Why An In-Season Defensive Coaching Change Is The Right Move For the Packers Future

Joe Barry hasn't extracted the best out of his players

Aaron Nagler wrote in his "Gut Reactions" column after the Green Bay Packers loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night: "Why you make Jaire Alexander the highest paid corner in the game so he can play ten yards off on 3rd and 3 is a mystery." And it's not something new. The defensive coaching staff’s inability to extract the most out of its players has been a theme of this season for the Packers. Back in September, after the week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, I tweeted this:

Jaire Alexander is one of the best cornerbacks in the league and one of the most valuable non-quarterbacks in the league, but he's used like a mediocre defensive back. Eric Stokes is good at press man, but he was used as a flawed zone defender while healthy. Rasul Douglas didn't play in the boundary, where he's best at, until Stokes got injured. Darnell Savage has drastically regressed since 2021 because he's not suited to play deep, and that's where he's played for most of the last two seasons.

It's not just a matter of scheme. It's just a complete ineptitude to identify what their players do well, and make them do it. This could seem like a simple concept, but that hasn't been so simple for the Packers in 2022.

And I've only mentioned the secondary.

Similar things happen on the front. The Packers drafted Devonte Wyatt and Jonathan Ford and signed Jarran Reed  presumably to play heavier fronts — and those players are well suited to play the one and half gap scheme that the Vic Fangio/Brandon Staley tree has run around the NFL. However, the Packers went back to a one-gap scheme, overloading off-ball linebackers who are better covering than run-stuffing.

If you think these decisions don't make much sense, it's probably because they really don't. The Packers, who finished last season as the 22nd in defensive DVOA, are 17h through the first 10 weeks, with the Titans loss yet to hit the numbers — and it was worse before the Dallas Cowboys game. They are 20th in EPA/play allowed after being 19th in 2021. In the last two years with Mike Pettine as their defensive coordinator, they were 12th both in 2019 and 2020. The NFCCG failures under Pettine were massive, but the unit was much better throughout those seasons. Pettine got fired, and the defense regressed even with much more investment and talent.

That's why an in-season coaching change might make sense. It's not just a schematic issue, which would be realistically impossible to correct during the season. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry hasn't been able to put his players in position to do what they do best. And he has never had a defense in the top 20 in defensive DVOA, considering four years of previous experiences with the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders.

Jerry Gray may not be the long-term solution, but he had a better track record as a coordinator and has been a solid coach during his time in Green Bay — which resulted in a promotion from defensive backs coach to passing game coordinator after one season. He has already mentioned that the lack of press coverage is a coordinator decision, so it's fair to expect changes in this regard if he is promoted to interim DC for the final games of the season.

Allowing the current version of the team to play to its players' strengths is the right path to take. Even if the season is essentially over, the Packers need to evaluate the players individually and see who has a real shot to help the future of this team. If that doesn't happen, you might see more cases such as Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde, players who weren't correctly used by the Packers and ended up being much better elsewhere.

The Packers are not a Super Bowl contender, but there is still time to make right decisions.

Photo: MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL via Imagn Content Services, LLC

 

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Wendell Ferreira covers the Green Bay Packers for Zone Coverage and Cheesehead TV. He is a Brazilian journalist with over a decade of experience covering the NFL, soccer, NBA, and MMA. Follow him on twitter at @wendellfp  

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12 points
 

Comments (72)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Cubbygold's picture

November 18, 2022 at 10:10 am

I would have agreed with this three weeks ago, when a change was needed to help save the season. I'm not sure putting in a new DC at this point will be very healthy for the team moving forward - going to be a lot of 'business decisions' being made by defensive players looking ahead to the 2023 season.

Can the season, look forward to the draft and give a new DC the reigns the second the season is over.

-2 points
6
8
MooPack's picture

November 18, 2022 at 10:27 am

Agree and gave you a thumbs up, but I don’t see any hurt in seeing what Gray can do now with the talent he has. It’d be like giving a job interview. If he can’t do any better, at least you know now and can move forward in a different direction.

