Green Bay defensive coordinator Joe Barry has become a daily punching bag for angry Green Bay Packers fans on social media. It traces back to last season and, quite frankly, all the way back to the initial hire.
There’s no sugar-coating it at this point: Green Bay’s defense has been an unmitigated disaster. However, Barry isn’t to blame for all of it.
Head coach Matt LaFleur chose to hire Barry. Their friendship dates back to at least 2017 when both were in Los Angeles under head coach Sean McVay. LaFleur and Barry became tight, and that familiarity went a long way in the hiring process.
If resumé alone carried the day, Barry would’ve never been considered for the gig.
Barry had two previous stints as a defensive coordinator in the NFL. He spent 2007 and 2008 with the Detroit Lions, and his defenses were ranked dead last (32nd) in yards and points in both seasons. Seven years later, the Washington Commanders gave him a second chance. In his two years in D.C., Barry’s defenses were 28th in yards in both seasons, 17th in points in Year 1, and 19th in Year 2.
It took two years in Detroit for the Lions to look in the mirror and say, Yeah, we’re moving on.
It took two years in Washington for them to do the same.
LaFleur had the chance to move on last offseason. Nobody would’ve blinked had he let Barry go unless maybe there were tears of joy in their eyes. Yet LaFleur opted to bring Barry back.
It’s been a disaster.
In some sense, LaFleur is doing Barry a disservice. Keeping him around to flounder isn’t fair to Barry, and it’s putting some heat under LaFleur’s seat.
Sure, midseason changes don’t always work out. But it’s gotten to the point where it was so bad that it couldn’t have possibly gotten any worse for Green Bay.
Barry had New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito looking like the next coming. After torching Barry’s defense, DeVito was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Two weeks later, the Giants have benched DeVito for veteran Tyrod Taylor.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield won the award the following week when he played in Green Bay. Mayfield became the first visiting quarterback in Lambeau Field history to have a perfect passer rating.
Carolina Panthers rookie Bryce Young got his licks in last week. The Panthers scored 30 points against Green Bay, a new season high. Carolina racked up 394 yards, also a season high. Young threw for 298, a career-high. Carolina converted 26 first downs and had five plays of at least 20 yards. Yes, both were also season highs.
Barry can’t and obviously isn’t being let off the hook. His refusal to be aggressive and force the issue was widely known when Green Bay handed him the gig. He hasn’t adjusted even with the abundant talent the Packers have invested in.
But LaFleur deserves a large chunk of the blame though, too.
Hiring Barry in the first place was baffling. Keeping him after the 2022 season was a decision that everyone knew wouldn’t work out. LaFleur is loyal to a fault, and that has never been more apparent than the decision he keeps making every week to keep Barry around.
One would think LaFleur would learn after letting former special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton stay well past the point that most head coaches would’ve allowed. A blocked punt for a touchdown in the playoffs against San Francisco in 2021 finally ended Drayton’s stay. He’s now the head coach at The Citadel.
LaFleur enabling Barry to hang around and be the piñata while blindly clinging to some form of hope deserves to be criticized as much as opponents overwhelming Barry every week. Here’s what he said at the end of the 2022 season:
I do believe in the people, not only in the locker room, but our coaching staff. 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.
That’s what LaFleur told reporters when asked specifically about Barry at the conclusion of last season. That blind faith has cost Green Bay’s defense dearly.
There is another culprit to blame, although it’s a lame one.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander has played just six games this year. Cornerback Eric Stokes is finally back on the field for the first time in 13 months. Green Bay traded veteran corner Rasul Douglas at the deadline. Inside linebackers De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker have also missed a combined eight games.
In no way does Barry deserve a complete pass for this, but the injuries and absences Green Bay has gone through are eye-opening. The weekly injury report looks like a list of players you would otherwise like on your fantasy roster.
Joe Barry likely can’t and won’t be retained following this season. The Packers shouldn’t have hired him in the first place and definitely shouldn’t have brought him back this season. He deserves blame, and he’s certainly getting plenty of it. Issues with health and availability at corner and linebacker, coupled with LaFleur’s inability to make a tough decision with his staff, also warrant attention. Barry isn’t the only one at fault in all of this.
