Packers Defense Falls Flat Once Again: Did Anyone Play Well?
Same old song and dance, Packers lose back-to-back games to New York football teams. The defense as a whole played poorly but there were some key plays.
After the Week six loss, defensive coordinator Joe Barry should be on high alert as his defense has been sub-par to start this season. The offense has struggled as well but that’s no excuse for how the opposing teams have run over the Packers the last few weeks. The defense is ranked fairly well but that’s due to the passing defense that has kept the defense afloat. Teams know that with a decent running back, they can slice up the Packers’ defense which in turn opens up the secondary.
Packers Defensive Player Of The Game: Rashan Gary, LB
Rashan Gary continues to put on a show every week as one of the few Green Bay players that haven’t missed a beat. Gary now has six sacks on the year and has only posted less than one sack this season and that was in Week five against the New York Giants. The pass rush has run through Rashan to start this season with nose tackle Kenny Clark occupying the middle of the defensive line. When it’s an obvious passing situation, Rashan knows his role and he swims through the offensive line and pressures the quarterback.
In addition to the six sacks that Rashan has, he also has 18 tackles on the year and they are all solo. Every week, he pushes himself to new heights to help the defense get off the field but it can’t be a one-man show every week. He needs help from his coach along with fellow players. Rashan Gary is in his fourth year with the green and gold after being drafted 12th overall in the 2019 NFL draft. With his six sacks, he is currently tied for second in the league.
Is Joe Barry On The Hotseat Or Is The Packers Defense Just This Bad?
Joe Barry’s career as a defensive coordinator has rarely been a bright one as his squads never seem to do well until after he leaves. Barry has always excelled as a linebackers coach but that’s what has led to him being hired several times as a defensive coordinator in the league. He enjoys playing soft zone coverage which has allowed teams to easily exploit the defense with crossing routes and check downs. There hasn’t been much buzz about whether or not Joe Barry is on the hot seat but he should be. Head coach Matt LaFleur did mention that things need to change but it’s unknown if that was a shot at Barry or not.
Leading tackler De’Vondre Campbell has had some issues to start the season. Although he continues to lead the team with tackles each week, he’s also had his fair share of missed tackles which has hurt. He had a combined eight tackles against the New York Jets and continues to be a solid playmaker for the Packers’ defense. Rookie linebacker Quay Walker has played decent but has struggled as of late. As the defense continues to find its identity, we could see more of linebackers Rudy Ford and Devonte Wyatt as the season goes on.
Packers Defense: What To Look For In Week Seven
Consistency, that’s what the Packers’ defense will hope for in the Week seven matchup with the Washington Commanders. The defense won’t be able to feast upon Carson Wentz and the lackluster offense of the Commanders as Wentz has already been ruled out with a hand injury. Taylor Heinicke will get the nod to start and in the past, he has used his legs to move the chains so a spy will be needed next week.
Commanders QB Carson Wentz facing 4-6 week recovery from broken finger. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/KJq6rHpcHN — NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2022
Please follow Cheesehead Checkdown on Facebook and Twitter for future articles. Also, follow Stadium Rant on Twitter for articles and job openings for all sports.
Are you a Green Bay Packers fan that would like to join our team of paid writers? If yes, please apply here. If you have any questions, just message us via Facebook or Twitter.
Kommentarer