Well the honeymoon is over for the Packers, especially the Packers defense.
During their 3 game winning streak, the Packers defense was doing enough to help out the Packers offense.
The last 2 weeks the defense has done nothing but prevent the Packers from winning games.
The offense has been putting up points, but so have opposing offenses.
A week after the defense gave up 24 points and 367 yards to the Giants, the Packers defense followed it up with another embarrassing performance.
The Packers defense gave up 34 points and over 300 total yards to the Buccaneers.
It’s the same story the team has seen over the years even dating back to the Aaron Rodgers era.
It also brings up the question, do changes need to be made on defense for the Packers?
The answer
The quick and short answer is yes, there needs to be changes to the defense.
It’s very obvious that the defense hasn’t been performing up to standard.
The next question though is when and where do the Packers make those changes on defense?
Where do these changes happen?
The first and very obvious person to point the finger at is Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry.
Barry had been under the hot seat for the last two seasons.
For all of the draft picks, free agents and talent, the Packers thought that Barry would be successful.
When the Packers faced the 49ers in the NFC divisional round back in 2022, the Packers defense played lights out and the organization thought that the defense would be better with a few more key pieces.
Instead the defense has struggled since then and while this defense has show potential, it has failed to show up when they are needed.
The talent is there, you have multiple first round draft picks and prized free agents the team brought over, so I don’t think there needs to be changes talent wise.
I do think though that there needs to be a coaching change and Barry needs to be let go.
Why Get rid of Joe Barry?
The reason why I think Barry should be let go is very simple.
Like past Defensive Coordinators, they couldn’t utilize the talent that was given to them.
I feel that Joe Barry had been given plenty of talented players on defense and couldn’t use them correctly.
We’ve seen the same out come for almost a decade now with the Packers Defense.
You simply cannot have this bad of a defense with the amount of talent that is on that side of the ball.
We’ve seen it all season with constant miscommunication in the defensive back field and break downs in coverage.
That all leads to coaching and Joe Barry and his staff.
While fans have been wanting Barry fired for a while now, I’ve been patient, waiting to see that 2022 defense that stumped the 49ers.
But I do think it is time to make a change at defensive coordinator.
When do we make those changes?
The next question is when do these changes happen.
While fans want Joe Barry out of Green Bay right now, I disagree.
These changes should come after the season is over.
The reason behind that is I just think if we make the change at defensive coordinator right now, the players would need to ether learn a whole new defense or we stick with the current defense.
With three game left in the regular season, I think that it is far too late to make a change on defense.
If the Packers did decide to let Barry go during the season, chances are they would get an internal candidate to finish out the season.
I do think though Joe Barry is the best option internally right now, so letting him go in the middle of the season doesn’t make sense.
Conclusion
The Packers defense needs a change.
Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers further showed the flaws in coaching.
The Packers need a game changer at defensive coordinator.
They need one that can utilize the talent the Packers have on defense.
This defense is far too talented to have performances like the last two weeks.
A coaching change on defense can change all that.
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Hau Khuong has been a Packers fan since 1996. He currently works as a video editor in Green Bay and writes for PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @HauKhuongSports.
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