This offseason the Packers made Jaire Alexander the highest-paid corner in the league. Watching Alexander on the field, it is easy to see why. He is a true lockdown corner and the stats back this up. He gives up very few yards to the receivers he is covering. One would think that this would mean Jaire Alexander would be shutting down the opponent’s top receiver. It seems everyone thinks that except Joe Barry, Packers defensive coordinator. Joe Barry is committing malpractice with Jaire Alexander.
Joe Barry Continues to Misuse Packers Jaire Alexander
Good morning.
Last night wasn’t the first time this season an opposing WR1 has sautéed other Packers DBs while the corner they’re paying more per year than *any corner in NFL history* has locked down someone far less dangerous.
Coaching malpractice from Joe Barry. Again. https://t.co/AvwJIVlDST
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 31, 2022
According to Next Gen Stats, Alexander covered Gabe Davis, yes Gabe Davis, on 61% of routes. He had an interception and did not allow a reception. While this is great, it begs the question of why Alexander is covering Davis. Gabe Davis is a solid receiver but Stefon Diggs is the no. 1 target on that team. He torched Rasul Douglas for a touchdown and had multiple other huge catches when covered by someone not named Jaire Alexander. When Alexander did cover Diggs, he did not give up any receptions. Joe Barry is practicing Packers malpractice by not having Jaire Alexander follow the best receiver.
Why Doesn’t Jaire Follow Top Receivers?
Every time that Joe Barry is asked this question he gives some answer about how they are playing the scheme. I get it. The scheme is important but it is really hard to watch a receiver like Stefon Diggs torch a defender while Alexander shuts down the third option. I’m not saying that the Packers would have won had Alexander been covering Diggs but it probably would have made a huge impact on the game. Eliminating the team’s number-one threat seems like a good game plan regardless of what the scheme is.
If Joe Barry and the Packers season continue on a similar trajectory, I think Barry is the one to take the fall. Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst just signed extensions and you can certainly point to successes each has had in the past year or two. This is not the case with Barry. He has had small successes but ultimately has not gotten a defense filled with first-round picks to live up to its potential. He could move the needle if he would simply have Jaire Alexander follow the top receiver.
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1 Comment
Joe was a poor hire to start with, his track record was poor, what were his real qualifications, friends with Matt while with the Rams, that’s not a reason to hire someone. When I’m watching the game on TV and now what the other team is going to run, you would think someone paid to be a head coordinator would also now this, and many times, it appears not.