Does Love Need To Be Knocked Into Reality?

It’s one thing to complete passes on the practice field. It’s quite another to do it in a real game. So, does Jordan Love need to get hit on Friday night against the Bengals?

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Aug 10, 2023 11:18 PM EDT

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Through 11 offseason practices, nine training camp practices in Green Bay as well as Wednesday’s joint practice in Cincinnati, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love could stand in the pocket and deliver a strike with the confidence that a defender wouldn’t lay a finger on him.

That could change during Friday night’s preseason game at the Cincinnati Bengals.

After Wednesday’s practice, Love said he expected to play in the preseason opener. While the Bengals will rest most of their defensive starters, including the top pass-rushing duo of Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard, Love will be fair in game in a real game.

As he embarks on his first season as the starting quarterback, does Love need to get hit?

“Yeah,” Love said after Wednesday’s practice. “I think it’s always good to get back into that mode of getting hit. I haven’t been hit since last year. Obviously, I’m never trying to get hit – that’s never the goal – but it does prepare you and just get your mind back in that live mentality.

It’s been a long time since Love felt the sting of a defender. Last season, he threw 21 passes in four appearances. While he was pressured a few times, he was never hit, according to the official game stats.

That means Love’s last time getting hit came in last year’s preseason finale at the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 25 – about 50 weeks ago.

“I’m excited,” Love said. “I definitely want to be out there, get some reps, get back into the game mode.”

You know who wasn’t excited for preseason football? Love’s predecessor, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers’ last preseason action came in 2018; his last time getting hit in a preseason game was 2017.

If there’s an area where Love could be an upgrade over the 2022 version of Rodgers is passing under pressure. Last season, according to Pro Football Focus, 38 quarterbacks were pressured on at least 60 dropbacks. Of that group, Rodgers ranked 18th in completion percentage, 20th in yards per attempt and 22nd in passer rating.

Good quarterbacks can make plays in a clean pocket. Great quarterbacks make plays when the pocket has broken down. Last season, Buffalo’s Josh Allen led the NFL in under-pressure touchdown passes. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes was second, Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins was third and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow was fourth.

“Just to get that feeling of being back out there, getting live reps, I definitely think it’s important,” Love said.