Packers: All signs pointing to Joe Barry return in 2023
Fans hoping the Green Bay Packers would make a change at defensive coordinator may be disappointed.
All signs are pointing towards Joe Barry remaining in the role.
This comes from ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, who reported that the Packers coaches had completed their end-of-season work and now had some time off.
The Packers coaches concluded their immediate after the season work last week and now off until Feb. 13.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) January 23, 2023
There were no major changes, meaning Joe Barry will almost surely return as Matt LaFleur suggested right after the season.
If head coach Matt LaFleur was planning on moving on from Joe Barry and hiring a new defensive coordinator, surely that would’ve happened by now.
It may leave some Packers fans frustrated, and it’s understandable.
Considering the number of first-rounders and free-agent additions Green Bay had on defense, the unit was expected to be among the league’s best in 2022, but it was anything but.
The Packers ranked 17th in total defense, sixth against the pass but 26th against the run. They were 17th in points allowed per game. Green Bay struggled to consistently pressure quarterbacks, making only 34 sacks, fifth-worst in the NFL and their lowest total since 2011.
But if there are some positives, it’s how the defense played down the stretch. In the final five games, Barry’s unit was much improved, and the Packers went 4-1.
Here’s a breakdown of their final five games:
Packers’ defense in final five games of regular season
- 17.6 points allowed per game
- 232.2 passing yards allowed per game
- 103 rushing yards allowed per game
- 12 turnovers
- Didn’t allow more than 20 points in any game
- Combined QB stats: 93/140, 1,161 yards, 4 TDs, 9 INTs, 74.73 rating
- Packers went 4-1 during stretch
That’s the type of defense we were expecting from Green Bay all season long.
They stopped the run well, forced a ton of turnovers, and made life difficult for quarterbacks. By playing this way, Green Bay was able to go on a winning run.
The expectation was for the offense to take a step back without Davante Adams, but the defense was supposed to step up and help the team make a run.
Hopefully Barry’s 2023 defense will build on the final five games of the regular season.