The Lass Word: Frustrated LaFleur Remains Loyal to Barry

Game ending failures ratchet up pressure for change.

It was the day after his team suffered a damaging loss to the New York Giants.  Matt LaFleur stood at the podium for his news conference.  He was asked about the inability of his defense to stop the Giants on the game’s final drive.  Specifically, he addressed the backbreaking 32 yard completion to Wan’Dale Robinson that put New York within range of a walk off, game-winning field goal. 

“Joe called man coverage, and we’re playing way off, which we shouldn’t be in that situation.  We called another man coverage, and that’s when we got beat” the head coach remarked, referring to defensive coordinator Joe Barry.  The reporter then followed up with the more pertinent question.  Did the corners play off coverage in error, or is that where the coaches wanted them to line up?   

LaFleur paused for three or four seconds, knowing he had to choose his words carefully.  Would he point the finger at his coordinator?  Or would he blame the players?  He chose to do neither.  “Well, we’re going to have to get that corrected” he answered generically.  “If we’re calling man, we’ve got to be tighter.”  He ended the comment abruptly, anxious for the beat writers to change the subject, which they did. 

It’s not the first time LaFleur has publicly made remarks which could be interpreted as a clear message to Barry.  There have been other post game reactions from the head coach critical of the positioning of pass defenders in clutch situations.  Surely LaFleur understands that, whether the defensive play call is poorly schemed, or the players are just lined up in the wrong place, the responsibility falls on Barry.   

But while LaFleur seems willing to openly acknowledge the repeated problems on defense, he remains fiercely loyal to his defensive lieutenant.  He gave Barry unequivocal support for a third year at the helm last off season, despite two years of what was widely regarded as under achievement on that side of the ball.  And truthfully, the defense does have its good moments.  Against the Giants there was an impressive stop on fourth down, and four tackles for loss.  The unit has hovered around the top ten in the league in points allowed per game. 

Yet what doesn’t seem to change is the defense’s inability to close out a game, to come up with a stop when the team needs it the most.  Until Monday night, that weakness was somewhat muted during this campaign because of a handful of fortuitous breaks.  In the week three game against New Orleans the Packers rallied to score a touchdown giving them an 18-17 lead with 2:27 left to play.  However, the defense then allowed the Saints to drive 47 yards in eight plays, setting up a very makeable 46 yard field goal to win the game.  Rookie kicker Blake Grupe missed the kick. 

In week eleven Green Bay scored with 2:33 remaining to grab a 23-20 advantage over the Chargers.  With thirty seconds to play, rookie receiver Quentin Johnston got behind cornerback Carrington Valentine deep and was wide open.  Justin Herbert dropped a perfect pass over Johnston’s shoulder for what should have been an easy, game-winning touchdown.  Johnston dropped the ball. 

In week thirteen the defense was trying to protect a 27-19 lead over the Chiefs.  With 19 seconds left Patrick Mahomes launched a deep pass over the middle to Marquez Valdes Scantling.  Valentine climbed over MVS’s back in an effort to get to the ball in what was universally acknowledged by all observers as pass interference.  All observers, that is, except the officials, who called nothing.  The penalty would have set the Chiefs up with a first and goal in the closing seconds. 

Had those three situations gone the other way, the spotlight on Green Bay’s late game defensive shortcomings might be much brighter.  To be sure, the breaks don’t always go in favor of the Packers.  They have had their share of bad or missing calls.  The point is, Joe Barry’s defensive teams have had consistent difficulty in holding off opponents on game-ending drives.  They regularly cough up big plays  by the opponents in critical circumstances, and the problem usually boils down to scheme and positioning.  No doubt Matt LaFleur is aware of this.  He has frequently shown obvious frustration about it on the sideline and in media gatherings. 

