Jordan Love isn't overly concerned about how teams will defend him this year, even with a full season of film to study. As the Green Bay Packers quarterback enters Year 2 as the starter, Love and his coaching staff are already plotting their counterattacks.
Facing Defensive Adjustments
Love is fully aware that defensive coordinators, including those in Philadelphia, will meticulously analyze his 19 starts from the previous season. "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."
The young quarterback has faith in his coaching staff to help him navigate the inevitable defensive adjustments. "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 stated.
Coaching and Development
One of the key figures in Love's developmental journey is Tom Clements, the quarterbacks coach. Clements is well-equipped to enhance Love’s skills, particularly in areas that will help him adapt to defensive maneuvers. This season, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur made significant changes in practice routines to support this development, most notably adding a 7-on-7 period to offseason practices, despite his previous reservations about its lack of game-like conditions.
"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. When they're not, they hear about it."
Clements and LaFleur have also been diligent in studying potential defensive strategies. "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."
Performance Under Pressure
Last season, Love showed some vulnerability when facing defensive pressure. These statistics ranked him 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks, respectively. His default response under pressure was to throw deep away from the coverage, which resulted in only one interception—a statistic showing both risk and a degree of caution.
Improving his pocket awareness has been a focal point for Love this offseason. "The biggest thing for me is just staying poised in the pocket," he said. "Being able to stay balanced in the pocket."
Adapting to Change
One of the promising signs for Love's future has been his ability to adapt and make plays on the run. Clements observed significant progress late last season. "Early in the season, when Jordan scrambled, I'd say 95 percent of the time he ran the ball," Clements recalled. "The 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 in strategy has yielded some positive outcomes. "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." The coach highlighted this transformation as a critical element in Love's development.
Jordan Love's journey as the starting quarterback for the Packers is one marked by a relentless focus on improvement and a preparedness for defensive adjustments. "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.
With a seasoned coaching staff behind him and a commitment to perfecting his game, Love is poised to build on his experiences from last season. The young quarterback aims to lead the Packers to new heights, displaying a blend of poise, adaptability, and strategic growth. Sound footwork, pocket awareness, and an enhanced ability to make off-schedule plays will be integral to his ongoing development. As he looks ahead, Love remains confident, 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."
Entering his second year as the starter, Jordan Love stands ready to face the challenges that lie ahead, equipped with the experience and knowledge gained from the past season. The league can anticipate a quarterback who is not just reacting but proactively planning to outsmart and outmaneuver defenses.