After three seasons as defensive coordinator, the green bay packers fired joe barry this week.
The packers defense ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed per game (128.3) and 23rd in yards per carry (4.42). It ranked 24th in both respects, allowing 41.1% of third-down conversions and 46.7% of fourth-down conversions.
It also placed 23rd in the nfl in allowing touchdowns in the red zone at a 50.9% rate, ranking 10th in the league, and made the playoffs by only giving up 20.6 points per game, or 10th, in the NFL. Here’s a look at what we asked our packersnews teammate pete dougherty to say about it: i’d seriously consider switching from a 3-4 model to a 4-3, if i were matt lafleur. There’s no such thing as a big difference in the league’s personnel group, and regardless of whether you’re 3-4 or 4-3, nickel usually means a four-man front. The key difference is whether edge defenders stand up (in the 3-4) or place their hand in the air (4-3). The packers have the resources to play a 4-3. Rashan gary and lukas van ness are better suited for 4-3 because they played with their hand down in college and have the size (270-plus pounds each) 4-3 defenses look for on the edge, according to a good argument. The 4-3 may also allow for better exploiting the versatility of inside linebacker quay walker, who may have the qualities of a poor man’s micah parsons if the packers expand his role. In either case, the key to playing defense in today’s nfl is to be able to play in multiple ways, depending on your team and the opponent. The coordinator’s ability to game plan, know when to dial up pressure, highlight players’ strengths, and motivate is more important than the scheme he runs.
Tom silverstein: pressure schemes are all the rage now, as was the vic fangio-scheme when matt lafleur hired joe barry three years ago. The packers have the resources in house to run a pressure scheme.
To run a more conservative defense, they’d need some extras, and you could also keep the current scheme with the right staff. The best way to go is to find a coordinator who is flexible and who can run multiple versions of his plan based on the opponent. When the packers switch to a four-man front on passing downs, about the only thing they’re likely to do is remain a 3-4 defense with two outside linebackers. They’ll need someone who can get the offense the ball, which will result in more turnovers and less long drives allowed. It doesn’t mean they have to be a full-fledged team.
They do, however, need to have the ability to unleash it on certain opponents. It’s impossible to sit back and relax in a lot of zone unless you’re utterly encroaching on defense. You must have the ability to run both types of defense. ryan wood: matt lafleur’s replacement’s biggest concern is not who, but what. Yes, it’s vital that lafleur finds the right defensive coordinator to lead the packers into their new super bowl season, but first, he must decide which defense he wants to run.
Barry would be shown off campus in green bay, only to keep the same vic fangio-style scheme as he introduced to the packers, which seems to be a half-measure. In its place, a pressure-focused, blitz-oriented scheme has emerged, which seems to suit the strength of this packers defensive roster well, considering their pass-rushing depth.
Lafleur must look at his staff and see which scheme brings the most value out of his players, then choose who is best suited to coordinate it.
