Green Bay Packers: Preston Smith Shocks Fans with Comments About Joe Barry Following 17-9 Victory Over Chicago Bears.
The Green Bay Packers are headed to the NFL Playoffs. In the first year of their “rebuild,” the first year following Aaron Rodgers‘ trade to the New York Jets, the first year of the Jordan Love Era, Green Bay has taken the youngest roster in the NFL and made the postseason. To put in perspective how impressive this is, it must be noted that they are the youngest team to make the playoffs in NFL history.
Of course, it was not an easy journey. At 9-8, Green Bay suffered nearly as many losses as they did wins. A four-game losing streak in October had many calling for both Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst to be fired and Love traded or released. In the second half of the season, defensive coordinator Joe Barry came under fire for his frustrating defensive schemes that allowed the likes of Kenny Pickett, Tommy DeVito, and Bryce Young to have the best games of their careers.
But while Love and the offense started to figure out how to overcome their issues, the defense seemed to spiral. Social media posts by De’Vondre Campbell led many to believe that he was fed up with the play-calling and would no longer play while Barry was employed. Jaire Alexander’s coin-toss antics in Carolina, and his subsequent suspension, led to similar questions.
However, after winning their last two games, both against division opponents, the defense appears to be trending in the right direction, and Preston Smith identified the reason on Sunday night.
Preston Smith Says the Green Bay Packers Defense Is Playing for Joe Barry
Over the last two games, the Packers’ defense has given up just one touchdown, and that was a seven-year drive the Minnesota Vikings had following a Samori Toure muffed punt in Week 17. In other words, the defense has been exceptional since the Week 16 fiasco against the Panthers.
Media and fans may never know exactly what went down in that locker room following the Panthers game; but one thing is for sure: the defense has rallied around their defensive coordinator. While fans have been calling for his job, the players have recommitted themselves to winning for him.
After the game, Preston Smith told the media why the defense has been so successful in the last two games:
“Joe B’s been dialing it up. He gets a lot of hell in the media. But we’ve come together. We play for Joe B.”
All season long, communication has been identified as a key issue on defense. When Alexander came back from his suspension, he said communication was what he needed to improve upon the most.
Guess which player was running around pre-snap communicating reads and directing players against the Bears: Alexander.
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