"Packer's fans have been frustrated by the performance of their defense over the last two seasons."

FTFY

"Packer's fans have been frustrated by the performance of their defense over the last two decades."

the fate of the Packers in Jordan Love's first season is in the hands of Joe Barry, not very reassuring .

I think the D will be more ready at the start of the season than they've been recently. A whole different mindset this season and even the vets can't count a Bears game as final tune up preseason game.

Who did the D play against during that run? That oft cited expiation is as irritating as it is trite. Playing a bad O or one hamstrung by key injuries should make any D look better than against healthy and effective offenses.

Put bluntly, LaFleur is going to have to show what his offense is now Rodgers is gone. Yes, there are going to be issues of execution, but he needs to show us a design and tactical prowess regardless of breakdowns in how it’s executed.

Likewise, LaFleur needs to show why he kept Barry. There are a number of coaches that need to step up, but as DC and one who many thought should have gone last year, Barry is likely the lightning rod. He needs to get more from his group. That’s going to mean changing his scheme, personnel decisions and tactics as much as LaFleur.

This year may be a growth and learning year for Love and the youth, but it’s likely a do-or-die year for Barry. If he doesn’t get more out of this defensive roster, he’s done and, absent showing signs of offensive genius, LaFleur is likely a dead man walking too.

This is a bigger year for our coaching staff than anyone. It sounds like they plan significant changes on both sides of the ball. Those are needed. However, like McCarthy’s great reset in 2018, realizing that won’t help if the benefits don’t materialize on field.

"Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis are the only experienced tight ends on the roster but neither has been a significant threat in the downfield passing game."

Gil, please go watch both Joshiah Deguara TD and than talk how he is not threat downfield in passing game. Why Deguara did not get more chances you should be asking previous Packers QB (I forgot the name!) who has his darlings and others were there just to collect snap crumbs, if any!

Second, every time when Deguara catch the ball he gain at least another 2 to 3 yards of the original catch point and he never fumbled like some former very experienced TEs, or former QB darling TE (who is with bears now) who very often was catch and go down TE last 2 years.

I really do not understand why people are forgetting that Davante Adams was rarely targeted until Packers released Jordy Nelson, Jones, and Cobb. When former QB was forced to use Davante Adams, there came enlightment in his brain to the extend that he always first look to Davante, than throwing the ball away if Davante was not open.

Playing D is very hard and tiresome job. Especially when your QB produce so many 3 and outs and TOP was heavily on the side of the opponent. And we knows why was that - simple explanation "hero balls".

This season I believe we can see better Packers D with veterans (Kenny, Jaire, Rasoul, Tavarius, Rudy, Preston, Kingsley, TJ, Devonte and addition of capable draftees like Lukas, Colby, Karl, Carrington, Anthony) and others that my surprise all of us.

Also, I believe Packers will be, finally the team with TOP to their side, so it will leave D more time to rest themselves at the sideline during games.

"No doubt it will take Love some time to get up to speed."
I believe Jordan already adapted himself to the NFL speed, as was shown in that 2 series in 4th Q vs Philadelphia game. As are Christian, Romeo, Samori. Also Reed looks well in that (game speed) department.

My humble opinion. I have high hopes and zero expectations.

Last yr they had a goal line stop. This is just off the top of my head, I’m not looking it up…but I don’t remember another significant goal line stop since 2014. The Defenses over the last decade have not been good, maybe little nuggets of plays here and there but not good. When They had Pettine, I had a little hope because they actually fielded 3 down lineman plus 2 Edge rushers and wow…low and behold the run defense magically improved, but then the CB/Safety/ generalized “DB” play was poor. Barry came in… I was impressed when they Played 4 DL and 1 Edge rusher against TBs massive running game and the titans massive running game. So I thought “hey, ok, we might have a coach that’s capable of making adjustments for specific teams”. Then he goes back to the Capers style 2-4-5 that doesn’t stop anyone….run or pass. On top of that, and Nagler and others have covered this extensively….no friggin press man on 3rd and 3s. I Almost want an old school coach that just gets a stout defense that plays a 4-3 cover 2 and just calls it good. It would force these Rookie QBs across the league to actually be accurate and it definitely slows down a rushing attack, wildcats and QB sneaks we have been seeing trend lately. The One good thing that i’m seeing is that the Packers are getting much bigger and stronger on Edge and they finally have a fast strong linebacker who can go sideline to sideline in Quay Walker. Hopefully he doesn’t have any mental errors that cost us games this year. But no…it’s a team sport, yes the D has to play better. But special teams play( which will be better) and field position and not putting the defense in crappy spots is also important. Rodgers thumb and additional picks last yr certainly didn’t help the cause either. If Love plays just mediocre with no turnovers, the pencils teams improve and we run the f’img ball I think we’ll have a good season. I’m optimistic.

