Tag: Tom Clements

Packers QB coach Tom Clements on Jordan Love: ‘He’s confirmed our thoughts’

The first four games of 2023 gave Packers QB coach Tom Clements confirmation on Jordan Love: “He’s a good player.”

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.

Tom Clements’ return as Packers QB coach ‘exciting’ for Jordan Love

The Packers first-year starting QB is excited to have Tom Clements back for 2023.

Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements played a key role in the early development of Aaron Rodgers. This is one reason why, with an opening on the coaching staff in 2022, Rodgers wanted Clements to come out of retirement to rejoin the Packers.

It’s also not a coincidence that with Clements in this role, the Packers saw Jordan Love take a big step forward in his third NFL season. So much so, in fact, that the Packers went from signing Rodgers to a contract extension 11 months ago to being ready to move on from him this offseason.

With Clements at the helm, this meant going back to the basics last summer and prioritizing Love’s footwork. For a quarterback, from a mechanics standpoint, good footwork is the foundation for success on any passing play. Balanced feet that move with a quarterback’s eyes as they go through their progressions leads to accurate passes. There is also incredible value in having Clement’s experience in the film room with Love as well.

Love’s confidence would grow and “snowballed” as the season progressed, according to Aaron Jones. We then caught a glimpse of this during his appearance against Philadelphia. With improved footwork, Love was more accurate, completing six-of-nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, but also more poised and decisive with his decision-making.

“It’s exciting,” said Love on Wednesday in regards to having Clements back for 2023. “I think Tom (Clements) brings the drills we do every day (and) translates into things and movements we do in a game. It all ties in. I think Tom’s a great coach. He’s been doing it a long time and knows what he’s talking about. So just being able to at the same time listening to him and trying to tune my game to any pointers he might have to elevate myself are all huge. I just try to keep adding, keep stacking, and keep evolving my own game.”

With uncertainty around Rodgers’ future with the Packers throughout the offseason, naturally, given the relationship that the two have, there were some questions around whether or not Clements would return as well. For Matt LaFleur and the Packers, having Clements back was an easy decision, but it was whether or not he wanted to return.

There was a calm confidence that Love had on Wednesday as he addressed reporters for the first time as the Packers’ starting quarterback. Undoubtedly, there will be challenges and ups and downs that come with being a first-time starting quarterback. As Brian Gutekunst has said on several occasions, at this stage of his development, Love just simply needs playing time. However, the good news is that Love will have Clements in his corner, helping him navigate through the season.

“Just watching him last year, I think Jordan’s made some huge strides,” LaFleur told reporters on Saturday. “I really do and I think a lot of it is a credit to Tom, and just, he knows how to train these guys. He knows how to drill them and he’s very, very consistent. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He just is matter of fact and I think there’s no doubt. I asked Jordan after the season how he felt about him, and he said he loved Tom and thought he did a hell of a job helping him develop over the course of the year. For me, it was a no-brainer, it was just whether or not Tom wanted to come back.”

Tom Clements to see Jordan Love’s development through in first season as starter

Tom Clements will be back to coach Jordan Love during the young QB’s first season as starter in Green Bay.

Aaron Rodgers had a tremendous resource when he took over as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers in 2008. Fast forward 15 years later, Jordan Love has that same resource.

Tom Clements is returning as the Packers’ quarterback’s coach. Clements was re-hired prior to last season at the request of Rodgers, who credits the long-time NFL coach with aiding in his development during his early years in Green Bay.

“Tom and I go way back,” Rodgers told The Pat McAfee Show last season. “I love Tom. I owe him so much credit for my development. I’m happy to see him back in the game. The game is better when Tom Clements is coaching because he’s one of those special, special coaches.”

Under Clements’ tutelage, Rodgers went from a quarterback struggling in the 2006 preseason to an MVP in 2011. That was the last year Clements served as Rodgers’ quarterback’s coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator. He remained with the Packers until his contract expired in 2016, after which he stepped away from the NFL for two years.

Returning in 2019, Clements was hired by the Arizona Cardinals to be their pass game coordinator and quarterback’s coach. However, unwilling to go through another year impacted by COVID, he announced his retirement after the 2020 season.

Clements managed to stay retired for a year while Green Bay enjoyed another 13-win season. Their sustained success required Matt LaFleur to fill multiple openings as his top assistants were plucked away and promoted elsewhere. Wanting a familiar face in the quarterback room, Rodgers was the first to reach out to Clements about joining LaFleur’s staff.

“After the (2021) season, Aaron contacted me,” Clements said in April 2022. “He had talked to Matt, (who) wanted to gauge my interest in coming back. I said, ‘Yeah, I’d talk about it’ and then talked with Matt a couple times. We got together, talked, talked a little bit more with Aaron, and it just worked out.”

