Green Bay Packers' Defensive Woes: Joe Barry's rocky tenure under scrutiny

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Dec 21, 2023, 01:03 IST

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The Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator Joe Barry is under scrutiny after the team's disappointing performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, jeopardizing their playoff aspirations. Despite this, head coach Matt LaFleur has announced that there will be no coaching changes with only three games remaining in the season.

Green Bay Packers' Defensive Woes: Joe Barry's rocky tenure under scrutiny

Joe Barry (X Photo)

NEW DELHI: In the latest installment of Green Bay Packers' defensive struggles, defensive coordinator Joe Barry finds himself under scrutiny after a disheartening performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, jeopardizing the team's once-promising playoff aspirations.
Despite the mounting challenges, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has announced that there will be no coaching changes with only three games remaining in the season.

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Here's a breakdown of key details surrounding Joe Barry and the Packers' defensive woes:
Background:

Joe Barry took over as the Packers' defensive coordinator in 2021, succeeding Mike Pettine, who was let go after the NFC Championship Game loss to Tampa Bay.
Barry's hiring came after his stint with the Los Angeles Chargers as a defensive passing-game coordinator, leaving his role as the Los Angeles Rams' assistant coach and linebackers coach.

Experience and Coaching Style:

With 20 years of NFL coaching experience, Barry has previously served as a defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions and Washington.

Barry is known for being a disciple of the Tampa-2 system, influenced by coaching luminaries like Tony Dungy, Monte Kiffin, and Rod Marinelli. However, he adopted the defensive system implemented by Brandon Staley with the Rams.

His coaching journey includes stops with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Washington, and the Los Angeles Rams.

Career Success and Struggles:

Barry was the linebackers coach for the Buccaneers during their Super Bowl-winning season in 2003. The Bucs boasted a top-10 defense in six of the seven years Barry held the position.

As a defensive coordinator for the Lions (2007-2008) and Washington (2015-2016), his teams faced challenges, ranking 32nd in points allowed during his tenure with the Lions.

In Green Bay, Barry's defenses have ranked 10th, 13th, and 17th in points allowed over three seasons. In terms of yardage, his units ranked 32nd (both Lions teams), 28th (both Washington teams), and 9th, 17th, and 23rd in his three years with the Packers.

Personal Connections and Hiring Process:

Barry is the son of former Lions assistant coach Mike Barry and is married to Chris, the daughter of Rod Marinelli.

When hired by the Packers, Barry had previously worked with LaFleur in 2017 with the Rams, where LaFleur served as offensive coordinator.

Management Structure:

The Packers' unconventional leadership structure designates that coaching decisions, including hiring and firing, falls solely under LaFleur's purview.

General manager Brian Gutekunst, while having significant influence in roster decisions, lacks the authority to make coaching changes.

Potential Replacements:

In the event of a coaching change, the Packers have several experienced defensive coaches on staff, including Jerry Montgomery, Kirk Olivadotti, and Jason Rebrovich.

Brandon Staley, recently fired as the Chargers' head coach, worked with Barry in Los Angeles and could be a potential candidate if the Packers opt for a similar defensive scheme.

Robert Saleh, a close friend of LaFleur, has a successful track record as a defensive coordinator but faces an uncertain future with the New York Jets.

Jim Leonhard, the former Wisconsin defensive coordinator, could be considered if he is available after his first season at Illinois.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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