3 reasons Packers’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine should be fired

Here are three reasons it’s beyond time for Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine to be fired this season.

It’s been a decade since the Green Bay Packers’ defense finished in the top ten in both total yards and points allowed. Not coincidentally, it’s also been a decade since they’ve won a Super Bowl. Over the last 10 years, the collapse of the defense has been synonymous with underachieving Packers’ teams that have experienced difficult defeat after difficult defeat in the postseason.

Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine is only the latest coordinator to fail to do anything meaningful with this defense. Since he took over in 2018 they’ve ranked 22nd, 9th and now 17th in points per game while ranking 18th, 18th, and 12th in yards per game. Although that may not seem like a reason to be up in arms, that’s an underachievement for this unit that should cost Pettine his job–either now or later. Here are three reasons Pettine should be fired.

3. Inexcusable schemes

Some of the decisions Pettine makes–a smart guy, to be sure–are inexcusable. He loves to call three-man rushes in the red zone that routinely end in opponent’s touchdowns when the quarterback has all too much time to pick the defense apart. He’s also a big fan of soft coverage where he ensures his defensive backs play behind the line to gain. There’s no excusing these mistakes that have surely cost the Packers’ games–including Sunday’s collapse to the Indianapolis Colts.