Initially, Clements was intrigued by the idea of winning another Super Bowl alongside Rodgers. Unfortunately, the season ended much differently, with Rodgers having the worst statistical season of his career and the Packers missing the playoffs.

That said, 2022 wasn’t a total loss for everyone. Love benefited the most from the time he spent with Clements, who was also excited about working with Rodgers’ heir apparent.

“It’s always fun to work with a younger guy trying to impart some knowledge to him and see how he grows, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Love got the chance to show his progress under Clements when he completed six out of nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown in two fourth-quarter drives against the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. A key takeaway from that performance was the command Love showed over the offense that wasn’t there prior to Clements’ arrival. It made LaFleur’s decision easier on whether or not to bring the aging quarterback’s coach back for another year.

“Just watching him last year, I think Jordan’s made some huge strides,” LaFleur told reporters on Saturday. “I really do and I think a lot of it is a credit to Tom, and just, he knows how to train these guys. He knows how to drill them and he’s very, very consistent. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He just is matter of fact and I think there’s no doubt. I asked Jordan after the season how he felt about him, and he said he loved Tom and thought he did a hell of a job helping him develop over the course of the year. For me, it was a no-brainer, it was just whether or not Tom wanted to come back.”

Clements could have easily walked away from the game again at age 69. Last offseason, he said he didn’t have the itch to coach again and his main reason for coming back was just traded to the New York Jets. Nevertheless, Clements is returning in 2023 to see Love’s development through in his first season as the starter.

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Packers not worried about Aaron Rodgers participation status during offseason program

The Packers are starting a new era at wide receivers, but QBs coach Tom Clements isn’t worried about Aaron Rodgers’ participation status during the offseason workout program.

Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements isn’t at all concerned about the participation status of four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers during the offseason workout program.

At this point, it remains unclear if Rodgers will be in Green Bay for any portion of the program, but Clements understands his decision either way.

“Aaron doesn’t need reps this time of year,” Clements said Thursday. “Obviously, it’d be nice to have him here. But he’s seen these things a thousand times. He’ll be ready to go when training camp starts.”

Rodgers, 38, wasn’t present for the offseason workout program last year and still was named the NFL’s MVP.

The situation is certainly far different than a year ago. The drama between player and team has dissipated greatly, and Rodgers’ happiness with the organization and in Green Bay is no longer a headline story, but the Packers are now entering a new era in the passing game after losing top receivers Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling this offseason.

A big part of the early summer in Green Bay will be focused on integrating a number of new receivers into the offense, including veteran Sammy Watkins and three draft picks.

Time together in May and June might help ease the transition once training camp arrives in late July, but Clements is confident that Rodgers will have plenty of time during camp to get on the same page as his new receivers, especially if the new players use the offseason program to digest the offense and learn from mistakes before Rodgers arrives.

The future Hall of Famer did make a surprise appearance in Green Bay while in Wisconsin to watch the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month.

None of this is a surprise to the team. Rodgers’ new contract dropped his workout bonus each year to just $50,000, suggesting his participation during the voluntary portions of the offseason program is no longer expected or needed.

Rodgers being away means more reps leading into training camp for Jordan Love, who is entering his third NFL season, and backups Kurt Benkert and Danny Etling. Clements is putting all three young quarterbacks through a slimmed-down variation of the old quarterbacks school once implemented by former Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

The real work for the MVP begins once camp opens.

“He’ll be ready to go, he’ll be eager to go,” Clements said. “He’s at a different stage of his career now where he’s taking care of himself and working on what he thinks he needs to work on physically. He looked good when I saw him. He’ll be ready to go.”

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Notre Dame football’s top quarterback recruits since 2000

Which Notre Dame quarterback were you most excited for before they ever played a down for the Irish?

Over the years Notre Dame has had more than a couple great quarterbacks.

[autotag]Joe Theismann[/autotag], [autotag]John Huarte[/autotag], [autotag]Tom Clements[/autotag], [autotag]Joe Montana[/autotag], [autotag]Rick Mirer[/autotag], and [autotag]Ron Powlus[/autotag] are just a few of the all-time signal callers the university has had.  All of those men came to Notre Dame during much different times however, as recruiting and the available information around it has changed significantly over the years.

[autotag]Brady Quinn[/autotag], [autotag]Jimmy Clausen[/autotag], and [autotag]Ian Book[/autotag] are a few of the best Notre Dame has had at the position since the year 2000, but how were each rated as recruits?  And just how high might the next quarterback commitment check in in these rankings?

