Cory's Corner: Matt LaFleur Is A Betting Man
The Packers head coach is rolling the dice with a defensive coordinator that needs to do more in order to win — and potentially save his job.
Whether Matt LaFleur believes it or not, he is a betting man.
And the decision to bring back defensive coordinator Joe Barry certainly proves that.
LaFleur is betting that Barry’s defensive crew can play like the final five games last year where they gave up 20 or less points in every game. That’s a stark contrast from the first 10 games where they gave up 20 or more seven times.
The question is, if the defense fails yet again, who is at fault? Is it the fault of Barry for having yet another defense that fails to get to the quarterback or is it the fault of LaFleur for allowing him to come back?
Dating back to 2016, this franchise has used every first round pick on defense — except this year’s starting quarterback drafted in 2020. I believe the pieces are there on that side of the ball. They have premiere players in every phase on defense, now they just need to be put in positions to succeed.
Even if the Packers fall flat on their face and go 3-14 this season, I don’t see LaFleur getting fired. Barry will likely not return and then if the Packers fail to get to .500 again in 2024, LaFleur will have to justify his job.
I know that many want to see what Jordan Love looks like in LaFleur’s offense. A running offense with plenty of presnap motion. But the lynchpin for this team will be its defense. I know it is going to sound boring, but the defense has to give this young and unproven offense a short field every now and again and they cannot get down early because I don’t think this offense is ready to win a 35-point shootout.
The fact that Barry is back tells me that LaFleur either believes in him or the right replacement wasn’t available. Barry will be forced to utilize an entirely different strategy. One that was predicated on keeping everything in front of you to one that will be forced to be on the attack and make the offense uncomfortable.
Those are the best defenses anyway. The 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense is considered one of the best of all-time because they had an edge and they backed it up with play that teetered on reckless.
I don’t care if Quay Walker gets beat every so often by a tight end or a running back if he is also getting to the quarterback and forcing him to make off-platform throws. Historically, Barry isn’t ready to give up five yards for an eight yard loss.
The Packers have a lot to prove on defense this year. I still think this team has an outside chance of 10 wins, but the only way that happens is if the defense shines.
And if the Packers struggle early, will LaFleur be forced to hit the reset button on the defensive side of the ball? Or will he stand pat because firing Barry also means that LaFleur is in the wrong simply for bringing him back?
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (38)
NickPerry
June 24, 2023 at 07:01 am
"Even if the Packers fall flat on their face and go 3-14 this season, I don’t see LaFleur getting fired. Barry will likely not return and then if the Packers fail to get to .500 again in 2024, LaFleur will have to justify his job."
I'm not so sure about this Cory... How can't they make MLF accountable? I mean LaFleur deserves much of the blame for keeping Mo Drayton which cost the Packers not just a SB appearance but a SB win in 2021. IF the Packers defense sucks and Barry is up to his same old tricks of playing 10 yards off on 3rd and 3, LaFleur DESERVES to be fired. Screw me once shame on you. Screw me twice shame on MLF.
croatpackfan
June 24, 2023 at 07:41 am
Nick, in that game there is 2 factors that lost the NFCCG game. 1/3 was on ST and 2/3 was on FPQB. Packers scored just one TD and that was in the first Q of the game. After that, that was one blocked FG and one FG. I will just remind you on the last Packers possesion of that game. And triple covered WR who never ever had a chance to catch poor thrown ball.
mnbadger
June 24, 2023 at 08:00 am
Nick and CPF, I think you're both right.
Defense has consistently failed to get off the field and offense hasn't made big time plays in big time moments.
Systemic failures when the heat is on.
That's why I think mlf's seat better be hot. No ability to make positive in-game adjustments.
Blame it on Barry or 12, but it's up to the HC to correct it and prevent it from recurring.
That simply has not happened.
YET!
GPG!
NickPerry
June 24, 2023 at 06:27 pm
Hi Croat...You're absolutely correct. My comment was more about keeping Drayton...
Period...
Especially after showing for the entire year it was just a matter of time before ST bit them in the ass when it really mattered... It did, in the Payoffs, when it mattered.
Coldworld
June 24, 2023 at 08:27 am
If the Packers strategy, attitude and tactics etc. don’t look good this year, what has LaFleur to hide behind? On offense, well it’s for that he was hired, on defense that’s the man he refused to move on from.
This is distinct from players. Love and others can struggle personally but the design of offense and defense, the play calls and the personnel usage are easily visible in their own right. If that is seen to fail or be inept, then I don’t see any way anyone else can be blamed and thus that Murphy can use to deflect.
