As Jordan Love enters his second year as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, his confidence in navigating the evolving landscape of NFL defenses is evident. Despite the certainty that teams will intensely scrutinize his 19 starts from the previous season, Love isn’t overly concerned. "We know going into this year teams are going to have a better feel of what we do, what we did good," Love acknowledged. "That's their job—to try to figure out how to stop that."
Facing Defensive Adjustments
The Philadelphia Eagles and other teams will undoubtedly pore over game film, looking for ways to counter what made Love successful last season. The quarterback understands that defenses will come better prepared, armed with a comprehensive understanding of his strengths and tendencies. However, Love remains unfazed, confident that his coaching staff will put him and the team in the best possible positions to succeed.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterbacks coach Tom Clements have been proactive in preparing Love for what lies ahead. "At the end of the day, we've got a very good coaching staff that's going to put us in the best position," Love said. "We'll also be able to adjust to what defenses might be doing and taking away from us, and we'll learn on the fly."
Coaching and Development
Clements, with his extensive experience, is well-equipped to help Love fine-tune the skills necessary to combat sophisticated defensive strategies. LaFleur has also made notable adjustments in practice. Despite previously disliking the 7-on-7 period due to the lack of game-like conditions, LaFleur integrated it into the offseason practice regimen to focus on Love’s development.
"It's just more fundamental things," Clements said about their training focus. "Footwork and how he moves in the pocket, and we're working on the drills, working on throwing a lot of routes on air." LaFleur added, "What we're making a big emphasis on is [having] perfect feet. Making sure the guys go through their progressions, having perfect feet. When they're not, they hear about it."
Performance Under Pressure
Last season, Love did face challenges when under pressure, ranking 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks in certain metrics. His strategy was often to throw deep away from coverage, which, although risky, resulted in only one interception when pressured. Recognizing the need for improvement, Love has dedicated significant effort to honing his pocket awareness and movements.
"The biggest thing for me is just staying poised in the pocket," Love noted. "Being able to stay balanced in the pocket. Sometimes I get out of whack with my feet, and I might start drifting in the pocket too much. Just pocket awareness, making smaller moves and understanding when I've got to get out of there."
Adapting to Change
Love’s growth in making plays on the run, rather than taking off at the first sign of trouble, has been a significant aspect of his development. Clements observed this shift late last season, noting that Love’s tendency to scramble and run with the ball had evolved. "Early in the season, when Jordan scrambled, I'd say 95 percent of the time he ran the ball," Clements recalled. "Second half of the year, that maybe flipped—maybe not 95 percent but a larger percentage he was moving around, looking to throw the ball downfield."
This ability to extend plays and find receivers downfield rather than immediately resorting to running has been a promising development in Love’s game. "That's what you want to do because you can get a lot of big plays in the scramble phase of the game," Clements explained. "Rather than just taking off and running, he's looking and trying to make a play, and that's where good things can happen."
As Love prepares for the upcoming season, his focus remains on refining his skills under the watchful eyes of his seasoned coaching staff. With a commitment to continual improvement and adaptability, Love is poised to build on last season’s experiences and lead the Packers to new heights. "That's the fun part about the NFL," Love said. "If that happens, you have to have a lot of film study and be able to react."
Through diligent preparation and a steadfast commitment to perfecting his craft, Love stands ready to face the challenges that lie ahead. With an adaptive mindset and the support of a dedicated coaching team, the Green Bay Packers' quarterback looks forward to navigating the shifting defensive landscapes and leading his team with confidence.