8 points
8
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Coldworld's picture

November 18, 2022 at 04:42 pm

I would make an exception for Gray as an internal option. I think a new coach will want yo choose his coordinators and so on down, so if he wants it let him show what he can do. If there was an option on O, I’d take that off LaFleur even faster and then promote Bissacia as interim HC for the same reasons.

I sadly expect nothing so bold from Murphy unless he needs a scapegoat and that’s not a valid reason or going to work from my perspective. Murphy is actually the one that should go yesterday to start putting this house in order properly.

1 points
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NickPerry's picture

November 20, 2022 at 11:39 am

I agree and think Gray could be a fantastic DC. The problem is if the move was to be made, it should have been made Thursday night after the game or Friday morning. Joe Barry may be a decent ILB coach but he's not a defensive coordinator.

Now, IF LaFleur had even a half of testicle he'd have fired Barry and named Gray the interim DC. BUT, does LaFleur even have the juice to do that? If not, then it's even a sadder state at 1265 than I knew.

#Whatamess!!!

0 points
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CHEESEHEADDALLAS's picture

November 18, 2022 at 11:01 am

Time for the true owners of this team to take control go to the packer office with their hovers and start cleaning house from the top down and show the bozo the clowns the door the free ride is over. Then go to the coach's offices plug in and continue cleaning . After we are done there go to the players locker room and all the week no inspired players that are only their for the money starting with mushroom heard you missed the bus out of town do not let the door hit you where the good lord split you.

3 points
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Houndog's picture

November 19, 2022 at 06:59 am

Is there anyone here that can translate this for me?

1 points
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mnbadger's picture

November 18, 2022 at 12:06 pm

I agreed three weeks ago, I agreed 3 years ago and most importantly let's not forget that HC's, coordinators and position coaches should know that RIGHT NOW is always the time to make the right decisions.
Waiting to make the right decision only makes the current problem last longer, right? We've seen it for too long. GPG!

5 points
6
1
PackyCheese500's picture

November 18, 2022 at 12:49 pm

I say gat a new Defensive-minded Head Coach. The type of team the Titans are is exactly the type of team I want the Packers to be. A bruising, run-first team with a suffocating, deep, defensive line and excellent coaching that allows depth players to be real impactful. The only difference is that with our budding young receiving corps, we should have a passing game, too.

0 points
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3
fordguy's picture

November 18, 2022 at 09:34 pm

Yeah the run first worked really good last night.

1 points
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MooPack's picture

November 18, 2022 at 10:22 am

Completely agree Wendell. Total lack of using the players to their strengths and instead trying to shoe horn them into your flawed scheme. The best coaches will adjust their own preferred scheme to allow the talents of players be put in the best position to succeed. Barry has virtually none of that. He needs to go. Problem is this Front Office and Head Coach don’t seem to have the guts to do it. Firing = admission = failure to them. I can’t see them doing it.

18 points
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tincada's picture

November 18, 2022 at 10:33 am

Simply because if these clowns did that their sorry ass heads would then be on the chopping block. All four of the amigos (Murf the surf, Gutman, LaFraud and Joe Bob) need to go. I've been saying that for the last 3 yrs. I would add the diva but they can't afford that.

0 points
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4
LambeauPlain's picture

November 18, 2022 at 11:34 am

Well, they did have the stones to cut both Fumby Rodgers and Lazy Hill, a supposed locker room cancer and a malcontent. (He was drafted with this behavior on his resume...talented and a jerk....a main reason he fell to the Gutey in the 7th)

Firing Barry would at least show The Flower still has some bloom.

But I expect the petals will continue to fall off the rose and both will be gone next year.

5 points
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1
Coldworld's picture

November 18, 2022 at 10:22 am

Pointless. As long as LaFleur is there, no coordinator is turning this around meaningfully. The only way this has merit now would be if LaFleur was gone first. He should be, he’s the guy that sets the tone apparent throughout.

