Jordan Love isn't overly concerned about how teams will defend him this year, even with a full season of film to study. The Green Bay Packers quarterback is entering his second year as the starter, and while he knows defenses will have a better understanding of what made him successful last season, Love is confident in his ability and his coaching staff's plans to stay ahead of the curve.
Facing Defensive Adjustments
The Philadelphia Eagles and other teams will undoubtedly scrutinize Love's 19 starts from the previous season. Love realizes that defenses now have a better grasp of his tendencies and the Packers' offensive strategies. "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."
Despite the inevitable adjustments defenses will make, Love remains unphased. He has faith in his coaching staff, who he believes will put him and the team in the best possible 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," he added.
Coaching and Development
Integral to Love's confidence is the presence of seasoned coaches like Tom Clements and head coach Matt LaFleur. Clements offers a wealth of experience to help Love fine-tune the skills needed to combat evolving defensive strategies. Meanwhile, LaFleur has made notable adjustments in practice routines, including the addition of a 7-on-7 period to offseason practices. Although LaFleur previously disliked this drill due to its lack of game-like conditions, he recognizes its value in Love’s development.
The Packers' offensive staff is also proactive, taking time to predict and prepare for defensive tactics that might be employed to counter Love's strengths. This preparatory work is crucial for Love, especially considering his struggles under pressure last season.
Performance Under Pressure
Last season, Love's performance took a hit when he faced pressure, ranking 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks in certain metrics. His tendency was to throw deep away from coverage, a strategy that impressively resulted in only one interception under those circumstances. However, there’s been a clear focus on enhancing 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.” Working under pressure remains a critical area for improvement as Love aims to make more calculated movements within the pocket.
Adapting to Change
Love has shown growth in his ability to adapt and execute plays on the move, 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 from running to making plays on the run significantly broadened Love's offensive arsenal. "Rather than just taking off and running, he's looking and trying to make a play, and that's where good things can happen,” Clements remarked. This change not only highlights Love’s growth but also offers optimism for the Packers' offensive potential.
Both LaFleur and Clements have emphasized the importance of footwork and other fundamentals in helping Love successfully navigate high-pressure situations. LaFleur made it clear: "What we're making a big emphasis on is [having] perfect feet," he noted. "Making sure the guys go through their progressions, having perfect feet. When they're not, they hear about it."
Love is also keenly aware of the adjustments needed to elevate his game. "Sometimes I get out of whack with my feet, and I might start drifting in the pocket too much," he admitted. By improving his pocket awareness and making "smaller moves," Love aims to make better decisions when faced with defensive pressure.
"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 shared, encapsulating his approach to growing and refining his skillset as he prepares for the season ahead.
As Jordan Love steps into his second year as the Packers' starting quarterback, his dedication to improvement and the backing of an experienced coaching staff present a promising outlook. With an emphasis on fundamentals and a readiness to adapt, Love is prepared to meet the challenges posed by savvy defenses and lead the Packers to new heights.