Through it all, he remains faithful to the man he picked in 2021 to replace Mike Pettine as coordinator, after Jim Leonhard reportedly turned the job down.   Maybe it’s pride.  Maybe it’s friendship.  Maybe LaFleur feels Barry has done as much as can be expected with what he has to work with, considering injuries and a trade wiped out his entire starting secondary.  If LaFleur has any regrets he is keeping them private.  But as devastating failures such as the one against the Giants continue to pile up, the drumbeat to replace Barry gets louder.  

Retaining Barry is looking even more dubious now considering the division rival Vikings’ defense under Brian Flores is developing into a top notch unit, having held six opponents under 17 points, including a shut out of the Raiders last weekend. Flores was available last off season. 

LaFleur likely won’t make any change during the season, but when the curtain comes down on 2023 he would be wise to cut ties with his long time friend, before Barry takes LaFleur down with him. 

 

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Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.

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NFL Categories: 
13 points
 

Comments (59)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Packers0808's picture

December 14, 2023 at 03:04 pm

Bring in Al Harris, coaching DBs in Dallas and doing good job!

7 points
9
2
relleum61's picture

December 14, 2023 at 06:51 pm

Al Harris, Jim Leonhard or any rising star from the defenses of the 49ers, Jets, Browns or other top 5 defense. Or the Fangio, Flores opportunity of 2024. ABB...anybody but Barry!

9 points
9
0
SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:06 pm

AGNFB. CTFB GPG

&

ABB, lol

0 points
0
0
jjbathgate66's picture

December 15, 2023 at 07:43 am

Joe (no adjustments) Barry had no answer for Tommy Devito 1min 40 seconds left and they still allowed them to move right down the field for winning FG. MLF your loyalty will be your undoing. This team is soft inmates are running the prison, top stars making all that money giving the team zip. Yet we hear how great they are, surprised Savage was back in the lineup they end up trading heart and soul Rasul. Soft team

1 points
3
2
HawkPacker's picture

December 14, 2023 at 03:15 pm

We all know he should have been replaced last year. I am surprised LaFleur is not smarter than that. This whole deal makes LaFleur look bad by not replacing Barry.

17 points
17
0
CheesedDeadHead's picture

December 14, 2023 at 06:52 pm

" I am surprised LaFleur is not smarter than that."

I'm not. If you can't comprehend the train wreck that was Mo Drayton, you won't be able to comprehend the train wreck that is Joe Barry.

I can't point to a single thing that MLF has positively learned since he was hired 5 years ago. Nothing. You expect a halfway intelligent person to learn something in that time. Same mistakes over and over and over.

I don't think he lacks the will to change, I really think he can't comprehend the issues with Drayton and Barry when they are so obvious. How would he ever get it when the issues are more nuanced.

7 points
8
1
jhtobias's picture

December 14, 2023 at 03:43 pm

Lafluer must feel incredibley secure in his position with the packers for hiring Berry and not doing a darn thinh about it.

Couldnt care a less about the defense. They could bring in 8 more first roumd picks and have the same result.

13 points
13
0
ImaPayne's picture

December 14, 2023 at 05:56 pm

When we lost the next four games big time, not by a close margin, leFleur will finally get rid of Barry as we all watch other teams in the playoffs again this year.

-2 points
1
3
bjkdad44's picture

December 17, 2023 at 07:17 pm

Why the three thumbs down??? Explain please cuz what he says is OH SO TRUE!!!

0 points
0
0
Racingdad's picture

December 14, 2023 at 09:21 pm

I said it before but if barry is not gone by spring than gute should spend EVERY draft pick on offense as we will need to build 3 score leads to ever be able to win games

7 points
7
0
splitpea1's picture

December 14, 2023 at 03:43 pm

Speculation department, from a Twitter account called "NFC North News":

"Reports out of Green Bay say Barry and Head Coach LaFleur are as close as two people can get, they even eat lunch together everyday and have connected offices. Matt LaFleur has said multiple times he believes Barry is doing a great job as defensive coordinator and it's on the players to step it up and execute the plays better."

If this is true, breaking up the happy couple is going to be difficult...you're not getting rid of one without the other. And that seemed okay with most of the respondents.

