Jordan Love isn’t losing sleep over how defenses will scheme against him this NFL season. Despite the depth of film now available from his first full season as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, Love is confident in his own progression and the strategic acumen of his coaching staff.
Facing Defensive Adjustments
The Philadelphia Eagles and other teams have undoubtedly dissected Love's 19 starts from last year, attempting to counter what made him effective. Love acknowledges that defenses will have a more comprehensive understanding of his strengths and the Packers' offensive tendencies. However, he trusts his coaches to keep him and the team ahead of the curve.
"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 takes a pragmatic view of the challenge. "That's the fun part about the NFL," he added. "At the end of the day, we've got a very good coaching staff that's going to put us in the best position."
Coaching and Development
Tom Clements, an experienced coach, has been instrumental in refining Love’s skills. Together with head coach Matt LaFleur, they’ve made several changes to optimize practice sessions and enhance Love’s development. Consider LaFleur's decision to add a 7-on-7 period to offseason practices, a notable shift given his previous reservations about the drill due to its less game-like conditions.
"Footwork and how he moves in the pocket, and we're working on the drills, working on throwing a lot of routes on air," Clements commented. Emphasis on fundamentals has been a cornerstone of their approach. "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," he emphasized.
Performance Under Pressure
Analyzing Love's performance under pressure last season reveals room for improvement. His struggle under duress ranked him 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks in key metrics. Facing increased pressure and disguised defenses is a reality Love is preparing for rigorously. “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.”
Love recognizes the need for enhanced pocket awareness and balance. "The biggest thing for me is just staying poised in the pocket," he said. "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.
Adapting to Change
Beyond stationary skills, Love has demonstrated his evolution in making plays on the run, an area Clements particularly noted toward the end of 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 reflects a maturation in Love's decision-making process, transitioning from a willingness to run to a higher probability of finding big-play opportunities downfield. "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 explained. "So that's one illustration."
Love’s development as he enters his second year as starter for the Packers is marked by a balance of internal growth and strategic preparation, aiming to counter defensive adaptations with poise and precision. With unwavering confidence in his coaching staff and a dedication to perfecting his craft, Love is positioned to navigate the challenges and lead the Packers forward with confidence.