Can the defense do it? Sure. Will they? I don't think so. I think Barry sucks. I think his coaching staff sucks. I think our safeties suck. I expect a rough road the first 2 months of the season with a .500 at best record.

http://www.madmagazine.com/sites/default/files/imce/2014/12-DEC/MAD-531-...

"What, me worry?" = "We are not idiots!"

This was a nice article. I agree that Murphy doesn't have much of a filter, but I also think people read too much into what he says some times because they are FANatics.

The 17 game season doesn't break up as nicely as the 16 game season, but I try to look at the season as four, 4 game quarters. The 17th game then is either an insignifcant bye week or it's a game you have to win for the playoffs, or to improve your seed.

So, in that spirit, I look at our first four games @Chicago, @Atlanta, Saints, Lions. Last year,in our first four games, we held opponents to 72 points in the first four, so I'm assuming that "carrying the team" would have to be better than that, because we all know how terrible our defense was last year, right?

I think our offense is going to score more points in the first four games than they did last year, when they scored 75.

Last season, we started slowly, partly because we were missing some blockers, and partly because our QB and WRs weren't very sharp. We still went 3-1, beating the best rushing team in the league, beating a playoff team on their field, and winning in overtime against the Cheatriots.

My prediction: We'll score 30 against the Bears, we'll struggle, but compete and maybe win in Atlanta. We'll win our home opener and we'll beat the Lions on the short week. I see us at least 3-1, 2-0 in the division, and in first place after our 4th game.

LOL, I don't think a lot of people are enamored with Murphy's "zero filter". Sure, he has a right to express his opinion in an official capacity, but why not just leave it to those who are actively in charge of the on-field product?

With Gary out, it will be up to Barry to find out what works best in relatively short order. We drafted three guys with pass rush potential and we have another prospect in Cox who might make the team. How long it takes them to make an impact is anyone's guess, but the opportunity will be there. Maybe the penny defense will be utilized more often like it was in 2021 now that we have some younger and more athletic players on the DL; Campbell was good patrolling the middle, but now we have the option of using Quay on the outside as well. Also, the run defense was much better with Slaton and Wyatt playing alongside each other vs. other combinations that are no longer with the team.

Some of the keys to the defense NOT having to carry the team include the OL keeping Love's jersey clean and creating holes for Jones; hitting Watson in stride when the opportunity arises; Nixon continuing to give us good field position via returns; MLF being more adaptable and imaginative with play-calling.

"One thing I genuinely appreciate about team president Mark Murphy is that he has ..." less than 2 years to go before he must retire (oh and and not a gray hair on his head, nothing phoney about Murphy).

The Packers defense carrying the team in 2023 is about as likely as the Pack winning those multiple Super Bowl victories between 2022-2024 that Murphy promised Packer fans last summer when his retirement was announced.

I know the media loves Murphy because he creates news but I used to hate guys like him in my job (negotiating labor contracts). I’d put in a year of hard work getting a deal done and at the eleventh hour some gap-tooth numb nuts without a mouth filter would screw it up with a dumb comment to the media. Thanks, dude!

I'm more positive about Barry.
And I'll go with Murphy on this.
The DL must stop the run.
And don't let their TE beat you.

Theoretically with eight first round draft picks there should be enough talent, unless Gute is totally incompetent. So unless someone who’s name rhymes with…Joe Barry…comes in and strategically tries to fit a square peg in a round hole and force them to fits his philosophy vs playing to a group’s make up, they should be just fine. I’m hopeful but NOT optimistic 😢

I will not comment Mark "we are not idiots" Murphy, and also not his idea or statements. Not valid...

All anyone can base this speculation on is what happened last year. One thing is abundantly clear: no one knows how changes that naturally occur in each team will affect the outcome.

If everything stayed the same every year we would only see the Chiefs and Bengals in the Super Bowl for several more years. One thing that is very clear is the Super Bowl runner up often bombs the next year. Why? Changes. The Packers won the first two Super Bowls but very few teams have done it since then. Why? There's a great deal of change each year both within the winners and the contenders.

The one thing concerning the Packers defense is very clear: they must play better for the Packers to remain in contention. Even if the offense slowly improves, getting blown out by opponents will not lead to much except a high draft pick.

I don't like Barry's defense. It's way too passive. But Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst also know that when Murphy retires and the new regime comes in they had better have a winning program or they likely will be out. I suspect the expectations for Barry will be amped up. He has the talent on defense and he must get it out of them. The players know this also. They're all playing for their jobs, be it as players or coaches. That gives you a little bit more incentive.

In addition the Aaron Rodgers circus has moved to the Big Apple, may we count our blessings, and the team will be able to focus on clear on the field objectives.

This team needs a big body run stopper on the roster. It's hard to believe we couldn't add one guy to fit that position. MLF and Gutey talk about stopping the run, but have done nothing to address it.

Anxiety.

Playing the youts means taking risks.

Let the season play out ...

The less Murphy speaks about anything related to football operations...the better.

Plus he's a horrible speaker, he tries to be funny, then chuckles at his own jokes when no one else thinks it's funny.

He's painful to watch.
************
So the Packers are going with Musgrave, Tucker, Deguara and Davis at tight end.

Then for wr's they have, 'veterans' Watson, Doubs, and Toure, then....Melton, Chrest, Heath, Wicks, and some dude named Cotton.

On top of all that they are going with a QB to start his first season with this crew of mostly rookies or 1st year players who are still trying to prove they belong in this league?

Forgive me if i'm not full of optimism and chugging the kool aid.

You would think....that after sitting for 3 years the Packers could provide Love with better tools than this in his first season.

