It was Christmas Day, and like many of you (even being 5,600 miles away from home) I had several things to look forward to: time off work, a couple of gifts, some good food, and pretty much above all else....some Packers' football. It was a real treat, as the 2022 NFL Regular Season made 2 years straight that the Packers would take the field on a Christmas afternoon. Being born in Florida myself, I envied the idea of being that far south and close to home during the holidays, especially with that great football weather where I was known to be down for a pick-up game or two in a local park with my family and friends.

Unfortunately, as the game started out, it seemed like we were all in store for a heaping lump of coal rather than a win that would keep the Packers' playoff hopes alive. Once again, it seemed Head Coach Matt LaFleur would continue his streak of having this team unprepared to play on the road. The offense, despite some good starting field position, struggled to produce anything more than a series of field goals, and the Dolphins were doing just about whatever they wanted, putting up 20 points in the 1st half alone. While the Packers did manage to keep it a one-possession game at halftime, for many of us that sinking feeling was starting to creep in.

And then, coming back out after the break, the offense continued to sputter, but they were given an amazing boost as Joe Barry's defense miraculously didn't surrender another point to the Dolphins(Miami did get in range for a 48-yard field goal but went wide right). Over the course of the game, the defense forced 4 turnovers, intercepting QB Tua Tagovailoa 3 times while forcing and recovering a fumble from RB Raheem Mostert. It was a rare performance, a statement even that the Packers could be a dangerous team in the playoffs should they sneak in.

However, while we were all treated to the beautiful gift that is a Packers' win on Christmas Day, we should all still be firm in our commitment to letting the powers that be inside of 1265 know that Mr. Barry should be relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the season.

At the end of the day, this is an $83M defense, comprised of 7 former 1st Round Picks. In return, Barry has produced a middling defense that should be at or near the top of the league on paper. While his initial debut was promising, with the defense finishing 9th in the league for total yards allowed last season, there's been some noticeable regression, with the Packers currently ranked 17th. The real drop-off is in rushing defense, with the Packers ranked 27th (11th in 2021). Big plays like sacks(from 12th to 23rd) and turnovers(from 8th to 13th) are down as well. Given that the Packers have continued to add additional talent to the defensive side of the ball it's a serious question as to why they haven't performed as expected. Instead, it seems like every week this season, it's a question of which Packers' defense is going to show up to the game, the one you expect to see given the star-studded cast or a defense that seems lost and confused on how to slow down the opposing offense.

Speaking to lost and confused, including frustrating, the first thing that has to go is his scheme, which is a soft Cover-3 shell that only does favors for the opposing offense. This defense's kryptonite? Crossing routes. When there is at least one crossing route the Packers are giving up a passer rating of 134.3! (Aaron Rodgers' career passer rating is only 103.7 and he's 3rd all-time in NFL history) Joe Barry expects his players to make the plays in front of them, well he needs to do some hard coaching because the Packers rank in the Top-10 in the league for most missed tackles and in the bottom half of the league for tackling efficiency. General Manager Brian Gutekunst has built this team to be an aggressive man-to-man defense, you don't draft Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes to sit back and read the field. That wasn't what Rasul Douglas was signed for either. On Miami's two big scoring drives this past week Green Bay's defense haplessly watched as Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill streaked across the field for big gains. I think several of those plays don't happen if the Packers are playing man coverage and blitzing the quarterback.

One of the more frustrating things that I believe doesn't get enough notice is the mismanagement of talent. It shouldn't have taken til the back stretch of the season and an injury to Dean Lowry to see Devonte Wyatt on the field for the majority of a game. We saw T.J. Slaton almost immediately in the rotation on the defensive line as a rookie, and he was selected in the 5th Round (granted T.J. has a slightly different function). You're telling me that a 1st Round Pick, even in garbage time, or during times when key players need a break, can't get a couple of good reps? Going into Week 17, Wyatt has seen roughly 19% of all defensive snaps. But when he has been in, I can't say I've had too many complaints. Going back to the abysmal defensive ranking against the run, I can't find any reason to not try and let him be a difference-maker sooner than later. Also, while Darnell Savage has been performing poorly at free safety since Barry came to town, his suggestion that Savage would be an excellent nickel hasn't materialized either, I have full confidence in Jerry Gray as the DB coach, so I'm sticking it to Barry and his scheme/methodology for not putting Savage in the best position to maximize his talent, especially given Savage played nickel during crucial times at Maryland.

For the crime of producing a massively underwhelming defensive product on the field, I adjudicate the following:

Joe Barry: GUILTY

Impact Statement: When Joe Barry's hire was initially announced, many of us chalked it up to familiarity with Matt LaFleur. Unfortunately, there's a reason why there's a saying that you don't mix friendship with business. I STILL don't believe in Matt LaFleur....as a head coach. And like many of you, he has earned the label from me of being "soft". Mike Pettine, Barry's predecessor got plenty of leeway during his tenure, I'm grief-stricken at the kind of long leash Barry might get given his prior acquaintance with LaFleur. One way or another, the Aaron Rodgers era will come to an end, and there's no telling when another Hall of Fame caliber QB will arrive in town(no offense Jordan). Until then, this team is going to live and die by what SHOULD be an elite defense and a rushing attack balanced out by RPO and play action. That defense won't be a strength if Barry is allowed to run people out of town. When players get frustrated they talk(even if just amongst themselves), and after so much, they walk. Green Bay is a hard enough destination to lure marquee guys to in the first place, the addition of a coach that inefficiently utilizes talent does not need to be added to the reasons why that is. 

The Christmas Day win in Miami was a feel-good win. But for the next two weeks, the Packers have the Vikings and the Lions, who they've already lost to once apiece. The Vikings won't have the same offensive woes as the Dolphins and neither will the Lions. I know Week 1 seems like forever ago, but if Joe Barry remains "steady as she goes", it's highly possible, albeit probable that Justin Jefferson torches the Packers to the tune of over 150 yards again, and last time that was WITH Eric Stokes and Rashan Gary healthy. Keep in mind they've added another weapon, former Lion T.J. Hockenson who'll be giving the safeties and linebackers fits surely all game. Without overlooking the Vikings, even sans Hockenson, the Lions will still be a test with their high-scoring offense, which is still Top-5 in the league.

Sentence: Win or lose, playoffs or not, hell Super Bowl or bust, Joe Barry needs to go. Throughout multiple stops around the league, his projection as a good defensive coordinator in the NFL has not and continues to not be very good. He is serviceable yes, but for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, his best asset to a team is as a LBs coach. This upcoming offseason will have a literal buffet (more on that later) of prime defensive coordinators that can elevate this defense to the level that we all know they can play at. If Matt LaFleur wants to demonstrate that he truly has the gumption to make the necessary moves and adjustments to put this team in the best position to win, he has to at least consider the prospect of letting Barry go given the big names that will be available for the Defensive Coordinator position.

Would LaFleur actually do it? I'm skeptical, but let us join our hands in prayer Packers' faithful. Stay tuned to CheeseheadTV.com as we watch the final bits of the regular season play out.

#GPG