Jordan Love isn't overly concerned about how teams will defend him this year, even with a full season of film to study.
As Jordan Love prepares for his second season as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, he exudes a calm confidence that belies the inevitable defensive adjustments coming his way. "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." But Love is ready to face these challenges head-on, supported by a coaching staff determined to fine-tune his skills and optimize his performance.
Facing Defensive Adjustments
The Philadelphia Eagles and other NFL teams undoubtedly spent considerable time dissecting Love's 19 starts from last season. With so much film to study, Love knows defenses will come prepared. Yet, this doesn't rattle him. "That's the fun part about the NFL," he remarked. "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's faith in his coaching staff is unwavering, and he believes their expertise will help him adapt to whatever challenges defenses throw his way.
Coaching and Development
Tom Clements, the Packers' quarterbacks coach, stands as a guiding figure for Love, helping him hone the skills necessary to combat defensive strategies. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has also made strategic adjustments in practice to aid Love’s development. One such change includes the addition of a 7-on-7 period to offseason practices, a drill LaFleur previously avoided due to its lack of game-like conditions. However, the need to simulate real-game scenarios took precedence. "You might anticipate a defense maybe bringing a little more pressure," Clements explained. "Disguising a little bit more, making it more difficult to see where to go. If that happens, you have to have a lot of film study and be able to react."
Performance Under Pressure
Last season, Love struggled somewhat when pressured, ranking 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks in relevant metrics. Often, his go-to strategy was to throw deep away from coverage, resulting in only one interception under pressure. Despite these challenges, Love has been diligently working on his pocket awareness and movements. "The biggest thing for me is just staying poised in the pocket," Love said. "Being able to stay balanced in the pocket." Recognizing his tendency to drift and get out of whack with his feet, Love is focused on maintaining better balance and awareness within the pocket.
Adapting to Change
Love's ability to adapt and make plays on the run has shown significant growth, a development noted by Clements late last season. "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 shift is a positive sign for Love's development, as it aligns with Clements' coaching philosophy. "That's what you want to do because you can get a lot of big plays in the scramble phase of the game," Clements observed. "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 continues to refine his skills, his commitment to improvement and adaptability is evident. "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," Love explained. This self-awareness and readiness to adapt are crucial as he prepares to lead the Packers through the upcoming season, facing whatever defensive adjustments come his way.
With the support of a seasoned coaching staff and a commitment to continual improvement, Jordan Love is poised to build on his experiences from last season and lead the Packers to new heights. His ability to stay poised, adapt, and make plays on the run will be instrumental as he navigates the challenges of his second year as a starter. "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," Love added, demonstrating his readiness to embrace the trials and tribulations of the NFL with unwavering confidence.