Back in May of this year, Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements related the team’s transition to Jordan Love to the transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, insisting the team knew — like the Packers thought they knew with Rodgers in 2008 — that Love would be a good quarterback. How good? No one knew or can know for sure, especially after only four starts in 2023, but Clements and the Packers think they’ve gotten confirmation on their initial belief of Love.
“You always anticipate based on how he’s practiced and done in the preseason and years past, you have an idea of how he might do when he becomes the full-time starter, and he’s confirmed our thoughts. He’s a good player,” Clements said Monday, per Packers.com.
Clements, of course, coached Rodgers during the transition in 2008. And his teaching since returning to Green Bay last year has been vital to Love’s development, especially during this first season as a starter.
Through four games, Love has completed 56.1 percent of his passes, thrown eight touchdown passes and three interceptions, averaged 6.8 yards per attempt and produced a passer rating of 88.0. He’s been up and down, like most first-year starters, but the flashes have been bright and could become more consistent as he gains experience at the game’s most difficult position.
“He only has five games of experience,” Clements said. “As he plays more, he’s going to recognize things that he’s seen previously in games and if he reacted correctly, that’ll trigger in his mind. If previously he didn’t react the way he would’ve liked to, that triggers in your mind, too. And then as you see more defenses and what they’re trying to do you’re going to recognize it and hopefully adjust a little quicker because you’ve seen it before.”
The Packers would like Love to improve his completion percentage and success rate over the course of the 2023 but understand a lot goes into both numbers. The offense is young and prone to making mistakes, and Love is playing behind a makeshift offensive line missing its top two blockers. Only last week did Christian Watson and Aaron Jones return from injuries.
It’s becoming clear that Love has cleared the “can’t play” hurdle. He is a competent starting quarterback who does a lot of things right at the position but must master all the little things that separate good from the best, including the consistency of ball placement, handling pressure and avoiding negative plays. Love must also find a way to start faster and pull the offense out of lulls, which have been challenges through the first four weeks.
The packers knew this first season would be a rollercoaster ride, given the inexperience on offense and the reality of the salary cap situation. This is a team learning how to play together and fighting with one hand behind it’s back. Yet through four games, the Packers believe they have gotten a good read on their new quarterback, the biggest piece of the puzzle.