Three Packers that saw their stock drop after loss to Lions
Oftentimes, there are a lot of variables that go into a loss. But it was pretty clear what the issues were in the Green Bay Packers' awful loss to the Detroit Lions. So, let's not hesitate and dive straight into the losers from Thursday night's matchup. T Rasheed Walker and G Royce Newman Walker had […]
Oftentimes, there are a lot of variables that go into a loss. But it was pretty clear what the issues were in the Green Bay Packers' awful loss to the Detroit Lions.
So, let's not hesitate and dive straight into the losers from Thursday night's matchup.
T Rasheed Walker and G Royce Newman
Walker had been playing pretty well in place of All-Pro David Bakhtiari, but the Lions' front seven made him look like a former seventh-rounder on Thursday night.
Per Pro Football Focus, Walker had allowed just two pressures on 78 pass blocking snaps over the course of the last two weeks. On Thursday night, he allowed four pressures that included 2.0 sacks – easily the worst numbers he's posted as a starter.
Newman's poor play from the New Orleans Saints matchup leaked into his matchup with the Lions, as well. He allowed five total pressures and a sack against the Lions. Both players finished with a pass block efficiency rating of 92.9 which is not good, at all.
The left side of the Packers line was looked at as a major strength coming into the season, but now it's a big question mark. Walker is allowed to have a bad game, but now, it's about making up for his bad game and it won't be easy against Maxx Crosby. Granted, the entire offensive line didn't play well, but the left side stood out the most and not for good reasons.
Newman, on the other hand, hasn't played well for consecutive games, now. The Packers didn't place Elgton Jenkins on IR like they did Bakhtiari, so there's a chance he could play against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football in Week 5, but obviously, only time will tell if that happens.
The one thing that is certain, however, is the Packers need him back on the field. And soon.
"It's hard to throw on your back," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said after the game. "We have to protect him better. We have to look at some of the things we're asking our guys to do…
"… I mean, there's plenty of blame to go around. I'm always going to look at myself first and foremost and see what kind of position we're putting the offense in and it wasn't good enough."
LB Quay Walker
It's not easy putting a guy who finished with a career-high 19 tackles on this list, but Walker's crucial unsportsmanlike penalty late in the game was the final nail in the Packers' coffin and it also brought back some unpleasant memories from last year.
Walker was ejected in the season finale for shoving a member of the Lions training staff and it really put a damper on what was a decent rookie season. Since then, Walker has been very upfront and unafraid to admit his faults and he's taken serious measures to curb the behavior and mindset that leads to those kinds of blow-ups.
But, on Thursday night, the old demons resurfaced and while it wasn't as egregious as shoving the trainer, it shows Walker still has some ways to go before he's over the mental mistakes.
"You cannot get a running start and do that," LaFleur said after the game. "That was bad. I mean, it's a bad deal. I'm not gonna sit here and blame Quay obviously we got to do a better job of educating our players you know about what the rules are. So again, that's how me."
LaFleur has a point – but the players should also know simple rules such as this. Hell, I'm a simpleton writer and I knew the rule. Walker had logged 29 field goal/PAT block snaps coming into the game – you mean he was never once told that rule?
If that's the case, then it's a major, major indictment on the coaching staff. But at the same time, the truth often lies somewhere in the middle.
Either way, Walker is the perfect example of how a reputation can follow you – fair or not.
DC Joe Barry
This is one is simple. Barry has no excuses in Year 3 as defensive coordinator. The defense is loaded with talent, a lot of the players have been in the system for multiple years, and he's even moved into the booth to help with his vantage point.
It's clear, at this point, that Barry's scheme is the problem. And his play-calling is an issue, as well.
"We're gonna have to do something different," said LaFleur. "Because it's insane to do the same things over and over again and expect different results. So that is a good offensive line, they got really good runners, I think Gibbs and Montgomery are two of the better backs. It's one of the best offensive lines in ball. But it's still inexcusable. You should be able to take one phase away from [them]."
At this point, there's no faith Barry will right the ship. At least on my end. And honestly, even if he does, would LaFleur want to run the risk of it being an abberation and not a true change of course? I mean, the defense played well over the back half of last season and so far, it hasn't translated/carried over into this year.
The clock is ticking down the final seconds on Barry and unless he makes some kind of miraculous change, his time in Green Bay is up after 2023.
Matt LaFleur gets real after Packers get run over by Lions
The Packers head coach was clearly frustrated after his team got blown out by the Lions.