9 points
10
1
LeotisHarris's picture

December 14, 2023 at 05:32 pm

Oh, well, if they have connecting offices and are lunch buddies then everything is fine. I hope they get two straws for the ginger-kale smoothie, and share an entree. Jeebus Tapdancing Christ!

6 points
6
0
Racingdad's picture

December 14, 2023 at 09:24 pm

Than fire mlf also. Maybe they could share a moving van ?

11 points
11
0
Packerpasty's picture

December 15, 2023 at 03:03 pm

maybe both should go the way of Brandon Staley,,,

2 points
2
0
NWPackersfan's picture

December 14, 2023 at 03:55 pm

He, LaFluer, has to do what's best for the team first and the Fans second. Pride aside he has to make the right moves to build the best team possible PERIOD.
I believe that every year since Barry took over Packers have been one of the worst at stopping the run.
Bend and don't break philosophy is only good if you actually do it. The writer is so right on those other games. We won on Luck.....
Most of the games lost have been do to that fact.
Every team has injuries and that includes Super Bowl contenders yet for some reason Barry gets a pass?
That play that basically won the game for the Giants can not be an OOPS at this time of the season.

Go Pack Go!!!!

11 points
11
0
ImaPayne's picture

December 14, 2023 at 05:55 pm

Some tv analyst on McCafee exploded the other day when they were talking about the Giants game. He said and I agree " the packers havent been able to stop the run for seven fn years". They let an avg team and QB run all over them.

3 points
4
1
Coldworld's picture

December 15, 2023 at 11:34 am

Against the Eagles last year Barry’s D gave up over 500 yards. Jalen Hurts' 157 rushing yards represented an Eagles record for a QB. It was also fifth most by any quarterback in the Super Bowl era, including playoffs.

Miles Sanders, the RB also ran for a career-high 143 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles were the first team since the 2014 San Francisco 49ers (Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore in Week 16) with multiple 140-yard rushers in the same game.

Overall, Eagles totaled 363 yards on the ground, the second most in their franchise’s history. It also was the most rushing yards the Packers allowed in any game since 1977.

That may be the worst, but we’ve seen similar already early this season and it’s consistent. Since 2022, the Green Bay Packers have the most opponent rushing yards by a team, 4,216. There’s no way to sugar coat that.

3 points
3
0
13TimeChamps's picture

December 14, 2023 at 03:55 pm

“Joe called man coverage, and we’re playing way off, which we shouldn’t be in that situation." THEN DON'T!

“Well, we’re going to have to get that corrected” THEN PLEASE DO!

“If we’re calling man, we’ve got to be tighter.” THEN BE TIGHTER!

I honestly don't know what to make of MLF. It seems like after every loss, he acknowledges the problem....how many times during his tenure has he said "We need to get Aaron Jones more involved"...and then they don't.

If you know what the problems are, but can't figure out how to correct them....I mean, isn't that what a HC is for?

18 points
18
0
Starrbrite's picture

December 14, 2023 at 04:14 pm

Exactly right-13

2 points
2
0
CanPackFan's picture

December 14, 2023 at 04:57 pm

As per Barry, he is just unteachable. He cannot, or will not, learn or change to any meaningful degree. No person on this planet should ever stop learning! Unless of course, you live on planet Packer. And you have a boss that can't separate his friendship from his job, as is likely going on with LaFleur and Barry. And if this theory should be correct, no one should respect him for it. Loyalty be damned!

As per LaFleur, I cannot listen to his weekly excuses and vague comments such as "we shouldn't be in that position", or "we are going to have to fix that". Only losers acknowledge problems without suggesting a way to fix them. And worse yet, do not solve them week after week. How many more 200+ rushing yards against will we see this season?

So 13, you are right to be critical of our HC!

11 points
11
0
Coldworld's picture

December 15, 2023 at 09:58 am

LaFleur on soft coverage being unacceptable and going to change.

There are more, out there I am not going to dig for, but here’s two prior examples of such assurances:

LaFleur, September 2023.

“We're going to have to do something different. It's insane to do the same things over and over again and expect different results, … That's one of the best offensive lines in ball, but it's still inexcusable. You should be able to take one phase away. If you want to stop the run and commit to that, make them throw it over your head.”

LaFleur, January 2021.

“There’s sometimes where I think we can be a little bit more aggressive just in terms of our mentality,” … “Some of those third downs and fourth-down conversions, a third-and-short, I want us to get up in people's faces and challenge them. Because I think we’ve got the people that can get that done, especially when you look at our corner situation.”

It’s either BS or he can’t make it happen. He can’t blame the coaches he hired and retained for continuity and has since defended to the hilt. So he either doesn’t really care or is ineffectual based on his own words.

5 points
5
0
Green Bay Shareholder's picture

December 15, 2023 at 11:50 am

I wish you were a reporter in the Press Conference, I would love to hear the responses. Sound like what I imagine Lombardi would say, so damn basic and honest yet expecting accountability. I love it !!

1 points
1
0
SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:13 pm

MLF is not a HC. He might do ok as a play caller and OC, but HC specific duties he's no good at.

3 points
3
0
Gman1976's picture

December 14, 2023 at 04:49 pm

MLF is loyal to a fault. Remember how he stuck with special team coaches who blew wins and a chance to go to the Superbowl? The coaches were great guys, but cost the team wins again and again. Rinse...Wash...Repeat. It has become so obvious that we shouldn't just blame MLF, but whoever is his boss. After the structure change, I don't know if that's Murphy or Gute. Whoever is as responsible as MLF now.

10 points
10
0
stockholder's picture

December 14, 2023 at 05:22 pm

If this was a championship team.
He probably would replace Barry.
But it isn't. And those are the facts.

-6 points
3
9
Coldworld's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:00 am

So he doesn’t want to build a championship team or are you saying he doesn’t believe in himself?

2 points
2
0
MitchAnthony's picture

December 14, 2023 at 05:31 pm

The Green Bay Packers are a very forgiving organization to be a part of, if they really like you. God bless and keep Ted, but all of us could see what was going on with the diminishing spectrum of ableness he displayed during those last couple/few seasons. GB was loyal to Ted to the end but maybe there was a more practical way to care for a guy and show humanity without leaving him in a GM position like they did.
-
That example being said, what does anyone think will happen for Mark Murphy? Because he's in charge of all this. The bylaws were all changed to put Murph in charge. Remember the whole "silos" thing from a few years ago. Murph is completely safe until he walks out the door in the summer of 25, as planned. The BOD is completely happy with merch sales, Titletown District, sled hills and all that plus the 2025 NFL Draft. So if you are in the camp who thinks the real change needs to come from the top, you need to be patient because the top ain't changing. Just like when Ted was going to leave when Ted would tell us he was ready.
-
So where does that leave coaching and the GM? Well, it seems that MLF was Murph's guy so, there's that. Gute is probably just as safe with Murph in regards to his job as well. Besides that, even if they were to make some sort of big change, who in their right mind would take on an interim job? The real big guy leaves in 25. You want someone to come in and be "the summer help"? The new boss will be the one to shake things up, after Murph.
-
Depending on how these next several games shake out it might spell an end to Barry. It might. There might be a scapegoat firing at the end of the season but I wouldn't bet on it, right now. As others have pointed out and we've all seen in the past, MLF is a loyal.
-
I'm not pointing this out to make some - fire them all - type statement. I'm just pointing it out because that's the way it is. This post is not an advocacy for keeping or sacking anyone it is just the way I see things at 1265. The Board needs to make a change back to the old bylaws where the GM had control over the football team. That would be a fix I would be hoping for regarding the future of the team because that is what worked well in the past. I see dysfunction in the current model.

