Although the Packers stunned the Cowboys in the wild-card round and nearly left San Francisco victorious six days later, they are still following through with a change that was rumored near the end of the regular season. They will have a new defensive coordinator next season.
Joe Barry is out, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Barry lasted three seasons as Green Bay’s DC, but his unit struggled down the stretch. Barry’s contract ran past this season, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, making this a true firing.
[RELATED: 2024 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
This marked Barry’s third opportunity running a defense. Like predecessor Mike Pettine, the bevy of former first-round picks present on this unit did not result in the return on investment the Packers have sought. The team’s defensive issues late in the regular season nearly prevented this playoff run from coming to pass. While Matt LaFleur said Tuesday he was not ready to make a call on Barry, the five-year Green Bay HC has done so early Wednesday morning.
After allowing Tommy DeVito extensive success on the ground, the Packers allowed the Giants’ rookie third-stringer to mount a game-winning drive in Week 14. Six days later, Baker Mayfield carved up the Green Bay defense to post the first perfect passer rating by a Lambeau Field visiting quarterback. Week 16 brought a shootout with a Panthers team that went 2-15; Carolina put up 30 points in that game. After that outing, Barry’s ouster was assumed. It appears the Packers’ strong finish could not offset these concerning late-season showings.
Overall, the Pack ranked 10th in scoring defense and 17th in yards allowed. The No. 10 mark represents a seven-spot improvement from 2022. DVOA was much less kind to Barry’s unit, placing it 27th this season. The metric graded Barry’s first-rounder-laden group 25th in 2022 as well. We heard last summer Barry entered a make-or-break year, and while the defense hounded Dak Prescott (garbage-time yards notwithstanding) and flustered Brock Purdy in a game the No. 1-seeded 49ers nearly blew, the former Detroit and Washington DC will need to look elsewhere to continue his career in 2024.
The Packers continue to use first-round picks on defense. With the exception of Jordan Love in 2020, Derek Sherrod (2011) stands as the most recent Green Bay first-rounder on offense. For much of Aaron Rodgers‘ starter run and Love’s first year as a first-stringer, the defense has not looked like a unit flooded with first-rounders. But seven homegrown Round 1 picks (Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness, Quay Walker, Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Darnell Savage) were in place this season. All but Savage are under contract for 2024.
Barry, 53, managed to garner a second chance despite being Rod Marinelli‘s DC on the 0-16 2008 Lions team, serving as Washington’s DC from 2015-16. Both Barry Washington units finished 28th in total defense, but as many coaches have, the veteran assistant elevated his stock on Sean McVay‘s staff. Barry’s four-year run as Rams linebackers coach (2017-20) boosted his value, leading to the Green Bay opportunity.
As for who could be next, SI.com’s Albert Breer indicates Titans pass-game coordinator Chris Harris impressed during his interview for the DC post in 2021. Harris is back on the DC radar, with the Titans firing Mike Vrabel. Ejiro Evero also worked with LaFleur in Los Angeles. Evero was believed to be a finalist for the Green Bay gig in 2021.
The Panthers, however, have long held interest in pairing Evero with their next HC. The first-year Carolina DC also has a second HC interview scheduled with the team. Jim Leonhard was believed to be LaFleur’s first choice for the job in 2021, per ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, but the former NFL safety stayed at the University of Wisconsin. Leonhard finished last season at Illinois as a senior football analyst.
Barry’s replacement will naturally enter a high-pressure situation, with Love ascending during this season’s second half to create expectations for the 2024 team.
Is Scooby-Doo Shaggy’s sidekick or is Shaggy Scooby’s sidekick?
Well that’s a head scratcher.
Roh roh!
They’re co-offensive coordnators, but one’s getting promoted to associate head coach soon.
As weird as it sounds Shaggy is 100% Scooby’s sidekick. The show is named after Scooby and he’s definitely the brains out of the two.
I agree Shaggy is Scooby’s sidekick.
Way overdue. Letting a guy like Juan Jennings come off the bench and grab 4 of 5 first downs on 6 catches is embarrassing.
Now MF needs to make another hard choice and remove the kicker. Too many games lost off special teams.
Yes. That MFer needs to do just that.
That would be an overreaction.
Bring in an UDFA K and let the best man win.
The special teams for the Packers have been consistently bad for years. The last time they lost to the 49ers in the playoffs a missed kick and a blocked punt created the swing needed to cost them the game.
This year a missed field goal brings us at least to OT.
I am not entirely sure that I have faith in Carlson to make FGs regularly when they matter. The same way I never felt truly confident that Crosby would either.
Carlson had a better first year than Crosby did in Green Bay and he became Green Bays all time scorer.
How so? Just on stats alone, they seemed almost similar. Carlson missed 5 XPs, but that is a longer kick (19 yards vs 33 yards today).
To me, Carlson had a sketchy first year. Missing XPs can change the dynamics of the game. That’s just my opinion.
Joe Barry, the Fall Guy?
SMH
No. That would be Lee Majors.
Ha!
Don’t forget the six million dollar man. None of that deferred.
His unit was terrible, it was a surprise he was back this year and calls for his firing were loud back in OCT and they stuck with him. He is not a fall guy, this was how to improve that unit.
There’s nothing wrong with my unit.
Shouldn’t it read “Washington DC DC” in the fifth paragraph?
It should read “former Lions and Redskins DC”.
Packers will hire the former chargers coach for DC because he’ll come recommended from McVay
Staley would probably be better just being DC again after taking on too many responsibilities as HC, but man it would be weird to hire him as DC after the way the Chargers looked this season.
And he’ll convince Lafleur to go for it on 4th and 7 inside their own 15 yard line..not that mattie needs extra encouragement making bad 4th down decisions.
Tom Grossi will be happy
If they can get Jim Leonhard great, that would be the optimal hire but if he won’t come to GB I’d like to see them interview Tramon Williams.
Even without pro coaching experience I think Jimmy would be the right guy. He’s always been the underdog and performed very well (not really counting the brief stint as wisconsin HC..).
Eventually Carolina needs to let Ejiro Evero look elsewhere, and Evero deserves to be defensive coordinator with a head coach and organization that have some stability.
Lamar Jackson vs MIA: 18-21 321 5
Baker Mayfield @ GB: 22-28 381 4
Josh Allen vs MIA: 21-25 320 4
Brock Purdy vs TB: 21-25 333 3
Each of the above QB performances scored the perfect 158.3 rating but are they all equal? Hmmm.
49ers nearly blew? GB outplayed them. Period.
What else could they do if they want to try to get better? They’ve got some talent (and admittedly some holes), but don’t ever seem to play better than just “okay”.