Love Showing Major Progress Over Last 12 Months
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Last preseason, nobody threw more interceptions than Jordan Love.
This preseason, of all quarterbacks to have thrown at least a dozen passes, Love ranks third in passer rating.
Even when no one else did, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur saw it coming.
“I think I’ve been really impressed with how he’s handled himself,” LaFleur said after Saturday’s abbreviated preseason loss to the New England Patriots. “It dates back to even last preseason. I know we didn’t always have the results and I sat up here and defended him pretty hard in terms of some of the play. But it’s about the process and it’s about all the little things that goes into that position: the command that you have in the huddle, the total command of the offense, the operation.”
Of course, games aren’t won by calling plays in the huddle and knowing the playbook. They’re won by making big-time throws in big-time moments.
Nobody – probably not even LaFleur – knows with certainty how Love is going to perform in those big-time moments and big-time games. To be sure, preseason games against Cincinnati and New England were anything but big-time, though at least the Patriots played their starters.
Regardless, there’s no denying Love has played well and delivered some big-time throws. Against Cincinnati, the touchdown to Romeo Doubs showed excellent anticipation and touch. Against New England, Love’s 42-yard completion to Doubs set up a 19-yard touchdown to Jayden Reed.
There might be one more tuneup. Love likely will start Saturday’s preseason finale against Seattle, LaFleur said, though he left himself the wiggle room to change his mind.
“At this point, I think I’m definitely ready for Week 1 and to carry on throughout the season,” said Love, who completed 5-of-8 passes for 84 yards on Saturday to run his two-game total to 12-of-18 for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
“I think these first two games were a lot of good work. Obviously, getting the practice in with Cincy and with the Patriots, as well, but I think playing in that last game will [help]. Me getting more reps, just getting more comfortable, seeing new looks, going against a different team, so I don’t think it would hurt.”
Love made three noteworthy plays against the Patriots. One was the deep ball to Doubs. Love’s throw almost took Doubs out of bounds but that was the only place to put the ball given the coverage.
“I think that ball was where I wanted it,” Love said.
On the next play, Love scrambled for 11 yards, with 15 yards tacked on following an unnecessary-roughness penalty. Love has not scrambled much this summer, though that part of his game should be an asset once the season kicks off.
“Obviously, the O-line stepped up, which you love to see as a quarterback, the guys having your back,” Love said. “I appreciate all those guys getting in there for me.”
One play later, Love connected with Reed for the touchdown. Reed caught Love’s bullet at the 5, broke a tackle and scored.
“It was sticky coverage, but he won inside,” Love said. “It was pretty much just running away from the DB and there was a backer that was out in front of him, so I held onto it for a little bit, let him continue to run through that second window and he made a great play at the end, just being able to bounce off that DB and get in the end zone.”
While Love threw two interceptions at Thursday’s practice against New England, he critically hasn’t come close to throwing the ball to the wrong jersey this preseason. In 2021, Love threw three interceptions and fumbled three times in 131 snaps. Then came the 2022 preseason, with four interceptions in just 74 attempts.
Turnovers are the surest way to lose games. The botched shotgun snap on the opening series – incorrectly thinking the Patriots were offside, center Josh Myers shouldn’t have snapped it but Love should have been ready – put the Packers in a quick 7-0 hole. Otherwise, he’s been spotless. If he’s truly cleaned up that part of his game, the Packers should be competitive – and maybe more than competitive – in every game.
“Obviously, execution’s a big part,” LaFleur said. “I think we’ve all seen the growth over these last few years. It’s been pretty cool to witness.”
Then came the obvious asterisk.
“You’ve got to have a short memory in this game because you’re only as good as your last game – we all know that – and there’s a lot of work” to do,” LaFleur continued. “And, quite frankly. It’s only the preseason. We’re going to have to keep building upon this and, hopefully, continue to get better each and every day at practice or whatever the situation he encounters.”
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