10 points
12
2
MitchAnthony's picture

December 14, 2023 at 05:32 pm

The Green Bay Packers are a very forgiving organization to be a part of, if they really like you. God bless and keep Ted, but all of us could see what was going on with the diminishing spectrum of ableness he displayed during those last couple/few seasons. GB was loyal to Ted to the end but maybe there was a more practical way to care for a guy and show humanity without leaving him in a GM position like they did.
-
That example being said, what does anyone think will happen for Mark Murphy? Because he's in charge of all this. The bylaws were all changed to put Murph in charge. Remember the whole "silos" thing from a few years ago. Murph is completely safe until he walks out the door in the summer of 25, as planned. The BOD is completely happy with merch sales, Titletown District, sled hills and all that plus the 2025 NFL Draft. So if you are in the camp who thinks the real change needs to come from the top, you need to be patient because the top ain't changing. Just like when Ted was going to leave when Ted would tell us he was ready.
-
So where does that leave coaching and the GM? Well, it seems that MLF was Murph's guy so, there's that. Gute is probably just as safe with Murph in regards to his job as well. Besides that, even if they were to make some sort of big change, who in their right mind would take on an interim job? The real big guy leaves in 25. You want someone to come in and be "the summer help"? The new boss will be the one to shake things up, after Murph.
-
Depending on how these next several games shake out it might spell an end to Barry. It might. There might be a scapegoat firing at the end of the season but I wouldn't bet on it, right now. As others have pointed out and we've all seen in the past, MLF is a loyal.
-
I'm not pointing this out to make some - fire them all - type statement. I'm just pointing it out because that's the way it is. This post is not an advocacy for keeping or sacking anyone it is just the way I see things at 1265. The Board needs to make a change back to the old bylaws where the GM had control over the football team. That would be a fix I would be hoping for regarding the future of the team because that is what worked well in the past. I see dysfunction in the current model.

-2 points
2
4
MitchAnthony's picture

December 14, 2023 at 05:34 pm

The Green Bay Packers are a very forgiving organization to be a part of, if they really like you. God bless and keep Ted, but all of us could see what was going on with the diminishing spectrum of ableness he displayed during those last couple/few seasons. GB was loyal to Ted to the end but maybe there was a more practical way to care for a guy and show humanity without leaving him in a GM position like they did.
-
That example being said, what does anyone think will happen for Mark Murphy? Because he's in charge of all this. The bylaws were all changed to put Murph in charge. Remember the whole "silos" thing from a few years ago. Murph is completely safe until he walks out the door in the summer of 25, as planned. The BOD is completely happy with merch sales, Titletown District, sled hills and all that plus the 2025 NFL Draft. So if you are in the camp who thinks the real change needs to come from the top, you need to be patient because the top ain't changing. Just like when Ted was going to leave when Ted would tell us he was ready.
-
So where does that leave coaching and the GM? Well, it seems that MLF was Murph's guy so, there's that. Gute is probably just as safe with Murph in regards to his job as well. Besides that, even if they were to make some sort of big change, who in their right mind would take on an interim job? The real big guy leaves in 25. You want someone to come in and be "the summer help"? The new boss will be the one to shake things up, after Murph.
-
Depending on how these next several games shake out it might spell an end to Barry. It might. There might be a scapegoat firing at the end of the season but I wouldn't bet on it, right now. As others have pointed out and we've all seen in the past, MLF is a loyal.
-
I'm not pointing this out to make some - fire them all - type statement. I'm just pointing it out because that's the way it is. This post is not an advocacy for keeping or sacking anyone it is just the way I see things at 1265. The Board needs to make a change back to the old bylaws where the GM had control over the football team. That would be a fix I would be hoping for regarding the future of the team because that is what worked well in the past. I see dysfunction in the current model.

-2 points
2
4
ImaPayne's picture

December 14, 2023 at 05:52 pm

Hey its simple. If you called your boss and a hole would it costs you your job. Or if you did something to make your boss like the fool would it costs you a job?
LeFleur knows Barry is Gutts guy and only Gutt can do anything, LeFleur isnt going to step in it to please us. WE DONT COUNT!.

