Jordan Love isn't overly concerned about how teams will defend him this year, even with a full season of film to study. Instead, he sees it as a challenge and an opportunity for growth as he starts his second year leading the Green Bay Packers.
Facing Defensive Adjustments
As Love prepares to face the upcoming season, he is fully aware that defenses, including those of formidable teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, will scrutinize his 19 starts from the previous year. Yet, Love remains unfazed. "We know going into this year teams are going to have a better feel of what we do, what we did good," Love said. "That's their job—to try to figure out how to stop that."
Love's confidence stems from his belief in the Packers' coaching staff, who he trusts to put him and the team in optimal positions. "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 stated. "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
Under the guidance of Tom Clements and head coach Matt LaFleur, Love is focused on enhancing his skills to outmaneuver defensive strategies. Clements is well-equipped to assist Love, working on fundamental aspects such as footwork and pocket awareness. "It's just more fundamental things," Clements explained. "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 has made notable adjustments in practice to support Love's development, including the addition of a 7-on-7 period to offseason practices. Despite LaFleur's initial aversion to this drill due to its lack of game-like conditions, the change aims to improve Love's progression in reading defenses. "What we're making a big emphasis on is [having] perfect feet," LaFleur noted. "Making sure the guys go through their progressions, having perfect feet."
Performance Under Pressure
Last season, Love faced challenges when pressured, ranking 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks in specific metrics. Despite these struggles, he demonstrated a knack for throwing deep away from coverage, leading to only one interception when under duress. Still, Love recognizes the need for improvement in this area. "The biggest thing for me is just staying poised in the pocket," Love said. "Being able to stay balanced in the pocket."
Clements echoed the importance of pocket awareness, noting that defenses might ramp up pressure and disguise their tactics more effectively. "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."
Adapting to Change
Love has shown growth in adapting to the dynamic nature of NFL defenses, particularly in making plays on the run. "Sometimes I get out of whack with my feet, and I might start drifting in the pocket too much," Love commented. "Just pocket awareness, making smaller moves and understanding when I've got to get out of there." Additionally, his ability to execute off-schedule plays has improved. "Also throwing on the run, being able to escape the pocket and make those off-schedule plays is something I worked a good amount on," Love stated.
Clements acknowledged Love's development in this aspect 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."
The ability to make big plays during scramble phases has been pivotal for Love. "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 Jordan Love steps into his second year as the Packers' starting quarterback, he remains determined to refine his skills and face the inevitable defensive adjustments head-on. With the support of a seasoned coaching staff and a dedication to continuous improvement, Love is poised to build on his experiences from last season and lead the Packers to new heights.