The Packers have a first-year starter at quarterback and one of the youngest groups of pass catchers in NFL history. Amazingly, though, the offense hasn’t been the problem most of the season.
Instead, for the umpteenth straight season, Green Bay’s defense has flopped. In the last two weeks alone, the defense’s implosions have dropped the Packers from the seventh and final playoff spot to No. 11 in the NFC and out of the postseason.
Many were surprised Barry wasn’t sent packing after Green Bay’s 34-20 loss to Tampa Bay Sunday when the defense was as dysfunctional as the Kardashian family.
LaFleur’s greatest sin, though, isn’t keeping Barry around for the final three games of 2023. No, his biggest offense was opting to stay married to Barry for any part of the 2023 campaign.
That decision could eventually cost the NFL’s youngest team the valuable experience of playing in the postseason. And if that happens, LaFleur should be on shaky ground himself when next season arrives.
“I do believe in the people, not only in the locker room, but our coaching staff,” LaFleur said at the end of the 2022 season. “Are there a lot of things that we’ve got to improve upon? Absolutely. No doubt about it. But it’s my intention to try and have everybody back, and I think continuity is a big part of having success in this league.”
Continuity can lead to success — if you have the right people in place to begin with.
But LaFleur’s decision to put Barry in charge of his defense was curious from the start.
Barry had two other chances to coordinate a defense, but flopped in both Detroit (2007-‘08) and Washington (2015-‘16).
Detroit ranked dead last in yards and points in both of Barry’s seasons running the Lions’ defense. Granted, Barry was dealt a dreadful hand by overmatched general manager Matt Millen. But Barry’s units in Detroit were so awful, they gave up 5.0 points more per game than any team in football in 2008.
Barry was given a second chance when Washington tabbed him to run its defense in 2015. In both of Barry’s seasons, though, Washington ranked 28th in yards and in the bottom half of points allowed.
Barry and LaFleur became fast friends when the two spent the 2017 season working under Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams. And when LaFleur opted to dump Mike Pettine after the 2020 campaign, he turned to his old pal Barry.
“I’m really proud of my scars. I really am,” Barry said after being hired in Green Bay. “I think in life, you’re hardened by tough experiences.
“Now don’t get me wrong, I think you can learn a lot from having success and being in a good place. But I think when true growth takes place, I think it’s when things are really, really hard. I learned from it, I got better. I grew.”
Perhaps.
The numbers certainly don’t bear that out, though