Why are some folks so sure Murphy would want that hanging over his swansong season? Under those circumstances, 2024 could get pretty ugly if it repeated. If Murphy wants to go out with a be positive reputation, that would be a huge risk.
ricky
June 24, 2023 at 08:56 am
Putting exclusive blame for the SF loss in Lambeau doesn't ring true to me. After all, the Packers offense scored a quick TD their first possession, then sputtered and were ineffective the rest of the game. SF made defensive adjustments; GB did nothing. MLF was out-coached, and the Packers were outplayed. Yes, the ST's were terrible. But that was apparent for most of the year, and the commentators and fans were well aware that this could eventually cost the Packers a game.
However, your overall comment, where LaFleur's retention of Barry could backfire? Total agreement. Barry is a known quantity, and the quality is lacking. Not the talent on the team, but the coaching. The Packers had a chance to try to get Vic Fangio. Instead, as usual, they stick with mediocrities and sub-par coaches who work more cheaply. Drayton was cheaper than Bisaccia. You get what you pay for, and sometimes you need to put your money where your mouth is.
dblbogey
June 24, 2023 at 07:53 pm
The Packers played Jake Hanson and Royce Newman. They were horrible, but they kept on playing them. We had Zach Tom and Yosh Nijman sitting on the bench. Joe Barry continued to play soft coverage, just giving up 5 yarders on 3rd and 3. MLF didn't step in and then he kept Barry. I do question his MLF's decision making..
marpag1
June 25, 2023 at 09:37 am
Much of what you say is not only wrong, it is the exact opposite of what is right.
Jake Hanson started and played 100% of the snaps in week 1. Neither Bakhtiari nor Jenkins were available to play. The Packers did NOT leave Tom or Nijman on the bench, but started Newman, Runyan, Myers, Hanson and Nijman. Zach Tom was a week 1 rookie, and yet he logged 49% of the offensive snaps when Runyan went out with an injury. What would you have done differently in week 1?
After week 1, Hanson played 8 total snaps on offense for the rest of the year, and did not log a single snap of any kind after week 6. So tell us again how the Packers "kept on playing" Hanson, while Nijman and Tom were wasting away on the bench?
What about Royce Neuman? He played 100% of the snaps in weeks 1 through 5. As I've already said, Bakh and Jenkins were both out in week 1. Jenkins came back in week 2. Bakh came back in week 3 and played half of the snaps, Nijman alternated drives and played the other half. Nijman was sick in week 4 and played only 3 snaps. In week 5, Nijman was again alternating drives with Bakh. In weeks 7 through 14 Neuman played one - yeah, ONE - offensive snap. In week 15, Nijman hurt his shoulder, and Neuman came off the bench to replace him. So what is this nonsense how the Packers "kept on playing" Neuman while Nijman was on the bench? Nijman started and played virtually every snap except for A) when he was alternating with Bakh or B) when he was injured. And even so, he still played 100% of the snaps in 10 of the games.
Zach Tom, as a rookie, did not play much at all for the first six games of the season, except when he absolutely had to in week 1. I think sensible people are totally cool with that. He played the overwhelming majority of the snaps from week 7 through week 17, except for weeks 10, 11, and 12 when he didn't play at all. In weeks 10,11 and 12 Bakh, Jenkins, Myers, Runyan and Nijman played 100% of the snaps in those games, and Hanson and Neuman were nowhere to be seen.
The notion that MLF played Hanson and Neuman over Nijman and Tom is complete nonsense.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 25, 2023 at 01:37 am
In this ugly hypothetical none of us really want to consider, I think it'd be an easy case to make that replacing both DC & HC at the same time could be too much. I also think that Rich Bisaccia might prove himself worthy to be HC, and then replacing both might be at his discretion. I would not cry about that, but of course I'd rather see all 3 do well. Or at least 2 out of 3.
It'll still kill me to see Brian Flores on the Viking's sideline.
mrtundra
June 24, 2023 at 07:27 am
Since running the Defense is what Barry does, it should be easy to see if he is doing it well. Hopefully, no more of the defense playing 8 yards off the line when the opposing Offense needs 2-3 yards to move the chains. Barry has to know that he is on the hot seat, this season. Fix those mistakes that he made and get the Defense off the field after third down.
croatpackfan
June 24, 2023 at 07:34 am
I understand worries about 90 or 70 yards offense towards opponent red zone. But many forget that Jordan Love has cannon in his arm and have no problem to sail ball down the field for 50+ yards. If you do not believe me, go watch his 2018 tape at college. Most of his TD was long, on spot balls to his WR(s).
