Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur is sticking with Joe Barry as his defensive coordinator to finish out the 2023 season.
LaFleur confirmed Barry will remain his defensive playcaller over the final three games despite the Packers defense giving up 34 points and almost 400 yards passing to Baker Mayfield during Sunday’s crushing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Yeah, that is the plan,” LaFleur said Monday.
Why will Barry remain?
“If I thought that (firing Barry) was the best solution today, then we’d make that decision,” LaFleur said.
The Packers coach went through all three phases of the film on Sunday night and came away “disappointed” with what he saw on offense, defense and special teams.
LaFleur said “poor communication” on defense was the biggest problem during Sunday’s defeat and he’ll take on a bigger role in making sure the communication problems get fixed this season.
Mayfield completed 22 of 28 passes for 384 yards and four touchdown passes. He didn’t have an interception and finished with a perfect 158.3 passer rating. The loss — Green Bay’s eighth of the season — put a big dent in the team’s playoff chances.
The Packers finish the year with games against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. LaFleur’s team likely needs to win out to make the postseason as a wildcard team in the NFC field.