I think much of the improvement in the last few games was due mainly to the level of competition. Miami's QB was probably concussed a portion of that game and the Bears and Rams were not exactly offensive powerhouses. Kirk was gonna Kirk (especially with 2 or 3 missing OL for Minny), and basically Detroit ran over the defense the last quarter of that game. Only when the front seven can effectively control the other teams running game, can this defense be declared competent.

Don't forget that the front half of our defense is almost in as much development mode as the offense. Although Wooden and Brooks (supposedly a great technician according to some scouting reports) lined up in multiple areas in college, they're best as pass rushers from the interior. But I do worry about how we're going to hold up against the run; Wooden is not an anchor, but maybe Brooks will be--but competing against NFL-level talent is going to be a big step up for him possibly. DL coach Montgomery will have his work cut out for him, as Clark and Slaton are the only players who have logged over 500 snaps.

My concern is that DC talent is less than D player talent. It was apparent that for approximately 3/4s of last season Barry tried to fit the players into his system - with dismal results. Only when he later designed a system to fit the players - were better results achieved. And I don't think that his late season adjustments were entirely voluntary as I suspect an intervention from MLF/+ Bisaccia.

For this year, the 2 greatest weaknesses I see in the Defense is first Barry - who has never coached a third year as a DC (having been fired after the 2nd year in his 2 previous stints as a DC). And secondly - the run defense. When Kenny Clark brings up the need to improve the run D this year - this is akin to insider information. We should pay attention.

Kenny Clark
Jaire Alexander
Rashan Gary
Darnell Savage
Eric Stokes
Quay Walker
Devonte Wyatt
Lukas Van Ness

Eight 1st round picks. If we can find a way for Joe Barry or hopefully, Richie B to get these guys playing like 1st round picks, as a unit.
We could have a decent defense! IDK why MaLF insisted on keeping Joe Barry, but if he doesn't improve, I doubt our defense will improve.

Maybe with the addition of Richie B as Assistant Head Coach will be the move that takes our defense from average to great?

In our last two elimination games, in 2021 and 2022, the defense played very well while the offense did virtually nothing, but the pressure is on the defense. OK.

We gave up two more points than KC, but obviously that's where the problem is. Not the hundred-odd points the KC offense scored that we didn't.

For certain on the premise that the defense will need to play better and carry the team to a few victories. But the problem is, what will Barry bring, soft zones or aggressive play. And what will Lafleur bring, weak answers if Barry plays soft.

There is player talent. But both Barry and Lafleur need to step up their games. There will be games with average or weak QB play and Barry can't let that QB be all world for a game. And Lafleur can't let defenses shut down the offense for large portions of games. Both of these situations occurred last year and contributed to the losing season.

We talk a lot about players, but coaches affect the game too. Neither Lafleur or Barry won't have Rodgers as a crutch. Time for the coaches to step up and have the team play better than their talent and experience levels.

At this point i have no faith in berry but especially lafluer as coaches or leaders.

I dont blame joe berry he didnt hire himself . I really think lafluer has a great offensive mind but is no head coach.

The thing that hurts is we have a man on the staff the defense the offense and special teams would run through a brick wall for and that us rich b .

Well there is a reason jerry grey left he say these stupid zones were killing us went somewhere where hus voice mattered.

I have little faith in the Packer defensive coordinator, Joe Barry. He did not have a good record when he was hired by LaFleur. A terrible record in '07 and '08 in Detroit as defensive coordinator. Another bad record in '15 and '16 as defensive coordinator with Washington. Now two bad years in a row as defensive coordinator with the Packers. Sooo, so far, as defensive coordinator for three different teams, he has failed. I don't get it. Why is LaFleur hanging on to Barry? Is there some kind of strong connection, like family maybe, that not only caused LaFleur to hire Barry in the first place ( when Barry was already thought of as being " mediocre " at best. ) but to double down on keeping him after two failed seasons with the Packers. Maybe LaFleur does not want to admit his own failure in hiring Barry.