I understand that on cover 2 or cover 3 it is hard to pinpoint the throw, but Packers have WR now that can get the ball at the point of catch, even if they are well covered. Through his several outing with 1st in games (KC, Lions second half 2021 last game and vs Eagles last season) we saw that Jordan Love have patience to take safe path and to accept what opponent D were giving him (KC game was the one with smallest chances, because OL played terrible).
I believe there is back up plan on Joe Barry during season. I just do not know who would be the replacement. And that is good. FO and MLF should keep that info from public for several reasons.
I do not think that MLF has his chair cool. I think it is moderate warm. If Packers OL would play every game as that famous KC game he will be looking at lot of problems. Because that was so bad game plan that I believe I would be able to put better plan than he was for that game.
So, bad D and bad O will be all on MLF.
When you look all Jordan Love presentations, you can see that in his first NFL game (preseason 2020) he was so erratic and try to do not just much more than what is offered, but imposible things. After that preaseason he presented nothing but calmness at his position. He may had some bad mistakes, but he was never repeated them. After almost full year working with starters between games, replacing FPQB on instalations of game plays he should be (and will be) much better prepared to lead Packers offense. We should not underestimate all work and building chemistry with offense through that period.
Packers0808
June 24, 2023 at 08:00 am
Many of the Packers losses were squarely on Rodgers shoulders with his hero ball attitude so many times.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 25, 2023 at 01:41 am
None of us were in the huddle to know what MLF called. We can speculate.
Packers0808
June 25, 2023 at 09:08 pm
Not much football knowledge Huh?
stockholder
June 24, 2023 at 08:18 am
If there was somebody better than Barry.
MLF would have grabbed him.
And even if he found a candidate.
That guy may not want to be a Packer.
He did hire the best coach for Special Teams.
A QB coach for Love.
I suggest we just put a little Faith in Barry.
Because Love is the bigger question mark.
Coldworld
June 24, 2023 at 08:30 am
LaFleur was “persuaded” to hire Bissacia having initially dithered over releasing Drayton. We all know Rodgers hired our QB coach.
We may as well put faith in Barry, because LaFleur has. We are soon going to see whether that was shrewd or misplaced.
Packers0808
June 24, 2023 at 10:51 am
Ever break your nose when Rodgers turned a corner? Asking for a friend.
jannesbjornson
June 24, 2023 at 07:52 pm
Evero, Fangio, Flores ,Steve Wilks were all available. You get what you pay for...
LeotisHarris
June 24, 2023 at 08:32 am
I've always thought of LaFleur as more of a ramblin' man.
LPPAKer
June 24, 2023 at 08:52 am
He can be both.
LeotisHarris
June 24, 2023 at 03:24 pm
Bob Seger fan?
SicSemperTyrannis
June 25, 2023 at 01:43 am
Allmans.
Leatherhead
June 24, 2023 at 03:44 pm
I think his face screams Depeche Mode.
Since'61
June 24, 2023 at 09:40 am
The Packers promoted Bisaccia to Assistant HC for a reason. At the least it lets MLF know that his seat is getting warm and his replacement is in the wings. As for Barry another season of poor tackling, miscommunications and confusion in the secondary, playing 7-8 yards off the LOS and failure to get off the field on 3rd down probably ends his tenure in Green Bay whether MLF survives or not. Clearly if MLF is fired at some point Barry is gone as well.
The question is whether Murphy wants to spend another 2 whole hours interviewing for another HC or does he just want to coast into retirement or will he take the correct approach and allow Gute to do his job of hiring the next HC if it comes to that? Thanks, Since '61
marpag1
June 25, 2023 at 09:54 am
"The Packers promoted Bisaccia to Assistant HC for a reason. At the least it lets MLF know that his seat is getting warm and his replacement is in the wings."
It doesn't mean this. About 2/3 of NFL teams have an assistant head coach or an associate head coach. It's standard practice.
jannesbjornson
June 25, 2023 at 10:04 am
The needle is stuck on track one. This show ain't going nowhere until they clean house. Murphy should move out the side door after he rallies the "stockholders," in July.
White92
June 25, 2023 at 08:50 pm
Could you imagine Holmgren keeping Amari Rodgers returning punts as long as MLF did? Oy
Leatherhead
June 24, 2023 at 10:24 am
""That’s a stark contrast from the first 10 games where they gave up 20 or more seven times. ""
A more accurate way of stating that would have been ''between 20 and 28'''. Or, if you wanted to use the league average of 21.9, you could have said "They held 8 opponents below the league average".