15 points
17
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Packerpasty's picture

November 18, 2022 at 11:24 am

absolutely agree...both have to be shown the door...this will never be a "tough" team with either coach still on the Packers...MLF is a good front runner when things are going smooth, he can't adjust and he obviously can not fire up the team...they are soft like him...nice guy but we all know the saying about nice guys....

3 points
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GaryC's picture

November 18, 2022 at 12:11 pm

Totally agree. The tone, demeanour and personality of a team comes from the head coach. Absolutely shocking. Out coached pretty much every week.

6 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

November 18, 2022 at 12:50 pm

He seems too wishy washy

3 points
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coolhand's picture

November 18, 2022 at 10:27 am

I recall a while back, MLF had said he wanted to see the defense play more aggressively. They do only occasionally. But, if the HC wants an aggressive defense, why hire Barry? He has always been known to play soft zone. Our d backs and linebackers look like they have no clue who to cover or where to be. It is truly a mess and it all falls on Barry AND MLF for hiring him and keeping him on his staff.

21 points
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tincada's picture

November 18, 2022 at 10:39 am

When a person shows you who they are believe them. LMAO @ GB, where by chance I grew up.

3 points
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ricky's picture

November 18, 2022 at 10:30 am

When the booth announcers are questioning why the DB's are playing several yards off their receivers when it is third and short, you know it's bad. This has been going on all year. Once again, it's talented square pegs in round defensive schemes. Why not play to the strengths of your players? And, and this point, why not try someone else as DC? When Pettine is being appreciated more than the current DC, you know you're in trouble.

18 points
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Coldworld's picture

November 18, 2022 at 04:44 pm

No point in a permanent hire as most aren’t available and any HC worth having would want his choices and rightly.

1 points
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bjkdad44's picture

November 19, 2022 at 01:52 am

Who in their right mind would want the hc job? Names???

0 points
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1
jhtobias's picture

November 18, 2022 at 10:58 am

While I agree with Wendell every comment on here every announcer every person who has two eyes could see this the day this man was hired I need to ask one question, Why do we keep talking about this subject day in and day out for almost two years since Joe berry was hired ?

1. They meaning management Lafluer Rodgers or whoever makes these decisions will do absolutely nothing to rectify this situation . their is more of a chance that Joe Berry gets a promotion than let go with this organization .

2. Why is Lafluer, Management, Rodgers or whoever is in charge of hiring the defensive staff coordinators not held accountable for these decisions,

Green Bay is a soft gut less organization with zero leadership and accountability except if your a late round pic . My only disappointment is that Vrabel didn't punch it in for a td at the end of the game to rub it in these gutless dolts face.

10 points
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coolhand's picture

November 18, 2022 at 11:15 am

Similar to the problems last year with special teams and MLF kept Drayton all year

6 points
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croatpackfan's picture

November 18, 2022 at 02:09 pm

Because the Idiot believe he is not idiot...

1 points
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bjkdad44's picture

November 19, 2022 at 01:53 am

What the hell does that mean?????

-1 points
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croatpackfan's picture

November 19, 2022 at 02:41 am

MM: "We are not idiots!"

0 points
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calabasa's picture

November 19, 2022 at 09:00 am

Indeed. I may be stupid, but I know I’m stupid, which makes me smart.

0 points
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Coldworld's picture

November 18, 2022 at 03:32 pm

If the team is in the image of LaFleur, he and the organization are reflections of Murphy. Sadly, so now is our roster and cap. The whole edifice, including the Murphy cronies on the executive board need to go.

3 points
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Lphill's picture

November 18, 2022 at 11:11 am

Not only should Barry go but please put Mason Crosby on IR , he is done .

15 points
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croatpackfan's picture

November 18, 2022 at 02:10 pm

I remember I had 9 down votes when I wrote that during TC. I like to have down votes when I'm sure I'm right...

1 points
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dblbogey's picture

November 18, 2022 at 02:58 pm

Here's another one.