-5 points
2
7
dobber's picture

December 15, 2023 at 08:09 am

Why don't you regale us with more tales of how great Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer were.

2 points
2
0
CentralPA_PackFan's picture

December 15, 2023 at 09:17 am

Barry is Gute's guy? Are you high or just totally misinformed. Gute has zero to do with hiring coaches. MLF reports directly to Murphy (not Gute).

3 points
4
1
Coldworld's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:03 am

This is as factually incorrect a statement as possible. That one person other than you agreed is depressing.

3 points
3
0
SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:21 pm

Gutey can't do anything about this.

0 points
0
0
relleum61's picture

December 14, 2023 at 06:36 pm

Earlier this year I nick-named Barry's defense "the Manage-ables" because no down and distance was enough for the D to get off the field. It looks like we can now say that "time" is also a part of the failure equation.

If you look at current statistics, it is eerie how close Love and Rodgers are in terms of stats after 13 games. Love has one more win. The random dropped pass by Johnston or the missed call on MVS accounts for the slight difference in team record. Game 13 for both teams were eerily the same...fall behind, rally and lose on a last second field goal after the defense let the opposing offense move easily down the field.

What to take of this parallel of mediocrity...does MLF fires Barry and hires a competent DC like McCarthy fired Bob Sanders and hired Dom Caper (say what you will, hiring Capers did help lead to a SB win)? The Adams defense had gone to the NFC title game the year before and McCarthy removed Adams after a mediocre year. Barry hasn't sniffed that kind of success. If the Giants game was a "learning game" for a young team, it also needs to be a learning game for MLF and serve as a reason to remove Barry. Or for management to remove MLF!

7 points
7
0
White92's picture

December 14, 2023 at 06:37 pm

Any major media market beat writers would chew up and spit out MLF. He is very fortunate to be in the position he's in.

10 points
10
0
Qoojo's picture

December 14, 2023 at 06:50 pm

The past weeks I figured MLF did enough to save his job if it was even in doubt, and with that, there will be no change from JB. The offense looks like could it actually work, and the WRs have stopped running Benny Hill routes. Not sure if Love will ever get a consistent accuracy.

It looks doubtful that they will make the playoffs. Possible, but doubtful. Which means, JB will not get exposed in playoffs. So it's patiently wait for 2025 for another chance to jettison JB and his play the nickel/dime 80% or more of the time.

0 points
3
3
SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:26 pm

Your take on not making the playoffs is nonsensical. Vikings can lose all their games. Even if they win them all, nobody is ahead of GB for the #7 seed.

-2 points
0
2
Qoojo's picture

December 16, 2023 at 11:01 am

Nonsensical? Packers are 6-7 and playing inconsistent. Packers have looked great to good in 3 games all season. Tied with 5 other teams at 6-7. One game ahead of the bears to put it into perspective, the bears. Half game ahead of Giants. Two teams that are a joke. It's looking like some massive tiebreaker logic will be required to determine the last two playoff filler spots.

With a lot of teams at same record, tie breaker will come down to conference and division records, and head-to-head records will not play into it as much due to mismatches.

0 points
0
0
bjkdad44's picture

December 17, 2023 at 07:29 pm

Lose they did… AGAIN!

0 points
0
0
canadapacker's picture

December 14, 2023 at 07:10 pm

If Lafleur doesn't cut Barry loose in the first week post season the Gutey better cut both of them loose. Lafleur seems to have some better results when he gets more creative with his motion and getting Love out of the pocket and there might be some regression with a new HC and OC. But defences win games and Barry can't get it done despite having many good players.

5 points
6
1
Guam's picture

December 15, 2023 at 07:43 am

Not Gute's decision. Coaches report to Murphy. Hopefully Murphy has the stones to make your suggested move!

4 points
4
0
SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:27 pm

MLF can't fire JB, Gutey can't fire MLF.

