NEWS FLASH: Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator appeals to supporters….
Embattled Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, knows he’s up against it in the final three games of the season. Do the players support him?
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN — Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, has had a rough couple of weeks.
Whether on or off the field.
For starters, Barry’s defense had no answers for Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito, who went from undrafted rookie to national sensation in 3 hours. He then morphed Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield into Tom Brady.
The Packers’ playoff aspirations are on shaky ground after a two-game losing streak.
And so is the security of Barry’s work.
“Well, losing is a bummer. Always,” Barry declared on Thursday, dismissing the next game against Carolina in favor of the destiny of the embattled coordinator. “This week, in particular, was difficult. It was difficult for me and my family.”
He’s looking for answers, not compassion, to right a failing ship.
“This is the National Football League,” he explained further. “This is what you agree to. We played poorly. I have to be better for our guys all the time, and I put that on myself. It’s my fault if we don’t go play well. But, to be honest, this week was really difficult.”
With his defense ranking 18th in points after flirting with the top 10 for several weeks, and having fallen to 24th in yards per play, 28th in rushing per play, 23rd in passing per play, and 25th on third down, Barry admitted he’s heard rumors that his three-year tenure as defensive coordinator could be over in three games.
“I read anything you people write. “I hear what you’re saying,” he said. “But, once again, that’s the beauty of our league. It is the pinnacle of excellence, the best of the best. We know what we’re getting into when we join up for this. That’s what I like about this league. That is what I enjoy most about the sport. It’s fierce competition at every level and for every position.”
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Mayfield, who was 14-of-29 throwing in the previous two games, went 22-of-28 for 381 yards and four touchdowns, only the second perfect-rating game in franchise history. According to Zebra Spots’ Next Gen Stats, the journeyman quarterback, who has gone from the No. 1 overall choice in the draft to his fourth team in three years, crushed Barry’s favored zone defense, going 20-of-24 for 361 yards and three touchdowns.
Why?
“I would be totally lying to you if it wasn’t the Mike Evans factor,” Barry said of Tampa Bay’s 6-foot-5 receiver, who has surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his ten seasons.
Barry’s purpose was to stymie Evans and the Buccaneers’ ground game. With the exception of Evans’ 19-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Rachaad White’s 22-yard run in the final seconds, that job was completed.
“Unfortunately,” Barry said, “we did nothing else particularly well.”
Meanwhile, his defense was marred by communication blunders in the 14th game of the season.
Why?
“You would think at this point things would be running smoothly,” Barry told me. “But there are so many subtle nuances that must occur on every single play with all 11 players.” But getting it synchronized is part of my job as the coordinator. And if something goes wrong, it’s my fault, and it’s my responsibility to fix it.”
Perhaps Barry is too late to salvage his job. And it’s possible that the Packers’ season is over. However, if the Packers can beat the Panthers, Vikings, and Bears to finish the season, like they did against the Chargers, Lions, and Chiefs in the middle of the season, their postseason chances will be pretty high.
Do the defenders have Barry’s back?
“Do you know what?” “I’ve never felt anything other than that group of men I get to coach every single day not coming in and giving me everything they have,” Barry added. “I’ve never felt anything like that for even a minute.”
“Sunday did not go well, but at no point during the game or, obviously, Sunday night watching it back, have I ever questioned any of our guys’ desire, heart, or play style.” That’s something I require – something we demand – every single day in terms of the play style with which we go out and practice and play. I’ve never seen anything from our group of guys that call that into question.”
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