What are the Packers interim options if Joe Barry is fired in-season
Matt LaFleur didn't fire Joe Barry immediately after a defensive collapse of the Green Bay Packers in the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Maybe he won't, maybe he will wait until the end of the season. But the Packers head coach left at least the door open to reconsider. "Now is not […]
Matt LaFleur didn't fire Joe Barry immediately after a defensive collapse of the Green Bay Packers in the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Maybe he won't, maybe he will wait until the end of the season. But the Packers head coach left at least the door open to reconsider.
"Now is not the time for that, to be honest," LaFleur said after the game on Sunday. "I'm trying to find solutions and I got to go back and take a look at the film."
When LaFleur watches the film, and he probably did some of it overnight, he will see things he won't be happy about.
According to PFF, their overall coverage grade was 29.3, the lowest of any team in a game over the last five seasons. Obviously, they are missing Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas. Eric Stokes came back and doesn't seem like the same after so much time. But it's the worst passing defense in a game in five years. It's hard to justify that.
The linebackers also had coverage grades in their 20s, and that's a first-round pick in Quay Walker and a high-priced free agent in De'Vondre Campbell.
Maybe the talent of the defense is not as prevalent as the general perception would indicate. But when everybody seems to be playing worse than the talent-level, there's something else.
Right now, the Packers have three games left in the season, against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears. They will face Bryce Young, Nick Mullens, and Justin Fields. But facing bad quarterbacks hasn't been a sign of success for the Packers defense.
If Barry is fired in-season, though, what are the Packers options? Let's analyze possible interim coordinators on the staff right now.
Jason Rebrovich, pass rush specialist
He would be the most likely option, because he doesn't coach a specific position in terms of title and that would make it easier for operation purposes. In practicality, he's the outside linebackers coach — and that was his title last year, when he came aboard to replace Mike Smith. He's been in the NFL since 2013, working with defensive line and outside linebackers for the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Kirk Olivadotti, inside linebackers coach
He's been with the Packers since the inaugural LaFleur staff was built in 2019. Even though the linebackers haven't played well, Quay Walker showed some signs of development. Moreover, Olivadotti would be the best option if the Packers want experience. He's been in the NFL since 2000, except for a three-year stint with Georgia between 2011 and 2013. In Washington, he was a defensive quality control coach, special teams assistant, defensive assistant, and linebackers coach.
Ryan Downard, defensive backs coach
If the Packers want to go with the highest ceiling, Downard is probably the best option. He's been ascending the coaching ranks since he was hired by Mike McCarthy in 2018 to be a defensive quality control coach. He was kept by LaFleur and promoted to assistant defensive backs coach, safeties coach, and defensive backs coach. It's hard to say that the Packers defensive backs have played well this year, but for the most part they have made something out of very little, especially handling so many injuries. The safeties in particular have played at a respectable level, even with almost no investment since 2019 at the position.
Greg Williams, passing game coordinator
Just like Rebrovich, Williams would be a safe option operation-wise. He's also a big part of game-planning and has a different background. He worked mostly under Vance Joseph over the last five years, in Denver and Arizona, so he would probably be the one with the highest chance of making significant changes, even though it's hard to modify many things during the season.
Jerry Montgomery, defensive line coach and running game coordinator
He's been with the Packers since the Dom Capers days and was retained by Mike Pettine and Joe Barry. He's respected inside the building and was promoted to running game coordinator, in addition to his defensive line responsibilities, in 2022. However, Montgomery has been fairly criticized lately for the lack of development from his players. Moreover, as a run game specialist he's part of the problem.
Cover 3: Quick takeaways after the Packers loss to the Buccaneers
Does LaFleur think the defense is good enough?
