Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry got a vote of confidence from head coach Matt LaFleur last night, but it sounds like frustration may be mounting among players. LaFleur said the team is “absolutely not” going to make a coaching change following their loss to the Bills last night.
However, sources told ESPN’s Rob Demovsky that members of Green Bay’s defense are frustrated with the defensive scheme and playcalling. Specifically, a source said that there was “a declining confidence in the defensive scheme and what’s being called, and it’s led to overall frustration with the defense.”
“Well, first of all, it’s impossible to please everybody,” LaFleur said when asked about growing frustrations. “Everybody has their own opinions, their own ideas. It’s like anything else in life. You have to get the staff on the same page, first and foremost, in making sure that everybody is confident in the plan and then you teach it to the players.”
Barry joined the Packers in 2021 after having served as a defensive coordinator for only two years. The Packers finished top-10 in yards allowed in 2021 and they’re similarly ranked in 2022, but the team ranks towards the bottom of the NFL in many run-stopping statistics. As Demovsky notes, the latest breakdown came last night when Green Bay allowed Buffalo to score on five straight possessions. Speaking after the contest, LaFleur wouldn’t reveal whether players have expressed frustration with the defense.
“I think we’d be foolish not to listen to our players at certain times,” LaFleur said. “Ultimately, we have to make the best decision for our football team in terms of how do you go about winning the game? You know, there were some great moments and then there were some not-so-great moments. It was great that we were able to get a couple turnovers.
“I think from a consistency standpoint, way too many explosive gains, some poor tackling. I think we need to be more physical. I think you look at the teams that are toughest to deal with in this league, especially from a defensive standpoint and physicality, it jumps out to you. There were moments where we’re not always getting that.”
The defense currently consists of seven former first-round picks and a handful of high-priced acquisitions, as Demovsky points out, and the unit was expected to help keep the team afloat while Aaron Rodgers and the offense figured things out on the other side of the ball. Instead, Green Bay’s defensive struggles have contributed to the team’s 3-5 start, and despite LaFleur’s assertion, a change could be coming if things aren’t turned around.
Easy to blame the defensive Coordinator but the Bears have scored more points this year than the Packers. Green Bay’s problems go deeper then Barry
2 top wide receivers left and replaced them with kids wfo#
2 top wide receivers left and replaced them with kids who cannot catch. wasted picks on 3rd string auaterback. it is the gm who needs to go first.
The Packers held onto their Special Teams coordinator last year – and it cost them a playoff run…
Special teams is also a problem this season.
6 first round picks on this defense and you’d think they’d be a top 5 defense if it the best in the league. Instead packers fans get a defense that’s one of the worst Rush defense in the league
It’s weird they could’ve just told Adams sign the tag or don’t play and not draft Quay and they’d probably have 3 more wins this year.
Honestly Quay Walker would’ve fallen to their original pick in the first round and then they wouldn’t have drafted Devonte Wyatt, which looks like a wasted pick at this point and they wouldn’t have picked Watson and would’ve had to wait on someone like George Pickens. Who truth be told looks like a way better pick anyway. They would’ve been so much better off that way.
Poor take. There is nothing more ignorant than a fan walking back the crapshoot that is the NFL draft.
It’s pretty rare that I agree with 2040, and I’ll take it a bit further.
It’s not just projecting whether a college player’s ability will translate to the nfl, occasionally teams and coaches have to adjust what they do to utilize the player’s skillset. Much like the entire defensive scheme seems to go against what the players do best (and WANT to do), for some reason it doesn’t even include using the run stuffing Wyatt. And what has the defense struggled with for most of the past decade..? Stopping the run. Here we thought they were making a real effort to change that this year by adding guys who are good at it, but the DC just pretends it doesn’t matter, and LaFlower keeps using the same tired ‘we need to execute better’ line to prop up the clueless DC.
Not at all a bad take. You’re telling me the Packers wouldn’t be a better team right now with Adams? Defense is playing well enough most games to win. Offense with starting a mix of two rookies, an oversized injury prone slot as #1, and a has been in Watkins is the reason this team isn’t winning.
@mcbeth you are aware the defense allowed Buffalo to score on 5 straight possessions right?
Yes, the offense would probably be better, but I keep remembering the people last year who all insisted it would be fine without him (because they won like 3 random games with him in street clothes) and/or because it would force Rodgers to spread the ball around.
There’s also the part about, apparently, Adams not wanting to ever suit up for GB again, not being able to use the money for his tag on anyone else..whether he caved and played again or not.
So yeah, it’d probably be better with Adams, but since he wasn’t going to be here 1 way or the other, it means nothing.
They were losing against the Bills and Vikings looking back on the game regardless.
With Adams They beat the Giants, Commanders, and maybe even the Jets. They can’t keep up or finish drives. A possession receiver that moves the chains and eats up clock keeps the defense off the field.
That’s really great, but he STILL didn’t want to be there anymore and wasn’t going to play on the tag, so your point is..not really a point at all.
It is a point. The team could’ve said sign the tag or don’t play.
If he doesn’t play they are in the exact same position they are in now.
If he signs they are in the mix and competing.
Maybe they did say that and he told them no. There was literally zero reason to keep a guy, and pay him over $20 million, to sit out.
I fail to see how that scenario makes their current on-field offensive situation better.
Wyatt I hear is too busy eating cheese curds then learning the defense. Waste of a pick and quay Walker shoving an assistant coach will probably get him a 2 game suspension
Besides the other issues with the staff and team. Perhaps Alexander can learn to keep his mouth shut a little more between the lines and instead play quality football like the player he thinks he is.
He had a pretty damn good night Sunday. You don’t see through the media driven narrative of some squabble between him and Diggs. But you’re a fan so you’re not expected to know anything.
Don’t worry, they’re going to make a big trade for [somebody] and everything will be fine.
Is the defense the heart of the issue here…
The offense has their issues. We all know that. But with the amount of talent on defense, there’s no excuse for playing this bad. The scheme has sucked all season. It’s too soft and just reacts. And seriously, when has Joe Barry ever had a good, or even average defense under his watch?
He should have never been hired. He needs to be fired immediately; before the Lions score 30+ on them next week
Hiring a failed DC who isn’t the using the strengths of his players in the NFL is idiotic. But Barry won’t adapt and it keeps showing. Yes the offense sucks but has very limited talent besides QB and RB, but the defense has playmakers. They can’t wait for the bye to fire Barry, so it has to be done soon.
Let’s just blame Nathaniel Hackett for the Packers having a bad season. It makes things much simpler…lol.
The fans know the defense is crap
The players know the defense is crap
Can Matt LaFraud actually act on making a change rather than “learning a lesson” and “we have to execute better”?
Getting kinda old, isn’t it? He can’t hide behind the season records much longer- getting exposed…
Matt LaFleur is going to get fired.
If you think he’s getting fired? Your a complete moron
Hey, I’m a fan of Alexander when he sticks to playing ball instead of yapping and preening. Yeah, Alexander knocked down 3 passes and picked one off Sunday night. Yet, no tackles, one assisted tackle, while Diggs went for over 100 yds and Buffalo averaged over 8 yds per pass attempt.
So, to say Alexander “had a pretty good night” is debatable in my opinion. He’s supposed to be a “shut down corner.” Part of the problem is Barry’s scheme or lack of. The team overall played better D in the second half. Thankfully the offense possessed the ball for the majority of the game.