These people who think we're supposed to hold every team under the league average are just not realistic.
CoachJV
June 24, 2023 at 11:10 am
I think LAF has been guilty of giving his coaches too many chances to get it right. But I also think that he will pull the plug on Barry if he struggles the first half of the season, I think Bisaccia gets double-duty at the bye.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 25, 2023 at 01:46 am
That's what I've been wondering if it's the fail safe set in place, or if JB would be demoted just to help with transitions from D to ST.
cheesehead1
June 24, 2023 at 11:33 am
Not likely to happen, but I would give Barry 6 games and if there isn’t drastic improvement with the D, then time to move on. Still can’t forget how unprepared and unmotivated they looked in the opener against MIN.
jont
June 24, 2023 at 01:19 pm
"Barry isn’t ready to give up five yards for an eight yard loss."
This is an insightful comment, I think. While Leatherhead and others cite statistics which show the D was average or even a little better, there is a general perception around here that Barry's D is bad enough to get him fired.
Both could be true if the expectation is a dynamic, play-making defense that gets sacks and take-aways while the reality is a workman-like, bend but don't break strategy.
FWIW, I'd like to see the more aggressive, ball hawking D of the Woodson-Collins-Tramon years, but the smart money says this coming season is going have a ball control offense that won't often light up the score board. If so, then we need a D that doesn't give up explosive plays and TDs; we'll need the D to keep us close in low scoring, tight games.
HarryHodag
June 24, 2023 at 03:26 pm
When Jerry Gray left(he let his contract lapse) it revealed to me a potential issue on the defensive side of the ball.
Gray has been an attacking style defensive coordinator/assistant at other NFL stops. When MLF retained Barry, Gray probably decided to move on with the chance of coordinating out the window in Green Bay . I think the majority of fans would like to see a pressure defense like Gray favors rather than the read-and-react style Barry prefers. With the talent the Packers have on defense they could easily have an attack-style defense.
We will see if MLF can get Barry to up the game.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 25, 2023 at 01:54 am
HH, well put. I don't know that this is the most talented defensive unit in the league, but we sure have a lot of very talented guys. Simply being a top 10 D shouldn't be a goal, it should be a gimme.
Swisch
June 24, 2023 at 06:51 pm
I think there's a lot to be said for unpredictability.
I'm okay with Barry playing some soft coverages and safe schemes, as long as he mixes in some tight coverages and daring schemes -- and preferably more of the latter.
I understand the aversion to giving up big plays by playing it soft and safe; also, it may be that statistically our defense was solid for the most part of last season.
However, the eye test of many fans here at CHTV, including myself, seems to say that Barry generally plays it way too soft on third downs, allowing easy completions past the sticks but in front of our coverage guys.
It's infuriating, bad for our health as fans (not an unimportant consideration), and deflating to team morale.
It has to stop.
It seems that just simple as at least a first step in putting forth a top defense.
Am I missing something?
SicSemperTyrannis
June 25, 2023 at 02:00 am
Swisch, I think the most important thing is not giving up points. That tends to lose games ;)
It seems JB was expecting a top scoring O to win, and never adjusted to the reality that our O was mediocre last year.
In game coaching and especially situational football are very different coaching skills from the positional development they need to continue excelling at throughout the preseason. I have more hope for them to do well with the development side of things after watching last season.
Kevin10
June 24, 2023 at 10:04 pm
Cory is spot on with the failure of those in charge of the defense to make it in to a dominant, difference making unit. Besides all of those high picks, almost all of the recent spending on free agency and contract extensions has been on D. Preston Smith, Z Smith, Amos, Campbell, Rasul, and the massive contracts for Jaire and Clark. We congratulate the GM on picking all these physically gifted (high RAS) players, only to see them be generally soft. Barry and MLF better feel the pressure.
TxFred
June 25, 2023 at 08:12 am
MLF should easily see if the defense is responding. Look for fundamentals. Agressive gang tackling. Edgers in the backfield. Tackling, NOT hanging on like Xmas tree ornaments. Active linebackers. Deep coverages. We can see the lack of performance,MLF certainly should. He can not wait to make changes. If JB needs to go, can his ass. The players know and sense they should be playing better & different. The team will RESPOND to his toughness & desire to win this year. 20 year olds or not. GPG !!!