Cover 3: Quick takeaways after the Packers loss to the Buccaneers
After every Green Bay Packers game, we will talk about three points that defined the matchup. Look at what the Philadelphia Eagles did in 2021. It was extremely important for them to reach the playoffs in Jalen Hurts' first season as a full-time starter, even if they ended up being blown away by the Tampa […]
After every Green Bay Packers game, we will talk about three points that defined the matchup.
Look at what the Philadelphia Eagles did in 2021. It was extremely important for them to reach the playoffs in Jalen Hurts' first season as a full-time starter, even if they ended up being blown away by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round.
The Green Bay Packers had a similar opportunity this year, but it's slipping away because head coach Matt LaFleur seems to be comfortable with what the defense has done. It's always hard to call for jobs, but it's difficult to find a good reason to keep Joe Barry as the defensive coordinator.
Barry has never been good, in Green Bay or anywhere else, as a coordinator. And the 34-20 loss to the Bucs on Sunday, which puts the Packers in a bad position to fight for a playoff spot, is another great example of that — even with so much investment in the defense, the unit can't be minimally competent.
What does LaFleur think of Barry?
It's really mind blowing to realize that Matt LaFleur thinks this is good enough. Every week, the Packers defense can't get off the field, unless the offense makes a bad mistake.
If the defense can't get a sack or if the offense doesn't commit a penalty, the opponent will march down the field. Exactly how the New York Giants did in the last drive of last Monday's game, the Bucs did in the last drive of the first half. That included a 24-yard gain on a 2nd & 29, putting Tampa in position to kick a field goal.
It's truly difficult to understand what the defense is trying to accomplish sometimes. Theoretically, it's supposed to allow run efficiency to avoid big passing plays, but it frequently allows big passing plays too. In the first half, Baker Mayfield completed 12 of 14 passes — he was under 50% in completion over the previous two weeks.
The Bucs quarterback reached his highest passing yards number of the season before the fourth quarter even had started. It's a completely unsustainable way of playing modern football, and there are no reasons left to justify keeping it how it's been.
At this point, it's hard to identify what the Packers are trying to be good at. They give up big runs, they give up explosive passing plays, there's no consistency, the situational awareness is terrible.
If Matt LaFleur doesn't want to change, that's mostly on him.
October Packers are back
It really looks like the Packers regressed to what they were before the winning streak. Young receivers running the same routes — for example, when Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks were in the same place on a third-down play. It also seemed like October because Joe Barry keeps failing to put his players in position to succeed. Everybody knows that Eric Stokes is not a great zone defender, and that's how he got beat by Mike Evans in the first touchdown of the game, and how he allowed some significant gains for the Bucs offense a couple of times.
Even with so many mistakes, the offense is still able to produce at a competent level. The defense is not able to overcome such a poor coaching job, though.
Maybe November was the exception, and not October. Growth is not always linear, though, and there’s hope for better performances ahead.
Third-round curse is over
Luke Musgrave's absence takes away a big part of the explosion for the Packers offense, but that doesn't mean they don't have a good tight end anymore. Tucker Kraft has done a great job both blocking and receiving, with even more ability than Musgrave to generate yards after the catch. He was a bright spot on a bad day for Green Bay.
Kraft is crushing the Packers third-round curse. He's important now, and he will keep being important when Musgrave is back, because they have amazingly complementary skill sets.
The rookie tight end had another touchdown catch, a big third-down reception, and a big play right after that. It's been impressive to watch.
How five Packers players to watch performed vs Bucs
Green Bay lost to Tampa, and the playoffs look like a pipe dream again
