Sports

Chicago Bears Line Up Incomprehensibly Bad Defensive Coordinator Interview And Fans Are Flummoxed

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The Chicago Bears know that the goal of a football game is trying to score more points than the opposing team, right?

We’d understand if they didn’t, considering they haven’t done that on a regular basis for the better part of the last decade.

But Chicago’s latest move in its search for a new defensive coordinator makes us wonder what exactly the Bears doing here.

Jane Slater of NFL Network reports that the Bears are set to bring in Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry to interview for the vacant DC position in Chicago.

Previous defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned mid-way through the 2023 season due to what ESPN insider Adam Schetfer referred to as “inappropriate” activity. Although Schefter did specify than Williams did not doing anything illegal.

Chicago finished the season 20th in the league in points per game allowed (22.3) and 12th in total defense (324.2 yards per game).

So, why is the Barry move so ridiculous?

Well, the Packers allowed just 20.6 points per game, which was actually good enough for 10th in the league. But they were middle of the pack yards per game allowed (335.1).

The numbers don’t look any better when you actually dive in, either. In fact, they look way, way worse.

Barry’s defense in Green Bay ranked 27th in the league in defense DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). DVOA breaks down every single NFL play and compares a team’s performance to a league-average baseline base on situation and opponent.

Somehow, Barry’s defense was even worse against the pass. Green Bay ranked 30th in DVOA against the pass in 2023.

That is…not good.

How much did the season affect his stock as a coordinator?

Well, the Philadelphia Eagles also interviewed him recently…for a job as a position coach.

Bears fans are every bit as confused as we are about what their team is doing here.

Now, maybe Barry doesn’t actually get the job. But if he does, it’ll be hard to convince anyone that Chicago has any clue what it’s doing when it comes to building a winning team.