Green Bay Packers: Joe Barry’s attitude is infectious

When the Green Bay Packers decided to part ways with former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine after the 2020 season, many considered it a risk because the defense had performed statistically better than it did towards the end of the Mike McCarthy era.

But after the 2021 season, it is safe to say the hiring of Joe Barry was a very strong move. Playing and coaching in the NFL is mostly about relationships. Friendships matter. But sometimes, that doesn’t go well.

For example, in Mike McCarthy’s first season as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, he hired Mike Nolan to be his DC. The reason he did that was because McCarthy was Nolan’s OC in San Francisco in 2005.

But the Cowboys had arguably the worst defense in the league under Nolan. The Cowboys parted ways with him after that season. So far, it has gone the opposite way for Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and DC Joe Barry, who worked together with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.

The Packers’ defense is in a good place. In 2021, they finished top 10 in total defense, points allowed per game, pass yards allowed, QB pressures, QB hurries, opponents’ QBR, interceptions, rush yards allowed per game, and pass break-ups.

ILB De’Vondre Campbell, who just signed a new five-year deal to remain in Green Bay, became a first-team All-Pro. Standout CB Rasul Douglas, who also just signed a new three-year deal, had a resurgence in 2021 by grabbing five INTs after being on three practice squads before coming to Green Bay.

DT Kenny Clark was named to his second Pro Bowl. OLB Rashan Gary had a career year with 9.5 sacks. Safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage took another step together.

Joe Barry had this defense rolling without All-Pro CB Jaire Alexander and former Packers All-Pro OLB Za’Darius Smith.

Green Bay has one of the most talented defenses in the league. That is a key reason why they were to be successful. A lot of the players are versatile. A lot of suffocating defenses like the Chicago Bears and L.A. Rams of the last half-decade use this same scheme.

Barry was coincidentally on Sean McVay’s staff for four seasons. It’s a difficult scheme for opposing offenses to prepare for. But the key reason for Green Bay’s success on defense has to be Barry’s ability to be personable. To relate to his players. To be positive around them. To encourage them as they grow in the system.

Also, it’s important to know that Barry was on the sidelines calling plays in his first season. It took Pettine two years to decide that it would be better to call defensive plays on the sideline and not in the booth.

That ability to be face-to-face with your players is important in their development. Barry has this defense in a great place because of who he is as a person, along with the skill of his players in a tough system for opposing offenses to prepare for.