2 points
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1
jimtalkbox's picture

November 18, 2022 at 11:19 am

I wouldn't hold my breath, but MLF admitting his mistake in hiring Barry would be a good first step. Barry consistently plays against his players' strengths and it's beyond egregious.

5 points
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1
Coldworld's picture

November 18, 2022 at 03:34 pm

They have a lot in common then.

3 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

November 18, 2022 at 04:14 pm

Not a 12 step program, just fire the guy.

5 points
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TheVOR's picture

November 18, 2022 at 11:26 am

I have to be honest here, I don't think either the OC or DC are worth a darn. Talk about a guy who stock has plummeted, what about Adam Stenavich? This guy was coveted for jobs around the NFL, and look at this offense? Lets also not forget that the defense is always on the field because the Offense is 3 and out or stalling drives constantly?

I look all over the NFL and see former DC's who have failed as head coaches, going back to DC positions across the NFL and are excelling.

Unless GB can get a blue chip replacement coordinator, why change now? At the end of this season many names will be available.

Finally, I'm struggling with the Rodgers "Thumb" thing. Usually if you bruise a thumb, you can get beyond that in a few weeks. He either has torn tendons in that Thumb, or its broken (IMO). Favre played an entire season with a Broken Thumb on his throwing hand, this looks like the same deal to me. I'm probably wrong, but it just seems weird that we're 5 weeks into this injury, and the thumb is still swelled up?

7 points
7
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PackyCheese500's picture

November 18, 2022 at 12:50 pm

Put him back at OL coach. He was great there

1 points
1
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dobber's picture

November 19, 2022 at 10:58 am

Coaches don't often accept demotions and stay in the same organization.

1 points
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dobber's picture

November 19, 2022 at 10:58 am

"Lets also not forget that the defense is always on the field because the Offense is 3 and out or stalling drives constantly?"

Packers 9th in TOP, 30:45.
Packers 12th in 3rd down conversion rate, 41.35%
Packers 7th in 3rd down conversion rate allowed, 34.92%
Packers tied for 13th in yards per play, 5.5.
Packers tied for 16th in average yards per play allowed, 5.5.

Packers 25th in points per play, 0.294.
Packer 22nd in points per play allowed, 0.370

https://www.teamrankings.com

Aggregate stats don't often tell the whole story, but by this time in the season, they lead you in the right direction.

3 points
3
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LambeauPlain's picture

November 18, 2022 at 11:26 am

After The Flower missed on Leonard, he became almost schizophrenic in his desperate hire of crony Barry.

Barry = Capers 2.0...both a death wish for a head coach...er, I mean Offensive Coordinator.

Both McCarthy and The Flower are glorified OC's with a HC title. MM is being saved by former failed HC Quinn this year who is a sublime DC.

I see absolutely no issues firing Barry now. He's apparently lost the D locker room and will be fired after this dismal season anyway. See what Gray or even Montgomery can do as DC in a 6 game interview.

I thought Capers was terrible, Barry is worse. He has a potential rock star band. But he stubbornly and cluelessly demands his men play andante classical music.

The best Defense for the Packers is keeping them off the field with long, clock chewing scoring drives with their O.

Instead, Barry's D is incredibly effective keeping the Packer Offense off the field. The Wilting Flower just shrugs his shoulders and flaps his arms helplessly because he can't be bothered with Defense or STs, even if he is supposedly a fracking head coach.

9 points
12
3
PackyCheese500's picture

November 18, 2022 at 01:01 pm

Guess who his 3rd choice for DC was? Ejiro Evero, the Defensive Coordinator of the Broncos who coaches the best defense in the league, and is known for making in-game adjustments and scheming to his players' strengths. Why we did not hire him I don't know.

I would like to see him be MLF's replacement at HC

0 points
2
2
croatpackfan's picture

November 18, 2022 at 02:16 pm

I do not like those picking names. Ejiro Evero might be perfect DC, but promote him after one year at the position means you do not know how he will perform as HC. It may be over his head, or the job might suits him. History tells that Peter's principle very often works when promotions are fast.

