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
The Philadelphia Eagles and other teams will undoubtedly study 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. Yet, Love has faith in his coaching staff, who he believes will put him and the team in the best possible positions to succeed.
Coaching and Development
Tom Clements is well-equipped to help Love hone the skills needed 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. This change reflects a commitment to refining Love’s abilities and preparing him for various game scenarios.
Clements and the Packers' offensive staff have taken time to anticipate what defenses might do to better defend Love. Their proactive approach aims to equip Love with the tools needed to adapt and thrive, regardless of the defensive schemes he faces.
Performance Under Pressure
Last season, Love struggled somewhat when pressured, ranking 27th and 26th among NFL quarterbacks in key metrics. His tendency to throw deep away from coverage resulted in only one interception when under pressure, a testament to his potential for making sound decisions even in difficult situations. Love has been working on his pocket awareness and movements, which are crucial for improving his performance under duress.
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 simply taking off and running has been a positive sign for his development. 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 inevitable defensive adjustments.
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." Love remains optimistic, citing the enjoyment of strategizing in response to defensive changes 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. "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.
Focusing on Fundamentals
Clements highlighted the importance of perfecting the basics: "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." Perfect footwork is a particular emphasis for LaFleur, who noted, "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."
Love's progress hinges on his ability to stay poised in the pocket, maintain balance, and avoid drifting. "The biggest thing for me is just staying poised in the pocket," Love said. "Sometimes I get out of whack with my feet, and I might start drifting in the pocket too much."
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."
Making Off-Schedule Plays
Love has also worked on throwing on the run, enhancing his ability to escape the pocket and make off-schedule plays. "Also, 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 recalled that early in the season, Love's first instinct when scrambling was to run the ball. However, by the end of the season, Love showed a greater propensity to look for passing opportunities while on the move, leading to more big plays.
"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."
As Love continues to develop his game under the guidance of a capable coaching staff, he remains focused on the fundamental aspects that will help him succeed. With improved pocket awareness, perfect footwork, and the ability to make plays on the run, Love is ready to face the challenges that lie ahead in his second year as the Packers' starting quarterback.