On Monday, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur defended defensive coordinator Joe Barry. LaFleur held his Monday press conference following the Packers’ 23-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers gashed the Packers’ defense for 205 rushing yards in the loss Sunday.
That’s not the first time the Packers’ run defense has been humiliated this season. The Packers gave up over 200 yards in their loss to the Detroit Lions.
Related: NFL Week 10 Recap
LaFleur’s attitude following the Week 4 loss differed from how he reacted Monday. LaFleur said after the Lions game it was “insane” to do the same things on defense when they didn’t work earlier in the game.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur defends his DC
One of the main criticisms of Packers fans and those in the media is that Barry’s defensive scheme only has two down linemen on some plays. According to Matt Schneidman with The Athletic, LaFleur said it was “baffling” and “comical” that people would complain about only having two down linemen.
LaFleur said outside linebackers, who operate as defensive ends in the nickel formation, are down linemen.
Matt LaFleur said it's baffling, comical and people expose themselves — all his exact words — when people critique the Packers for having "two down linemen" defending the run in nickel because OLBs in nickel are defensive ends and therefore, are down linemen.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 13, 2023
@mgisel4 has a perfect picture posted to X on how that run defense looks with four down linemen.
Light box to me pic.twitter.com/wf45r6Mld0
— Angry Mike Yankees/Packers Fan!😀 (@mgisel4) November 13, 2023
I wonder how a running back can find a hole?
The sad part about Sunday’s performance was that the Steelers run game has been anemic all season. But Barry’s four down linemen couldn’t stop it, and LaFleur evidently doesn’t know why.
NFL Week 10 Recap:
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