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.
Facing Defensive Adjustments
Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and others will undoubtedly delve into 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, he places significant trust in his coaching staff, who he believes will put him and the team in the best possible positions.
Coaching and Development
Tom Clements, the Packers' quarterbacks coach, is well-equipped to help Love hone the skills needed to combat defensive strategies. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has also made key adjustments in practice to aid Love’s development. Notably, LaFleur added a 7-on-7 period to offseason practices, despite having reservations about its lack of game-like conditions in the past. Clements and the Packers' offensive staff have taken time to anticipate what defenses might try to do to contain Love more effectively.
Performance Under Pressure
Last season, Love struggled somewhat when pressured. His statistics in those situations placed him 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks, respectively. Love's strategy was often to throw deep away from coverage, a tactic that resulted in only one interception when under pressure. He has been diligently working on his pocket awareness and movement. Love's efforts to refine these aspects are crucial as he seeks to improve his performance under pressure.
Adapting to Change
Love has shown growth in his ability to adapt and make plays on the move. Clements observed some of that development late last season. Love's increasing proficiency in making plays on the run instead of simply taking off and running has been a positive sign for his development. This adaptability is essential as defenses evolve their strategies to counter Love's strengths.
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 a seasoned coaching staff 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 for what we do, what we did well," Love said. "That's their job -- to try to figure out how to stop that. That's the fun part about the NFL." Love noted the importance of his coaching staff, adding, "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."
The coaching staff's focus on fundamentals is evident in their approach. "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 emphasized the attention to detail they place on footwork: "What we're making a big emphasis on is [having] perfect feet. Making sure the guys go through their progressions, having perfect feet. When they're not, they hear about it."
Clements elaborated on the defensive strategies Love might face this season. "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," he advised.
Love is well aware of the areas he needs to improve. "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. Just pocket awareness, making smaller moves and understanding when I've got to get out of there." Love also noted the importance of throwing on the run: "Throwing on the run, being able to escape the pocket and make those off-schedule plays is something I worked a good amount on."
Clements reflected on Love's progression throughout the 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. 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."
With a clear focus on improvement and a strategic approach to handling defensive adjustments, Jordan Love is prepared to take on the challenges of his second season as the starter. His development and the support of his coaching staff will be crucial in determining the success of the Packers' offense this year.