The energy Barry brings was supposed to be the crown joule of his coaching style. Instead it left the Packers wondering watt happened.
“Joe Barry brings energy.”
That is all we heard all offseason after the Packers hired him to replace Mike Pettine as defensive coordinator. Barry just oozes energy and that should rub off on his players.
Judging by the defense’s performance against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the amount of energy Barry brings isn’t enough to power a three watt light bulb.
The new defensive coordinator’s debut could not have gone any worse than it did and while it is far too early to start calling for his job (though to be fair to those overreacting fans, there is no impression like a first impression), the concern level has to be elevated for Matt LaFleur given how flat they came out.
The Packers are implementing a new scheme and should be given benefit of the doubt along with some patience early in the season, but this showing was far too incompetent to be completely dismissed. The Saints were not even at full strength at receiver and they still pasted the Packers. It might be Week 1, but that’s an audible warning siren.
Kevin King was terrible again, so much so that it’s probably already time to throw first round pick Eric Stokes to the wolves. A baptism by fire is probably not what Green Bay had in mind for the rookie but King is a liability at this point, a liability the Packers willingly re-signed this spring mind you.
The offense shares a lot of blame for the loss too, but two opening bad drives by the defense likely forced LaFleur to ditch a more balanced game plan because his team was down 10-0 early and ended up with only two possessions in the first half.
This performance has a lot of fans sitting on edge but it’s not quite time for panic yet. An encore against the Detroit Lions on Monday meanwhile could change that.
It’s obviously not doom and gloom yet but your eyebrow should definitely be raised.
The defense put the offense in a hole early but LaFleur perhaps bailed on the run game too soon. AJ Dillon was averaging more than five yards per carry and some balance on offense might have allowed them to slowly climb back into the game (provided the defense stopped anyone).
Eric Stokes needs to start ahead of Kevin King—Lombardi Ave
At some point this season, Stokes was likely going to take over for Kevin King as the starter opposite Jaire Alexander. Week 2 isn’t the ideal time but King still being the same pumpkin from the NFC Championship last year should force Barry’s hand.
Packers CB Kevin King turns in awful Week 1 performance against Saints—Packers Wire
There is no other way to say it: King was terrible on Sunday. Even though he was targeted only twice, one was the deflating play of the game went Deonte Harris burned King for a 55-yard touchdown.
Resilience is Packers’ theme for Week 2–Packers.com
The Packers have not lost back-to-back games in the same season under LaFleur and a longer week coupled with a poor team in Detroit sets the stage for a great rebound game. If not…..*gulp*
Scientists Potty Train Cows To Use ‘MooLoo’ — No Bull—Huffington Post
This is just one more reason why I’m considering just having cows instead of children.