I'm not saying good players cant develop out of this bunch.
What i'm saying is......
Not only does Love need to prove himself, but all his help needs to prove themselves also. Even Deguara and Davis.

This is why Murphy is spouting off how the defense needs to come to the rescue, it's because the tight end room and the wr room has been depleted to next to nothing.
Hence why Gute has been scrambling in the last 2 drafts picking 8 pass catchers.

I didn't like the move in 2020 trading up for Love, nor did i like upper management's mismanagement of that whole situation.

But i never faulted Love, it wasn't his fault.

Murphy is completely wrong on Love.
He deserves more than a half season with all the inexperienced tools he's been given.
He deserves the full season, maybe even longer.

Shame on Gute for putting this kid in this position.
Starting in the NFL is hard enough.
But to do it with players that need to prove they even belong there, at the same time Love has to prove himself...is a disservice to Love.

I want to say that in some fashion...Love is set up to fail.
Good luck to Love, he is going to need it.

I'll end it with this....
If Love somehow succeeds and becomes a proven NFL starting QB, it's only because he's earned it, and God bless him if that happens.

The obvious answer is NO! They were supposed to carry the team last year after we lost DA17 and had all new receivers. They had 1st rd picks on all three levels of the defense but failed to produce. Is it the players or the coaching? We have many 1st round picks and high RAS athletes but the defense still disappoints.

Coaches make a huge difference! Look no further than knee biting Dan Campbell and the sorry Lions!

The optimist in me says yes. The realist says unlikely. The wildcard is - and will always be - Barry. Can you teach an old, unteachable dog new tricks? I don't think so. But hope springs eternal? GPG

Not quite yet. Just wait until the D has ELEVEN first rounders on it. Then, and only then, will they ascend to a lofty 23rd ranked defense. Yeah, baby!!

Don't worry about the results all that much in 2023. They know they aren't making the playoffs. If they thought they had a winner they would have spread the hit for Rodgers over 2 years and gone FA shopping. They decided to take the hit all this year and run with the young kids.

It will be baptism by fire for the young group. Just about everyone outside of outside of RB, Bahk and Jenkins the offense is all question marks. Watson and Doubs look the part but they have proven nothin yet. Myers needs to rebound and everyone from the center over shouldn't feel comfortable.

The defense should be better unless Barry is truly a stubborn fool. The pieces are there and I feel ill that we have one of the few coaches that routinely shown he can't put it together. I don't bash coaching often but this guy as appeared clueless at times.

This year is about seeing what young guys can be corner stones for the future. I wouldn't be shocked if Clark or Bahk weren't moved before the deadline. Both are past their prime and they could garner some draft capital. Jets just cleared out some room that could be used on a LT as they can't hit in the draft there. Clark can still ball so he could maybe fetch a 2nd. I would look to move on any asset over 27 or 28 to build for the future.

I'm 100% onboard with the "Who the hell knows?" feeling. Under Barry, we've had a knack for making bad QBs and bad offenses look great, so it's more than a little frightening that we face a mostly mediocre slate of offenses to start the season. Rest assured that at least a couple of them are going to put up season best games against the Barry-fense. The frustrating part, as always, is we have the talent to be a top 10 defense.

There are two big “IFS” here.

The first is Barry as the DC. I share the concerns everyone has posted here and won’t repeat it.

The second big “IF” is Gary and his return to the field following the ACL tear. I know they want him back for the first game and this is where my concern is. Assuming he’s ready, I hope they rotate him in the way he was when the Smith brothers were starting. Play him situationally so he can play back to full strength and reduce the risk of another injury.

Will the D carry the O in the first few months? It would be an unexpected result, that is for certain. The best indicator of future performance are past results.

Joe Barry has been given 6 seasons and 3 teams' defenses to coach, failed, and was fired from two of the teams. He should have been fired last year, especially with outstanding DCs available like Flores. MLF seems to be a very timid man when it comes to upgrading his staff.

It is more likely the new look Packer O will carry the D and maybe Barry will be bye bye by mid season.

I do continue to hope Bicassia will be in every meeting and planning session of the defense as Assist. HC as the HC obviously isn't involved.

Talent is not the concern on the D. It is the DC and assistants that keep trying to shoehorn players into roles and formations than ignores their individual core strengths and actually expose their weakness! It's the goofiest thing I have seen from a Packer DC.

They are going to have to show me. Pretty much the same guys as the last year and half. Big questions with Gary, Stokes, the safeties, and the run defense. They look good on paper, but….

I will give the defense a fighting chance. Just be better than the beginning of last year and they will have an improvement. But I doubt they will carry the team. All I ask is just be better stopping the run.

Questions on the D-line and at safety dont bode well for the outlook of this defense. Will new blood on the D line play more to Barry's style and help firm up the run? Will Barry be able to coach up Savage and the rest of the JAG's at safety so they can rotate/disguise coverage's? Will the safeties be able to read their run fits and play the right gaps to help stop the run when needed? For safeties in the vic fangio style of defense both aspects are a huge part of it. I could see the D line playing the run better but having good gap disipline from the D line isnt gonna matter if u dont have the safeties doing the same. This could be a long and frustrating year in more ways than one if teams just run the ball down the packers throat and leave Love on the bench twiddling his thumbs. I would like to see it happen but I feel that the Packers were healthier, more talented and more experienced last year so its hard to see it happening this year. Also are we gonna see the CB position play worse now that Gray is coaching in ATL??? Nobody really seems to be worried about that, justifiably since CB wasnt a position of weakness to anybody. Then again if the CB's underwhelm are people really gonna be shocked and surprised that we have under utilized potential at another position in a Joe Barry defense? We're heading into year 3 of the Joe Barry defense and the only thing that anybody knows is that Joe Barry is a good LB's coach.