247Sports has compiled a list of Notre Dame’s quarterback recruits since 2000 and included each of their final recruiting rankings.  Here is how the top 20 turned out.

Influenced by praise from Aaron Rodgers, Matt LaFleur hires Tom Clements as Packers QBs coach

Matt LaFleur helped outline the process that went into the Packers hiring Tom Clements as the team’s new quarterbacks coach.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Aaron Rodgers played a “significant role” in the team hiring Tom Clements to replace Luke Getsy as quarterbacks coach.

LaFleur wouldn’t comment on what impact Clements’ arrival would have on Rodgers returning to Green Bay in 2022, but he did outline the process of hiring Clements and said the veteran coach will be good for any player in the Packers quarterback room.

For starters, Rodgers’ consistent praising of Clements over the last three years helped motivate LaFleur’s interest in pursuing the former Packers assistant to return.

“I would say that, just in terms of our conversations over the last couple of years, and how much he credits Tom for his development, it was very intriguing when we had an opportunity,” LaFleur said. “I got an opportunity to go out and meet with him prior to the Super Bowl, really sit down and had lunch with him. I think we interviewed each other, to some level, but just the conversations we had, it’s pretty easy for me to see why he is such a great quarterback coach and developer, he’s such a great communicator, he’s got such a great even-keeled demeanor.”

Clements, now 68, was an assistant coach for Mike McCarthy from 2006 to 2016. He was Rodgers’ quarterback coach from 2006 to 2011, the offensive coordinator from 2012 to 2014 and the assistant head coach from 2015 to 2016.

Was hiring Clements a directive from Rodgers or a simple suggestion? The Packers still aren’t certain if the four-time NFL MVP will return to Green Bay for the 2022 season. Hiring one of Rodgers’ favorite coaches certainly won’t hurt the Packers’ chances of getting him back.

Another possible explanation: LaFleur simply acted on an opportunity to hire an accomplished and well-regarded coach that Rodgers helped put on his radar with consistent admiration.

“When you have a player of that caliber, as important as he’s been to this organization, and when he credits and gives somebody like that so much praise, to me, you’d be foolish not to listen to that,” LaFleur said. “So that’s why I wanted to go sit down with Tom. Like I said, he’s a very impressive guy.”

LaFleur said he’s excited to have Clements – who has been coaching quarterbacks at the NFL level since 1997 – in the offensive game-planning sessions, and even more excited to learn from the veteran coach.

“He’s been coaching this game a lot longer than I have,” LaFleur said.

Regardless of whether Rodgers returns or not, Clements could provide a boost to the quarterback position in Green Bay.

“Just his ability to develop quarterbacks, no matter who is in the room, is going to be very beneficial to the Green Bay Packers organization,” LaFleur said.

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Packers GM confirms Aaron Rodgers impacted the hiring of Tom Clements

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst confirmed that conversations with Aaron Rodgers influenced the team’s decision to hire Tom Clements as QB coach.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed something most expected: Aaron Rodgers indeed played a role in the hiring of Tom Clements as the new quarterback’s coach.

“Aaron’s impact on that decision was, that’s part of the conversations he’s part of,” Gutekunst said during his pre-combine press conference on Wednesday. “We’re excited to have him back, and see how he affects that group.”

Clements came out of retirement from coaching to replace Luke Getsy, who took a job as the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. Clements served as Green Bay’s quarterback’s coach from 2006-11 and offensive coordinator from 2012-14. He was then the team’s assistant head coach from 2015 to 2016.

Gutekunst did not go as far as to say that the hire was made to make Rodgers happy but instead used it as an example of the team including the quarterback in decisions that directly affect his job.

The Packers are excited to have Clements back in the building.

“I’ve had the opportunity to be around (Clements) in the past, and he’s an excellent football coach, whether Aaron is here or not,” said Gutekunst. “What he’s accomplished in this league and the way he’s developed quarterbacks is impressive.”

The Packers hope that hiring Clements will influence Rodgers’ decision regarding his future. They are still waiting on the 2021 MVP to announce if he will walk away from the game or come back to Green Bay for another title run. Having Clements back in the fold could entice Rodgers to return given their history together.

“Tom and I go way back,” Rodgers said Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I love Tom. I owe him so much credit for my development. I’m happy to see him back in the game. The game is better when Tom Clements is coaching because he’s one of those special, special coaches.”

Rodgers, now a four-time NFL MVP, won his first two awards during Clements’ first stint with the Packers. The team expects to know whether Rodgers will keep playing or retire before free agency. Either way, Clements will be the quarterback’s coach next season.

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Tom Clements coming out of retirement to rejoin Packers staff

Clements retired after 2020, after two seasons as the QB coach and passing game coordinator for the Cardinals. But he rejoins the Packers, where coached for more than a decade.

