LaFleur has no plans to shake up Packers defensive staff

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Matt LaFleur wasted no time backing defensive coordinator Joe Barry on Monday even as frustrations mounted among the Green Bay Packers’ players on that side of the ball.

He has no plans to make a coaching change.

“Oh, no, absolutely not,” LaFleur just hours after the Packers’ 27-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.

The Packers’ struggles on offense were easily predictable, considering they traded their best receiver, Davante Adams, to the Las Vegas Raiders and tried to replace him with journeyman Sammy Watkins and three rookies who would need time to gel with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

But a defense that featured seven first-round picks and several other high-priced free agents was supposed to help them survive until the offense found its way. Instead, Barry’s unit has contributed to the Packers’ 3-5 start.

According to sources close to members of the Packers’ defense, players have grown frustrated with the defensive scheme and playcalling. One source said there has been “a declining confidence in the defensive scheme and what’s being called, and it’s led to overall frustration with the defense.” Another source confirmed that sentiment.

LaFleur didn’t say directly whether defensive players have shared that feeling with him or other members of the coaching staff.

“Well, first of all, it’s impossible to please everybody,” LaFleur said. “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.”

The latest defensive breakdowns came on Sunday, when the Packers allowed the Bills to score on five straight drives (three touchdowns and two field goals) that spanned late in the first quarter to early in the third quarter. They allowed 24 points in the first half before it tightened things up in the second half, following a season-long pattern of playing one good…