0 points
1
1
Handsback's picture

November 18, 2022 at 12:07 pm

We know that coaches don't always say what they mean and mean what they say. It's that political speak that allows them flexibility to keep their jobs while keeping the hounds at bay. That's why terms like pad level, rounded the route, throws off their back leg, and my favorite hands placement are used all the time as why the team didn't make this play or that play. So after a loss many words are spoken, but they mean nothing.
MLF is a microcosm to Packer management structure. He's competent, bright offense driven coach. What he's not is a master builder of football teams. He takes what he has and runs his system the best he can. His coaches follow along with that concept. If MLF wanted a more aggressive defense, don't you think Berry would comply? I think, don't know for sure, but think MLF's idea on defense is keep them from scoring fast, bend don't break zone defense, because the Packer offense will score a lot of points. In years past yes, but obviously not this year.
For a turnaround to happen, MLF will have to rebuild his offense to the players he has...and make the defense rock solid, but not sure he has the guys to do it on defense. The issue is that Gutsey can't bring in another influx of edge rushers, safety, and OT.
MLF has to build his team and be successful with who he has. Now the FO has issues. I always wonder if it was Gutsey or Murphy that wanted or insisted they sign Rodgers to a hugeeeee contract. If I had to guess it was Murphy. Yeah they got one more bite at the apple last year to win the SB, but failed and now they have three years at least of rebuilding. I see Murphy as a Jerry Jones figure that wants to have his fingers in every pie, yet doesn't have the skill set to make it work. For that matter neither does Jerry Jones.
So my thoughts for what it's worth.

9 points
9
0
gpt999's picture

November 18, 2022 at 07:10 pm

Whenever I saw an incompetent subordinate in business, I always looked first to the Peter Principle. Is the subordinate there because his boss wants less competent people under him to protect his own job?

While I don't think this of LaFleur, I do not understand his stubbornness is keeping Barry? Maybe just his ego - "I hired him. If I have to fire him, I made a mistake". I hope that isn't MLFs rationale either...

4 points
4
0
mbpacker's picture

November 18, 2022 at 12:16 pm

There needs to be a lot of changes at every level of the organization. Barry definitely needs to be sent packing.
I question coaches decision-making not only on the field but with the Barry hire. Doubtful coach will be let go.
This team won't look the same next year due to the cap hell we are in, regardless if 12 decides to come back or not. I still think this is a talented team, but there has to be things going on behind closed doors. I hate to loose, but can deal with it if the Packers play well and just get beat by a better team, but we are not even competing at this point. Of course like others have stated the schemes are not matched with the talent and strengths of the players. A lot falls on the head coach.

4 points
4
0
PackyCheese500's picture

November 18, 2022 at 12:54 pm

Packers should cut/trade everyone away next year who will not be part of the long term future. Try to stockpile draft picks. In the meantime, fire MLF and Barry for sure. Put Steno back at O-line coach. Gutey I still don't know about.

7 points
7
0
stockholder's picture

November 18, 2022 at 01:19 pm

Everyone wants changes. With all the bitching going on. It will never happen!! And why should it?
First: It won't happen until Rodgers is Fully recovered. They know he has a Bitch. And this team had to over-come to many Loses within.
So Barry stays. And so do the coaches. Because Nobody can change this Roster but Gute. And Truthfully he is responsible!
The Trench experiments will go on. Who can stay in. And who can't!
If Rodgers goes. He won't go alone. And if he goes. The bleeding won't stop. Because these guys aren't physical!
Mark Murphy must shoulder the Blame. The real change must start with firing Gute. Rodgers had that right before he decided to come back. His retirement might be the only way Gutey can save his job.
Spending money is what Gute does best. He's blown too many draft picks. And he can't fire Rodgers or LeFluer without Mark Murphys approval.