The Arizona Cardinals had Tom Clements as their quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator in 2019 and 2020. He left the coaching staff after the 2020 season to retire.

He is apparently coming out of retirement but is not rejoining the Cardinals’ coaching staff.

He is reportedly returning to the Green Bay Packers to be their quarterbacks coach.

He spent more than a decade — from 2006-2016 — as a coach for the Packers under Mike McCarthy. His roles ranged from quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator to assistant head coach.

This time, though, it with Matt LeFleur as the head coach.

The Packers appear to be trying to appease quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Clements is supposedly one of Rodgers’ favorite coaches.

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Packers start turning words into action on going all-in for Aaron Rodgers

The Packers’ first big move in keeping Aaron Rodgers? Hiring Tom Clements as the new QBs coach.

Shortly following a stunning playoff loss, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur and team president Mark Murphy made it clear the team wants Aaron Rodgers back in 2022.

On the Sunday of the Super Bowl, the Packers screamed from the top of the media mountain that the team is willing to go all-in on Rodgers in 2022.

We’re now starting to see the Packers turn words into action.

The first big move is coming via LaFleur’s coaching staff.

On Thursday, Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network and Rob Demovsky of ESPN reported that the Packers will hire Tom Clements as the team’s new quarterbacks coach. Clements would replace Luke Getsy, who departed to become the new offensive coordinator in Chicago.

The hiring of Clements will be significant. Not only because he’s a former quarterback, a fantastic developer of the quarterback position and one of the most experienced offensive coaches in football, but his connection and friendship with Rodgers provide a strong message from the team to the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

In bringing back Clements, the Packers are serious about keeping Rodgers in Green Bay.

Losing Getsy and Nathaniel Hackett from the coaching staff no doubt hurt the Packers’ chances of getting Rodgers back in 2022. But hiring Clements might all but erase the impact of those departures in the eyes of Rodgers, who has often credited Clements with much of his development and maturation as a quarterback.

Clements became Rodgers’ quarterbacks coach in his second NFL season and then held the title for six years, including when Rodgers took over for Brett Favre as the starter in 2008 and when he won his first MVP in 2011. Later, he was elevated to offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Overall, Clements coached 11 seasons in Green Bay before departing in 2016.

In terms of coaches that Rodgers respects the most, Clements sits at or very close to the top of the list.

The 68-year-old Clements retired from coaching following the 2020 season. This can’t just be a power play from the Packers. It’s too hard to imagine Clements coming out of retirement and returning to Green Bay without knowing Rodgers had a very good chance of being the quarterback in 2022.

Put another way: Clements, after a year away, isn’t unretiring to coach Jordan Love. Rodgers wanted him back, and the Packers obliged, either as a condition of his return or as a strong show of support for him returning.

What other obstacles lay in Rodgers’ way? He may still be considering retirement, or potentially starting over someplace else. But as long as the Packers presented Rodgers with a strong plan for keeping the roster intact, the hiring of Clements as the new quarterbacks coach should be rightfully viewed as a big step toward Rodgers returning to be the Packers quarterback in 2022.

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Report: Packers expected to hire Tom Clements as new QBs coach

The Packers are expected to hire Tom Clements as the team’s new QBs coach, providing the clearest sign yet that Aaron Rodgers could return in 2022.

The Green Bay Packers have yet to officially hire a quarterbacks coach to replace Luke Getsy, but an old friend of Aaron Rodgers is now expected to land the role for Matt LaFleur.

According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, the Packers are expected to hire Tom Clements as the team’s new quarterbacks coach.

The name should sound familiar. Clements, 68, spent 12 seasons in Green Bay, including six as Rodgers’ quarterbacks coach. He was originally hired by Mike McCarthy in 2006 and later promoted by McCarthy to offensive coordinator in 2012. He added assistant head coach to his title in 2015.

Clements was Rodgers’ first quarterbacks coach and a key part of his development as a young player. He was the Packers quarterbacks coach during the Super Bowl-winning season in 2010.

The significance of the potential hire can’t be overstated. In fact, LaFleur getting Clements to replace Getsy is the clearest sign yet that Rodgers could return to Green Bay in 2022.

Clements was the Arizona Cardinals’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the 2019 and 2020 seasons but retired in January of 2021. Would he come out of retirement and return to coaching the position in Green Bay if Rodgers wasn’t in play?

If Clements is hired, he would join Conner Lewis as the two coaches in the quarterbacks room in Green Bay for 2022. By all accounts, Rodgers is a big fan of both coaches.

Quarterbacks coach is the last major hire required on LaFleur’s staff for next season.

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