havoc in the backfield. Every down, we're looking to penetrate and make something big happen. Offensive linemen, not moving so fast laterally, they're going to have to stay on the line of scrimmage a little bit longer with the movements and the ability for us to get in the backfield."

Waege is a very athletic player, with a 9.58 Relative Athletic Score coming out of college. In his last seaso at North Dakota State, he had 42 pressures and 12 sacks.

You watch the 49ers' defense, and they obviously have a lot of talent. But stilistically, that's what they want to look like. A player who knows that system and that defensive logic is another part of this process.

"Anytime you're trying to create things in the backfield, you've got to have the whole group swarm to make the play. Can't just be one guy making the tackle," Rebrovich added. "So, you've got to make sure when you are creating a new line of scrimmage, when you are working to get in the backfield, there's other guys that are going to converge. You can't just sit there and watch one guy try and work to make one play."

Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley worked for the San Francisco 49ers between 2016 and 2018 as a defensive backs coach — the last of these two years under head coach Kyle Shanahan. Because of that inspiration, he has already made a drastic change, and the Packers will have a 4-3 base defense for the first time since 2008.