The Packers’ defense had another poor outing in Week 15, a game in which Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield posted a perfect passer rating. That has led to a fresh round of questions regarding defensive coordinator Joe Barry‘s job security, but it remains intact for the time being. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Matt LaFleur said Barry will continue as the unit’s coordinator and play-caller through the remainder of the 2023 season. The latter is in his third season at the helm of Green Bay’s defense, and the team’s performances on that side of the ball have increasingly come under scrutiny. Sunday’s 34-20 loss marked the latest example of defensive struggles, but LaFleur remains committed to the status quo.
“If I thought that was the best solution today, then we’d make that decision,” he said, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, of a potential DC change. “But when you’re having basic communication problems and you’re supposed to be in a certain coverage or a certain rotation and we’re not getting that communication, that’s what’s so disappointing to me is the fact that it was poor communication.”
LaFleur (who added he will have a larger hand in defensive preparations this week) has not made an in-season change to his staff during his tenure in Green Bay. He gave Barry a vote of confidence multiple times this offseason, despite a pair of campaigns with mediocre results. Expectations have been high for the Packers given their sustained draft investments on defense, but the team has once again not delivered on them in 2023. Green Bay currently sits 17th in the league in points allowed per game (21.5) and 23rd in yards surrendered (350).
Once again, run defense has been a sore spot. Green Bay has given up 139 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 30th in the NFL. The secondary – a unit which has been without cornerback Jaire Alexander for the past six games and saw Rasul Douglas traded away at the deadline – has fared better, but frustration still exists amongst the players. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell took to social media on Tuesday to voice his displeasure with his own situation, which has included playing through injury in recent weeks.
A report from the summer indicated 2023 would likely be Barry’s final season in Green Bay barring a turnaround. Improvement has not taken place in a number of areas, but the 53-year-old still has the public backing of his head coach. It will be interesting to see if that remains the case after the campaign has come to an end.
“But when you’re having basic communication problems and you’re supposed to be in a certain coverage or a certain rotation and we’re not getting that communication, that’s what’s so disappointing to me is the fact that it was poor communication.”
When you’re having basic communication problems at the end of the season, then they aren’t basic. Time to fire the guy.
Packers need an entire front office overhaul from gute on down. What a disaster.
Amazing what a HoF QB can cover up. I’m not a fan of Rodgers as a person, but this season is validating his complaints in GB.
Might as well start at the organization President, GM, complete coaching and training staff. If you look at all the muscle and other injuries over the last couple years it’s ridiculous something needs to change.
Fire Barry and LAFLEUR
Go one more step up the ladder as well. Don’t forget how much of this mess is Guety’s fault.
It’s comical at this point how Flower Child continues to defend his own mistake of hiring Berry in the first place. But that’s the real reason he won’t fire him. He hired this doofus knowing his track record of failure.
If the bum HC won’t fire the bum DC, then the GM needs to fire them both. Except the GM is also a bum, and so is Mark Murphy, so nobody is getting fired until MAYBE the off-season. And I’ll just bet whoever gets fired is replaced by someone as inept (or worse) as what we have right now.
Is my man like a part owner or something?? How does he keep the job?!
They aren’t going anywhere this season so no point in firing him at this point.
They’re technically still alive for a playoff spot. While I don’t believe they deserve it, Barry does deserve to be fired. Right now (since last week, last month and last year are past).
It’s also rather stupid to keep an employee around for no other reason than ‘we aren’t going anywhere for a while, so let’s just continue paying dead weight, and refuse to even try and improve morale until we feel we are going somewhere.’ Players are ready to quit, but that’s OK because the team isn’t going anywhere this year?
AMEN