Remember, too, LaFleur was successful with the offense in '20 and '21 and with Aaron Rodgers winning MVP both those years with Nathaniel Hackett as his offensive coordinator. In 2022, with Hackett gone and Matt LaFleur on his own, the offense was miserable. So, in fact, both Joe Barry and Matt LaFleur have a lot to prove.

" inside linebacker Quay Walker and defensive linemen Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt."

I would not count Wyatt as a large contributor as a 1st round pick since he hardly played until later in the year.

What does this defense do well? Defend the pass right? And how do you force teams to pass? By scoring points early in games right? It stands to reason the problem last year was an offense that did next to nothing to help the defense, especially in the 2nd half. More points on offense= less rush yards on defense.

It will be vital that Barry designs a defense that plays to the strengths of what is viewed as a very talented roster on defense that hasn’t quite lived up to its potential on the field. (Key quote from the article).

We're doomed.

Hats off to Leatherhead & The_Baloney_Stops_Here!

They are the main voices of reason here in my eyes along with a few others who made great points as well.

For the life of me, friends, I cannot understand those complaints railing on Barry without considering that changing from Pettine to Barry would require more than 2 drafts, (half each dedicated to O players) in order to change out players specific to what Barry will run.

WHY SO MANY PLAYERS needed? LaFleur stated he wanted a defense virtually unheard of previously. One that employed the same “Illusion of Complexity,” principles he wants to run on O.

We had virtually zero FA cash, and trading for players to run what Barry was hired to do was not possible. The draft became our major source for adding specific talents.

Aaron Rodgers led offenses failed to score enough points, and Barry’s defenses NEVER had all the players he needed to run the scheme he & LaFleur agreed upon.

Why keep mindlessly barking up the stupid tree? Barry’s entering his Year 3, and likely has what he now needs to run THAT defense promised to Packer nation in 2021 upon his hire.

If this is the dereliction of duty many here are truly claiming it to be, I’ll be stunned, but, hell yeah, Barry and LaFleur would show cause for termination, maybe. Only year for each to work their schemes seems ludicrous.

Murphy insisted on BOTH Pettine & AR!!! Literally setting us back YEARS!!!

And, I don’t buy this Bisaccia Assistant HC narrative to oversee Barry. C’mon. It was to insure he could only be hired away for a HC job or nothing, protecting our STs.

We lost our starting CB opposite Jaire, Eric Stokes, very early in the 2022 season, then lost our TOP pass rusher midway through the schedule. Add in “Aaron I Don’t Care,” and I think that picture is crystal clear. “Fire Barry?”

No one can say exactly what Barry’s Defensive scheme actually is because he NEVER had the full complement of players to run it. How about we wait to see the D as conceptualized with the players required before torching the poor bastard?

And, let’s wait just a little longer to actually see the Offensive scheme we were promised 4 seasons ago upon LaFleur’s hire.

Sound reasonable? Sound exciting? I say, HELL YES, both O and D! Plus some Great STs? ALL 3 PHASES?

I think THIS Packers team is the one we’ve been hoping for, for years.

You correctly outline several problems with this roster, yet I keep hearing what a great GM Gkunst is. I don't get it.

My main problem with MLF is his apparent indecisiveness. He stays with the status quo too long, even when it's obvious the schemes/players aren't producing. Examples being how he stuck with Kevin King as starting CB even after he blew a legitimate shot to go to the Super Bowl. They even brought him back the following season. Another example- soft zone coverages on 3rd downs.
Now, supposedly with #12 gone, we will see his "real" offense. HE was the Head Coach, not AR. If he didn't like what Rodgers was doing, HE should have exerted his authority. Can you imagine a Lombardi or Belichek being afraid of bruising a player's ego?
I don't have a lot of confidence in LaFuer's leadership. Hope I'm wrong, but we'll see this year.

May or may not be more pressure on the defense, but I do think there will be more pressure on Barry to have a better performing defense. He's essentially gotten all the top picks in the Packers draft for more than a decade with which to work and thus far, the results have been less than stellar.