In the midst of a challenging season for the Green Bay Packers, currently standing at 3-6 and outside the playoff picture, head coach Matt LaFleur is facing questions about the future of defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Despite calls from many fans for Barry’s removal, LaFleur seems to be standing by his defensive coordinator.
The Week 10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers brought significant criticism, especially regarding the defensive strategy, particularly the use of light boxes. A notable instance was a first-and-goal from the four-yard line, where only two “down linemen” were deployed, allowing the Steelers’ Najee Harris to exploit the light box.
However, LaFleur defended Barry’s approach, stating, “When you go nickel defense, those outside linebackers become defensive ends. And the way we always judge it, would you want a running back blocking that guy? Would you want a running back blocking Preston Smith? Would you want a running back blocking Rashan Gary? The answer is usually no. So they are defensive linemen.”
Despite the criticism, LaFleur sees positives in Barry’s strategy, dismissing concerns about the number of down linemen. Unfortunately, the Packers’ rush defense has struggled significantly in the 2023 season, ranking 28th in the NFL in yards allowed per game.
On the bright side, the Packers’ passing defense has fared better, ranking seventh in the league in yards allowed per game. However, teams exploiting Green Bay’s weak rush defense tend to focus on running the ball, minimizing the need for extensive passing plays.
As the season progresses, and with the Packers unlikely to make the playoffs, the spotlight intensifies on the team’s coaching decisions. Whether Joe Barry’s defensive strategies will continue to be a point of contention remains to be seen, but LaFleur’s recent announcement suggests that he may be willing to stand by his defensive coordinator despite the challenges.