The Green Bay Packers officially named Joe Barry as the team’s new defensive coordinator on Monday. A veteran NFL coach with previous (but forgettable) experience as a coordinator, Barry will take over the defense of Matt LaFleur after Mike Pettine’s contract was not renewed after the 2020 season.
Here are some initial thoughts about Barry as the new Packers defensive coordinator:
– Matt LaFleur and the Packers spent a lot of time preparing for Rams’ defense before the divisional round playoffs. You can bet that all the work involved – and the various difficulties in preparing for the scheme – contributed to LaFleur’s desire for a Rams coach.
– Like Sean McVay, LaFleur wanted a trainer linked to the Vic Fangio system. The Rams found gold with Brandon Staley. The Packers hope to do the same for Barry.
– There is no need to get around the fact: Barry’s two previous passages as defensive coordinator did not go well. Its defenses in Detroit and Washington ranged from fantastically average to historically poor. And two failed opportunities as a coordinator are hard to ignore. But talent is important. It just does. Players are almost always more important than the coordinator. And in Green Bay, he will have a lot more individual talent, especially in key positions. It is up to Brian Gutekunst and the personnel department to ensure that the Packers’ defense stars – Kenny Clark, Za’Darius Smith, Jaire Alexander and Adrian Amos – are complemented with the best talent in 2021. Schemes and coordinators can mask deficiencies, but a defense is usually as good as its weakest link.
– There is something to be said about a head coach having the opportunity to fully implement his own vision. Remember that Pettine was an inheritance from Mike McCarthy. There is no doubt that Pettine’s previous experience as head coach was a good thing for LaFleur during his first two seasons. Now, LaFleur has finally had the opportunity to meet his coach and fully understand what he wants to do in defense. Whether it provides improvements or not, it is obviously in the air. But everything that happens in the future will happen within the fully realized structure of LaFleur’s vision, both in attack and defense.
– Barry’s training as a coach is in linebackers. It will be interesting to see what he thinks of the group’s return, and how much his influence in defense will impact how the Packers attack the position this off-season. Kamal Martin and Krys Barnes are intriguing young talents, but this is a place where Packers really need an upgrade. Will it come internally, via Barry or with outside help? A mixture can solve the problem.
– Just as it would be foolish to categorically dismiss his previous job as coordinator, it would also be unwise to ignore what he has done in the past four years. Having the chance to work with Wade Phillips and Brandon Staley probably had a big impact on the defense philosophy he will bring to Green Bay. The Rams had the No. 1 football scoring defense last season, although 2020 was the first time in the Los Angeles has ranked in the top 10 in scores or yards for the past four years.
– There must be a lot of intrigue about how the Packers use Jaire Alexander, too. Barry was on the team that built cover around the All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey in Los Angeles. It is possible that the Packers will put more on Alexander’s plate in 2021. He is ready for that.
– A question to be considered: Does Joe Barry get an interview if he has not previously worked with LaFleur in Los Angeles?
– Another relevant fact: McVay and the Rams have hired two defensive coordinators in the past two seasons. Both were hired externally with Barry on the team.
– This was undoubtedly the biggest decision LaFleur has made since becoming the Packers coach. His team has won 26 regular season games and has advanced to the Super Bowl in each of the past two seasons. Now, he is making a big change from the most important coaching position under his leadership. Even a marginal improvement in defense can make a big difference, but the Packers do not have a grace period. This is a team ready to compete for the Super Bowls. Barry’s defense must play a key role in finally getting the Packers to overcome the obstacle.