1 points
1
0
PASSdaRELISH's picture

December 14, 2023 at 07:21 pm

Can’t believe the Packers strive to run a bend-but don’t- break defense. Not exactly what the great teams choose to run. Thought we had higher expectations around these parts but I guess not.

6 points
6
0
Dragon5's picture

December 14, 2023 at 09:55 pm

Someone had mentioned that LaFleur & Barry's wives are two peas in a pod at Church as well.

2 points
2
0
Packerpasty's picture

December 15, 2023 at 03:05 pm

I heard both families got to Golden Corral together on Saturdays..

0 points
0
0
WD's picture

December 15, 2023 at 06:14 am

Say what you will about Love and the offense; but it was the defense that lost the game. Packers went ahead with what should have been the winning score with only a couple of minutes to go. Then, the Giants young QB looks like the second coming of Joe Montana going 4 of 4 for sixty yards. Where was the the pass rush when it was most needed? Ask Joe Barry.

7 points
7
0
SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:29 pm

It was an entire team loss. All three phases. JL10 was the first one to unravel.

And the other team gets paid too.

1 points
1
0
Lphill's picture

December 15, 2023 at 06:59 am

only the Packers wait 2 years too long to make coaching changes, bring in Zimmer or Scwartz .

3 points
3
0
HarryHodag's picture

December 15, 2023 at 07:07 am

How long is this conversation going on? The Packers will never ascend until this defense plays like 7 first-round picks are capable of playing.

4 points
4
0
Irish_Cheesehead's picture

December 15, 2023 at 07:09 am

I like LaFleur, but if he's going to avoid pointing fingers and holding people accountable he should be replaced. That's a sign of a weak head coach.

6 points
6
0
SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:30 pm

MLF doesn't have the authority to do anything about this.

-1 points
0
1
cheesehead1's picture

December 15, 2023 at 12:17 pm

Our D coordinator has had enough time to turn our D around. I don’t like to see anyone lose their job, but let’s face facts, it’s not working.

3 points
3
0
NFLfan's picture

December 15, 2023 at 01:49 pm

Green Bay's culture is soft and 'midwestern nice'. Bisaccia seems to have caught the nice, soft bug too.
I picture all of these guys leaning back in large, buttery-soft loungers in dark-panelled men's club environs, lights low, enjoying a cigar, good bourbon & high-fiving each other. The ennui, entropy & deep satisfaction knowing their jobs are safe, they are paid well, and are good, decent, mediocre men--hiding in a small town, out of touch with the rest of the NFL.

If I want to watch Defense, I'll watch the Browns or Jets.

1 points
2
1
PackAttack4155's picture

December 15, 2023 at 06:41 pm

How do you scheme a solid run defense without the proper personnel? JB should go, but the roster has few solid run defenders. I hope in the offseason, run defense-focused DL is the priority.

1 points
1
0
SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:32 pm

Why has #99 J Ford never been called up?

0 points
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CheeseEdWest2's picture

December 15, 2023 at 10:04 pm

I don't know if Jim Leonhard would sign on to coach under MLF, but he was able to turn a moderately athletic bunch of guys into tough, aggressive, top level defenses. Instead of whining about the short comings of the guys Gute brings in, we should hire a coach who pushes players to become the best defenders they can be. A bend don't break defense breeds complacency, not excellence, in players. After another year of development, the soft coaches should have no place left to hide.

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vin0770's picture

December 16, 2023 at 10:51 am

Schwartz was on the street too…thank goodness Cleveland got stuck with him. They are a megerly 1st in pass defense and 6th run defense 🤪

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Firethemall's picture

December 16, 2023 at 06:49 pm

Why doesn't the GM or President tell Lafluer either part with Barry or we will part with you both? Dead serious!
I mean take a look at Barry's track record and tell me why any team would want his services.
Matt Lafluer has done little in Green Bay outside of Rodgers talents.... He is an under 500 coach without Rodgers.
Hope his seat is toasty!

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