-4 points
3
7
croatpackfan's picture

November 18, 2022 at 02:23 pm

Bitch about everybody else except from your man crush. Old story. You looked little bit doubted after Lions game about your secret darling love. After Dallas you are on the old notes.

You are afraid of change and you believe that replacing other players will not affect spared ACR? You are in illusion of simplicity!

-1 points
4
5
stockholder's picture

November 18, 2022 at 02:43 pm

The Thumb must heal. I'm not afraid of change. I'm afraid the pack won't be back. Love would have replaced Rodgers well before this year. The Illusion is cleaning House!

-2 points
2
4
Coldworld's picture

November 18, 2022 at 03:42 pm

Gute doesn’t spend the money. That’s Ball and Murphy. LaFleur will never be a head coach and appointing him was a disaster. My hope is that Rodgers now realized the dream of retiring a Packer and that if continuing to play cannot coexist and either retires or reworks his deal to leave for a team he’s happy to play for. That’s the best option for all now. Continuing the charade will only make things worse and much more protracted.

4 points
5
1
The_Baloney_Stops_Here's picture

November 18, 2022 at 07:47 pm

Let me ask you this CW, what head coach would have been able to thrive in a situation where hes forced by his bosses to cave to the franchise player? No hardnose badass coach would have even accepted the job. We both know it. All things considered, Lafleur has done about as good with this shit sandwich as we could have hoped for. The fact he even got as much out of Rodgers as he did speaks to the kind of coach he is.

1 points
1
0
stockholder's picture

November 18, 2022 at 09:01 pm

Wrong- CW.

-2 points
1
3
LambeauPlain's picture

November 19, 2022 at 08:26 am

Correct CW!

Mark Murphy "engineered" this dysfunction as a temporary fix after the failed season in 2017 and placate McCarthy who was fighting with Ball and threatened to quit if Ball replaced TT. He made it permanent and it is the Peter Principle in practice.

Murphy essentially made himself General Manager of the Packers...obviously he had too much time on his hands as President and CEO. Now Ball, Gutey, and ML can each complain to Murphy to get him to overrule the other two's decisions. I believe this has been happening at an increasing rate and the accumulated baggage has caused the wheels to fall off this year.

2 points
2
0
jannes bjornson's picture

November 18, 2022 at 03:50 pm

Jus t watched the replay on NFL network. The Pack defense kept the offense off the field. Then the FG in lieu of a TD to start the third was the difference. The D just capitulates in the third. Game , set ,match...Football games are Won in the third quarter.

2 points
4
2
packerbackerjim's picture

November 18, 2022 at 04:08 pm

For the Packers, it’s where they are lost.

Barry’s firing is long overdue. I had higher expectations of Jerry Gray getting the secondary to be elite. Maybe he is overruled, but I’m skeptical. Maybe DC is his calling and nothing to be lost by giving him a shot. If UW gets a different HC, Jim Leonhard is a solid option.

0 points
1
1
Houndog's picture

November 19, 2022 at 07:55 am

Stockholder,
I'm really late to this party, but man, You nailed it,
Mark "Howdy Doody" Murphy hasn't a clue! Someone forgot to tell him the Packers are a Football Corporation and not a Real Estate and Theme Park operation. He's the puppet master that wrestled control over the entire operation and then made Gutey his handpicked star puppet with a title.
Together they refused to pay MLF's first choice at STs coach the asking price, so he had to choose another. And IIRC, they have to approve all assistant coaches (and their salaries) before hiring(s). MLF is handcuffed, he's also had to modify his system to keep #12 happy, that's been well publicized, and for those who disagree please see A-Rod's salary.
Now, I'm not all-in, 100%, on MLF, he needs to grow some huevos and GRAB the bull by the horns! The only bull that's going to come to him is in the form of Murphy's (and Gutey's) Bull $hit.

