Jordan Love isn't overly concerned about how teams will defend him this year, even with a full season of film to study. It's not that Love doesn't anticipate teams countering what made him successful last season. He and his coaches have their own designs on where he can take his game as he enters Year 2 as the starter for the Green Bay Packers.
Facing Defensive Adjustments
The Philadelphia Eagles and other teams will undoubtedly analyze Love's 19 starts from the previous season. Love recognizes that defenses will have a better feel for what he and the Packers did well last year. However, Love has faith in his coaching staff and believes they will put him and the team in the best possible positions to succeed.
Coaching and Development
Tom Clements, the Packers' quarterbacks coach, is well-equipped to help Love hone the skills necessary to combat defensive strategies. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has also made adjustments in practice to aid Love's development. LaFleur added a 7-on-7 period to offseason practices, despite previously disliking it due to the lack of game-like conditions. Clements and the Packers' offensive staff have taken time to anticipate what defenses might try to do to defend Love better.
Performance Under Pressure
Last season, Love struggled somewhat when pressured, ranking 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks in key metrics. Love's tendency was to throw deep away from coverage, a strategy that resulted in only one interception when under pressure. A key focus for Love this offseason has been improving his pocket awareness and movements.
Adapting to Change
Love has shown growth in his ability to adapt and make plays on the run. Clements observed some of that development late last season. Love's ability to make plays on the run instead of taking off and running has been a positive sign for his development. According to Clements, early in the season, Love scrambled and ran the ball 95 percent of the time. By the second half of the year, that percentage decreased significantly as Love started looking to throw the ball downfield while on the move. This adjustment has the potential to create big plays and is a testament to Love's growth.
As Jordan Love enters his second year as the starting quarterback for the Packers, he remains focused on refining his skills and preparing for the defensive adjustments that are sure to come. With the support of seasoned coaches and a commitment to continual improvement, Love is poised to build on his experiences from last season and lead the Packers to new heights.
"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. That's the fun part about the NFL."
Love emphasizes the importance of his coaching staff, stating, "At the end of the day, we've got a very good coaching staff that's going to put us in the best position. 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."
According to Clements, "It's just more fundamental things. Footwork and how he moves in the pocket. We're working on the drills, working on throwing a lot of routes on air." LaFleur also noted the emphasis on "perfect feet," ensuring that players go through their progressions correctly and maintaining proper footwork. "When they're not [perfect], they hear about it," LaFleur emphasized. Clements elaborated, "You might anticipate a defense maybe bringing a little more pressure, 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."
For Love, staying poised in the pocket is crucial. "The biggest thing for me is just staying poised in the pocket," Love explained. "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."
Love has also been focusing on throwing on the run and making off-schedule plays. "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 reiterated this point, highlighting the importance of making plays during the scramble phase rather than just taking off and running.
As the Packers prepare for the upcoming season, Jordan Love's development will be a critical element to watch. With a focused approach to overcoming defensive adjustments and the backing of a dedicated coaching staff, Love is ready to lead his team to new successes.