The end result of the throw was incredible, but Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements still gave Jordan Love a zero for decision-making grade on his 53-yard bomb to Jayden Reed into triple coverage last week against the Los Angeles Rams.
“I got a zero on the grade sheet for the decision there,” Love said Wednesday. “It worked out. Not a great decision, it worked out but you can’t rely on that working out all the time…learn from it, grow from it. Not a great decision.”
On the play, Love went deep to Reed despite coverage from two defensive backs and a trailing linebacker. Amazingly, Reed made the catch in triple coverage inside the 10-yard line, setting up the Packers’ first touchdown during Sunday’s 24-19 win.
Fortunately for Love, the cornerback didn’t track the ball down the field, and the other defensive back wasn’t able to prevent Reed from making the contested catch. Despite the decision-making process, the throw couldn’t have been better.
Love said he was expecting Clements to give him a harsh grade after seeing the coverage on the sideline post-play.
“Very cool play. Great catch by J-Reed with three guys around him,” Love said. “It looked cool but it definitely could have gone wrong…I just have to make a better decision in that situation.”
DEEP TO REED!#GBvsLAR pic.twitter.com/yOXJgRAz81
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 6, 2024
Love didn’t expect the safety to be as deep as he was when he threw the ball. After seeing the coverage on the tape, he said the better decision was going to Bo Melton on the deep dig route.
He also wasn’t surprised that Clements — a veteran quarterbacks coach who worked with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay — gave him a poor grade on the play.
“Tom is who Tom is and he is going to stay true to how he grades us, how he coaches us. That’s staying true to our reads, going through our progressions, being on time with our feet, reading with our feet…if you’re not doing that, Tom is going to let you know you’re not doing that. That’s what I appreciate about Tom and how he coaches.”
Would Love try to make the same throw again?
“No. I wouldn’t. I would not. But I’m glad it worked out the way it did,” Love said, smiling.
Hear more from Love below: