Going into the 2023 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers defense was supposed to be the strength of the team. After all, it boasts eight former first round picks having been the primary focus of Brian Gutekunst’s drafts throughout his tenure as general manager (save 2020 when he traded up to take Jordan Love in the first round). Additionally, with the offense sporting a new starting quarterback (Love), two rookie tight ends, and a wide receiver room made up of first and second year players, it stood to reason that the defense would be the superior unit on the team.
As Packers fans are well aware, the defense was far from being the strength of the team this past season. Despite being laden with both veterans and young talent, the defense finished the year:
- 9th in points allowed per game
- 17th in yards allowed per game
- 10th in passing yards allowed per game
- 28th in rushing yards allowed per game
- 27th in defensive DVOA
While struggles on offense were expected due to the youth and inexperience of the unit, the struggles on defense were inexcusable. To put it plainly, the organization has put in too much money and draft capital into the defense for them to be anything but a top-10 unit.
Unfortunately, this has been the trend under defensive coordinator Joe Barry, whose future with the team is undetermined. It was reported yesterday that, contrary to popular belief, Barry is still under contract for next season. If Matt LaFleur wishes to move on, and he has given no indication that he wants to, he would have to fire him. If certain Packers players had it their way, Barry would be welcomed back in 2024.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Players Want Joe Barry Back Next Season
While Barry is immensely unpopular among Packers fans, he is extremely popular among the players. Any reports of him losing the locker room earlier this season could not have been further from the truth.
According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, several Packers players voiced their support of Barry and their desire to see him return as defensive coordinator next season:
“I let them handle all that stuff, coach and everybody else. Love Joe B., love the work that we’ve put in,” defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. “We’ve been through a lot this year as a team, as a defense, whatever you may call it. Got nothing but respect for how we all just handled it and stuck it out and pulled it all together.”
“Of course,” safety Jonathan Owens said when asked if Barry was the right man for the job. “He’s a smart guy. He’s been in the NFL a long time. He has the scheme. It’s just all about everybody doing their job.”
We play for Joe B.,” edge rusher Preston Smith said recently.
It is interesting to note, when looking at what Owens said, that communication was identified as a serious issue on defense throughout the season. It seemed as if, every week, players were always saying “everybody just has to do their job and we’ll be okay.”
This bodes the question: why has it been three years of players not “just doing their job?” Either the Packers have a talent issue or a coaching issue, and with so many defensive players being formal top draft picks, it is hard be believe that it is a talent issue,
The Decision Lands on Matt LaFleur
Of course, the decision regarding Barry’s future with the Packers rests with Matt LaFleur. Over the course of the season, he has defended Barry to the media and has gone out of his way to praise the embattled defensive coordinator when things have gone well.
And to be fair, there were some bright spots for the defense towards the end of the season. After their near-debacle in Carolina, the Packers allowed just one touchdown in their next 10 quarters of football, and that one score was a seven-yard drive for the Minnesota Vikings due to a Samori Toure fumble on a punt return.
The question, though, is do those three games (Minnesota, Chicago, and Dallas) do enough to make up for three seasons of underperformance? Would any other team that needs a defensive coordinator (and there are a few) hire Barry if he was let go by the Packers?
For anyone outside of 1265 Lombardi, the answers to those questions are obvious.
Inside the building? Well, we’ll see.
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1 Comment
Well, the pundits and fans who believe Joe should go are complete and utter morons (dumber even than pro athletes, who have an IQ under 90 across ALL sports).
They ARE a top 10 defense. DVOA is as much of a hoax that is meaningless as MANY of PFF’s outlandish stats. 10th against the passing game, which is FAR more meaningful than stopping the run. 9th in POINTS ALLOWED, which is the ONLY true measure of the effectiveness of a D (who cares if you give up 70 yards on a drive if you stop them from scoring, get a TO or the result is just a FG?).
Joe should stay. The scheme IS sound. They players just absolutely sucked for the first half of the season and figured it out in the end.