0 points
1
1
Scott1369's picture

November 18, 2022 at 01:38 pm

So much talent not being used correctly. Is Kenny Clark still on the team? I almost never hear his name this season. Man to man coverage. Blitz packages. Let the players play like they want to do, aggressive! No more confusion. Joe Barry needs to go yesterday, not after the season. So frustrating to watch great players not make plays

6 points
6
0
jannes bjornson's picture

November 18, 2022 at 04:03 pm

Get Slaton and Ford on the Nose. Let Kenny move around for the 1:1 , going 3-tech to six. Get some activity on the D-line. I know it has to be the stiff, Barry dumping sand in the gearing.. Montgomery was talking about his stunt games he wanted to run, combos with Kenny and Wyatt. Reed is picking up his game, I would resign him.

0 points
0
0
The_Baloney_Stops_Here's picture

November 18, 2022 at 07:39 pm

They tried that earlier in Kenny's career and he did not play well. Hes best at nose because he usually takes advantage of smaller centers.

1 points
1
0
Packer_Fan's picture

November 18, 2022 at 01:43 pm

I would like to see a defensive coaching change. The defense is schemed to bend but not break but that's what not what their personnel is. Perhaps a coaching change would help but I don't think it's going to really change until next year when they have a new coordinator that actually build a scheme around its players

This whole year has been disappointing and coaching I think has been at the pinnacle of why it happened

4 points
4
0
Bitternotsour's picture

November 18, 2022 at 01:54 pm

the fish rots from the head. who hired the guy? MLF chose this defense. MLF lets AR do whatever he pleases. MLF is the firing that would actually mean something. They had a plan with Jordan Love, MLF was to weak to execute it. Launch the coaches to the moon. Send AR with them.

5 points
5
0
stockholder's picture

November 18, 2022 at 02:36 pm

Love will be gone next year. Trade coming.
Lowrey, Amos, and Reed, won't be resigned. They don't have the money and everyone knows it.

-5 points
0
5
jannes bjornson's picture

November 18, 2022 at 04:59 pm

Reed is fair value. A.Jones will have to refi or split. Two new safeties in '23.

0 points
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0
The_Baloney_Stops_Here's picture

November 18, 2022 at 07:37 pm

They already exercised Savage's 5th year option so the only hope is to find another defensive coach who can get him back to playing at his 2020 level.

0 points
0
0
PhantomII's picture

November 18, 2022 at 05:34 pm

Let Barry go, put Gray in charge and see if he does his job and puts players skill in the best position to succeed and see if he can make adjustments. If he can't let him go at the end of the year also. Try and pry a top 5 DC up and comer away from a team with a solid defensive front AND secondary. ML made several offensive coach moves after his guys left....None of them have worked out. He needs a lot of help in WR room, OC,TE coaches. A lot of positions need filled in the coaching department with proven guys...In my opinion HC also. S. Payton...We're ready.

1 points
2
1
gpt999's picture

November 18, 2022 at 07:00 pm

Replacing Barry should have been done weeks, if not months, ago. I have never - in all my football viewing - seen such a poor use of good players before. Its simply mind blowing.

But the horse is out of the barn now. The season is, for all playoff purposes, lost.

Barry is far too conservative. His schemes do not put most players in a position to succeed. His schemes supposedly are to bend and not break. Let teams get first downs and eventually stop them when they make mistakes on downs. In essence, he wants to react to teams' mistakes - not force mistakes. Its a lazy and conservative approach ala the great Mike Pettine. When I see aggressive athletes like Alexander having to play soft zones vs in your face man coverage, it makes me sick!

This team needed 2 things to work this season to be successful - (1) Rodgers to play at his absolute best, and (2) a great defense. Neither has happened. But of the 2, the defense is the most disappointing.

But I strongly agree that it is NEVER TOO LATE to change out a bad coach. Let Jerry Gray audition (assuming he has the good sense to finally bench Savage). How much worse could it be? If anything , Barry has been a liability to this good group of athletes. If a HC like Reich can be fired midseason, certainly Passive Joe should not be so hard to replace?

