Offense Going Through Situational Blues

Jordan Love and the Packers offense is going through growing paints. None of which may be more evident than when they have entered the 2-minute offense.

Jordan Love has fun with teammates at training camp on Saturday. (Photo by Tork Mason/USA Today Sports Images)

The 2-minute offense is when the great quarterbacks around the NFL make their money.

Tom Brady made a living coming up with scoring drives late in the game.

Patrick Mahomes once tied a playoff game with only 13 seconds on the clock.

Nobody is asking Jordan Love to be either of those players at this point. Those are two of the greatest quarterbacks that have ever played the sport.

Love is just working through his first offseason as a starter. He's had some good moments. Saturday's practice, for instance, was one of his best performances in his four years in Green Bay. He looked to be building on that practice, following it up with big plays on Monday highlighted by a 67-yard-touchdown pass to Christian Watson.

Love has been up and down through camp with more ups than downs over the last three practices.

There is one situation, however, where the offense has struggled immensely.

Monday's 2-minute drill saw the Packers go four and out. On fourth down, Love threw a perfect downfield strike that was dropped by rookie receiver Jayden Reed.

It was a great throw, to be clear; it also never should have happened. On the first play, Love committed what quarterbacks coach Tom Clements calls a mortal sin. 

Love threw late over the middle. The ball was right in the hands of linebacker Quay Walker, who dropped what might have been a pick-six.

Given new life, the offense still could not manage a first down. A short gain to Aaron Jones was followed by a pass breakup by Rasul Douglas. That one also could have been intercepted.

While they weren't game reps, Love has struggled with turnovers during his young playing career. Including preseason, he's thrown five interceptions in the six games he's started. 

Turnovers are the quickest path to losing in the NFL. The Packers are an eye-popping 33-3 when they win the turnover battle under coach Matt LaFleur.

Conversely, they're 5-14 when they don't. Turning over the ball in the 2-minute offense will almost always lead to a loss. 

Tuesday's practice brought a chance for redemption. However, their time on the field lasted four plays again. Love didn't turn the ball over, but he only completed one checkdown in four passes.

Reed was Love's target on fourth down. This time, the ball placement that was there the day prior evaded him. Reed was open, Love overthrew him. 

"No, it’s frustrating. Obviously, 2-minute drill, we’re practicing the situations to go win a game, whether it’s end of game, end of half." Love said after practice.

"We’re practicing a situation for a reason. That’s when we need to drive down and win that game. So, it’s frustrating that we haven’t been able to even get a drive started, let alone move the ball down field to score. It’s something we’re going to go back to film, figure it out, watch it, see what areas we need to improve on and come back to it next week."

Those improvements are ones that a team with a smaller margin of error will need to make. 

The Packers were in a similar situation in 2008 with Aaron Rodgers as a first-time starter. They finished 1-7 in one score games that season and missed the playoffs with a 6-10 record.

Rodgers would have a passer rating of 76.9 that season when games were tied or within one score in the fourth quarter. 

In the last two days, Love's offense looked similar to Rodgers' in 2008. That's not going to cut it, but these are the situations that help teams learn how to win. 

"Never let your head get down, it's not going to be perfect, there's going to be losses," Love said. "How do we get over that hump? I think that's always what it is, just being able to come together as a team, stay unified and get able to get over those tough points." 

The tough points will come this season. 

How the Packers and Love respond will determine how the team's season fares. 

More Green Bay Packers News

In 1992, one of the Packers' saviors did not arrive on a white horse, but rather a Harley-Davidson.

It's Hall of Fame week in the NFL. That means soon we'll find out who will be in the class of 2024.

Here's why Mike Holmgren should be one of them. https://t.co/uCly1znGiV

— Jacob Westendorf (@JacobWestendorf) August 1, 2023

Highlights from Practice 6 of Packers training camp

Case for the Hall of Fame: Sterling Sharpe

Case for the Hall of Fame: Mike Holmgren

How Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas formed primetime pairing

Watson’s versatility will be tool for Packers

New center has strong debut

Monday LaFleur: First day in pads

Lukas Van Ness biding his time in fight for roster spot