Like the supporters, Green Bay Packers defenders believe that changes must be made on their end of the field. According to reports, Matt LaFleur met with the defense on Monday to discuss strategies for limiting points as the Packers attempt to remain in the NFC wild card race.
After deciding to retain defensive coordinator Joe Barry for the balance of the season, LaFleur faced a lot of criticism on the internet. This season, Barry’s defenses have committed incredible errors, particularly during the Packers’ current two-game losing streak.
The Packers have rushed for over 200 yards against Barry’s defense against the Giants on several occasions this season. However, his two-minute play against the New York Gaints and backup quarterback Tommy DeVito truly turned heads, as the Packers lost a game in December that ought to have been an easy one.
In a double-digit loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Packers’ defense recovered from their embarrassing performance on Monday Night Football by letting Baker Mayfield tie Aaron Rodgers’ record for the most perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field.
The loss infuriated fans, and even Packers beat writers grilled LaFleur following the game on why the fifth-year head coach kept Barry as the playcaller despite multiple major setbacks in the latter stages of the season.
The players were also not content.
Players for the Green Bay Packers request that the defense be made simpler.
To find solutions for the team moving forward this season, LaFleur met with defensive players on Monday, according to Tom Silverstein of Packers News. Players “dodged” questions about whether the defensive coaching staff placed players in positions where they could succeed on the field, according to the report.
Defensive tackle Kenny Clark, though, claimed that players discussed communication issues with LaFleur. Apparently, the defense can be too complicated for Packers defenders to know where to play most of the time:
Although he wasn’t present for the conversation with LaFleur, seasoned nose tackle Kenny Clark said he was informed about it and that the players were open and honest with him about the best course of action. He made a suggestion that everyone might be able to play more freely if some of the things Barry has tried to accomplish were made simpler.
“I’m sure LaFleur wanted to hear from guys and different position groups depending on where there wasn’t enough communication,” Clark remarked. It was routine business as we looked for ways to improve and made sure we were supporting one another.
He always asks us what’s going on and what we need to play quickly, and he’s good about it. So make some of it simpler so that players can move quickly and play. It’s harder the more people you have thinking and examining various angles.
Defensive coordinators for the Packers are reportedly having serious issues, according to the players. It is impossible to read Silverstein’s report and believe that the players trust Barry to make playcalls or communicate with them.
When players refuse to publicly acknowledge that Barry and his assistants helped them position themselves for success on the field, there is a serious problem in the locker room.
Any remedy resulting from the meeting on Monday seems ad hoc.