2 points
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Leatherhead's picture

November 18, 2022 at 07:01 pm

Wait until the season is over instead of making knee jerk moves. Sort things out. Decide what you want.

I've said for years here the defense is better than it was getting credit for. All these ranking stats need to have a little perspective. Put 32 teams on the bell curve and about 20 of them are average-ish and about a half-dozen are really good or really bad. I'm not quite that generous, but I think that if you're ranking between 12-20, you're average.

The best defense is an offense that hogs the ball and keeps the defense on the sideline. In NFL history, no defense has ever been scored on when it wasn't on the field. That's a fact. And we did such a good job of that in 2021 that's it's incredibly disappointing to watch us be so bad at staying on the field this year.

Once the defense is on the field, what do you want? Remember, good RBs average 5.0/carry, and average QBs average 7.0 yards per attempt. So is it really more important to stuff the run or put on edge pressure? Choose. Me? I think an awful lot of football games come down to stopping a pass at the end of the game, so I'd get cover guys before I got run stuffers. That would be my priority, but other people have other priorities.

Since Ron Wolf showed up, we've had very few seasons with fewer than 8 wins. 2005, when we went 4-12, is our worst season in 30 years,but we were in the Championship game two years later. In 2008, we won 6 games in Rodgers first season as a starter. Two years later, we won the Super Bowl. We were sub.500 in 2017 and 2018. Then we went to the Championship game two years in a row.

That's three fall downs, and three bounce backs.

Other than wanting to see more Wyatt and Engabare(?) (And obviously Nixon and Ford), there's not a lot we can do on defense, IMO. And on offense, as Bad Company said "I'm ready for Love."

Love-Hurts.

0 points
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stockholder's picture

November 18, 2022 at 09:07 pm

What you will see is Danny Etling QB PS. Think about that. He's not on the PS for nothing.
And if he didn't look better than Love. He'd be gone.

-2 points
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Leatherhead's picture

November 18, 2022 at 09:47 pm

This is stupid, even for you.

Objectively, he's farther along than Aaron Rodgers was at the same point in his career. The other QBs taken in that draft are all doing real well. Aaron Rodgers called him a "master" of the offense. Devondre Campbell, who practices against him, thinks he's better than quite a few of the starters in the league. Lazard has been complimentary. The coaches have made some very favorable observations.

IMO, this is just made up stuff.

2 points
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BAMABADGER's picture

November 18, 2022 at 09:35 pm

The season is over from a playoff stand point. It is now gut check time. Identify which players are hungry, dedicated and willing to sacrifice for the good of this team? Access long term D talent can't happen with the Passive Barry D Scheme. He has a zero success rate as a D coordinator. MLF should be a leader, not a Head Cheerleader, and make a bold Defensive leadership move during this extended week . If no improvement in Offense or Defense performance occurs, MLF's leadership as a HC should be assessed at season's end. A change in HC and the bulk of his staff should strongly be considered.

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Leatherhead's picture

November 18, 2022 at 09:44 pm

Technically, it's not. I mean, we could still win out and finish 10-7. I don't think it'll happen. I think it's probable we'll end up with a losing season, our 4th in the last 30 years. We could still fail to win 6 games, which would make this our second worst team in 30 years.

Once Upon A Time, people understood what changing horses in the middle of the stream meant, and why it should be avoided. Most people today have never changed horses in the middle of a stream, so they only see the upside.

IMO, there's nothing to be gained by reacting impulsively. We'll have plenty of time later to make changes. Let's play out the string and see who has some pride. Let's look at Love.

1 points
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LambeauPlain's picture

November 19, 2022 at 08:57 am

This would be the 3rd losing season in 6 years...with a future HOF QB.

And even the last two winning seasons ending with thuds getting outplayed and out coached in the Lambeau Shrine.

Mark Murphy needs to "retire" after this season.

1 points
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The_Baloney_Stops_Here's picture

November 18, 2022 at 11:02 pm

Fire everyone. Thats where im at now.

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