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
As the Philadelphia Eagles and other teams pore over Love's 19 starts from the previous season, the Green Bay quarterback remains calm. Love understands that defenses will develop a better feel for what he and the Packers did well last year. Still, he places immense faith in his coaching staff. Love believes they will put him and the team in the best possible situations to succeed.
Coaching and Development
With seasoned quarterback coach Tom Clements by his side, Love is well-equipped to hone the skills needed to combat advanced defensive strategies. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has also made significant adjustments in practice to aid Love’s development, including adding a 7-on-7 period to offseason practices. Despite previously disliking it due to the lack of game-like conditions, LaFleur recognizes the value it brings in preparation.
Clements and the Packers' offensive staff have invested time into anticipating what defenses might try to do to better defend against Love. Their aim is not just to counter these strategies but to use them as opportunities for Love's growth.
Performance Under Pressure
Last season, Love struggled when pressured, ranking 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks in key metrics related to handling pressure. His tendency to throw deep away from coverage resulted in only one interception under pressure, but it was clear that this area needed improvement.
To address this, Love has been diligently working on his pocket awareness and movements. Understanding the importance of staying poised in the pocket, Love has focused on improving his balance and footwork. "Sometimes I get out of whack with my feet, and I might start drifting in the pocket too much," Love acknowledged. "Just pocket awareness, making smaller moves, and understanding when I've got to get out of there."
Adapting to Change
Love has shown significant growth in his ability to adapt and make plays on the run. This development was observed late last season by Clements, and it has been a positive indicator for Love's future performance. Instead of taking off and running, Love is now more inclined to make plays on the run, which opens up opportunities for big plays during the scramble phase of the game.
As he continues to refine his skills, Love remains focused on preparing for the inevitable defensive adjustments he will face. 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 of what we do, what we did good," Love said. "That's their job—to try to figure out how to stop that." Despite these challenges, Love views this dynamic as one of the fun parts of the NFL. "At the end of the day, we've got a very good coaching staff that's going to put us in the best position," Love stated confidently. "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."
Perfecting the Fundamentals
Clements emphasized the importance of fundamental skills like footwork and pocket movements. "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."
Anticipating more pressure and sophisticated disguise tactics from defenses, Clements and the coaching staff have focused on preparing Love for these scenarios. "If that happens, you have to have a lot of film study and be able to react," Clements advised.
Conclusion
As Jordan Love enters his second year as the starting quarterback for the Packers, he remains steadfast in his dedication to refining his skills and preparing for defensive adjustments. Supported by a strong coaching staff and a commitment to continuous improvement, Love is ready to build on his experiences from the previous season and lead the Packers to greater success.
"The biggest thing for me is just staying poised in the pocket," Love concluded. "Being able to stay balanced in the pocket." With this focus and the support of his coaches, the upcoming season holds great promise for Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.