Packers Need Love to Start Faster; How?

In three preseason games, Jordan Love failed to get the Packers into the end zone on his opening drive. How can they get Love going in his big debut?

GREEN BAY, Wis. – For the second time in 1,360 days, Jordan Love will be the starting quarterback. When the Green Bay Packers face the Chicago Bears to start the 2023 NFL season, it will be the dawn of a new era.

“There’s definitely always nerves going into any game, especially the first game of the season,” Love said on Wednesday. “So, I’m sure there will be those. It’s getting out there and getting your feet wet and being able to relax and stay calm. First start for me.”

Between starting Utah State’s bowl game against Kent State on Dec. 20, 2019, and Sunday’s Week 1 rivalry showdown, Love’s only NFL start came at the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 7, 2021. The Packers lost 13-7. Their only touchdown came with 5 minutes remaining.

The Packers need to get Love going from the start. And that means calming those nerves and getting him into a rhythm. That’s right out of Quarterback Cliché 101. How is that accomplished?

“I think any time that you can string together a few completions, that typically builds the confidence up a little bit,” coach Matt LaFleur said this week. “How you do it, there’s a lot of different ways. Shoot, it can be taking a shot down the field, it can be throwing a screen.

“I think that’s important to try to do to get them in the flow of the game. And I think typically you do that just by getting more plays. So, even if it’s running the football, you get some first downs. But you’ve got to string together some plays to help really everybody into a rhythm.”

Love led the Packers to one touchdown in each of his three preseason appearances. None of those came on the opening drive, though.

In Game 1 at Cincinnati, Love’s fourth pass sailed over the head of tight end Luke Musgrave, who was open on third-and-7. The second possession was a 57-yard touchdown drive that he capped with a completion to Romeo Doubs.

In Game 2 against New England, the first possession ended on a botched shotgun snap and the second stalled on a third-and-4 pass that was broken up. The third possession was a 93-yard touchdown drive highlighted by a 42-yard bomb to Doubs and a 19-yard scoring toss to Jayden Reed.

Jordan Love (Photo by Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports Images)

In Game 3 against Seattle, Love’s first drive went 11 plays for a field goal, the second drive was a three-and-out when Love caught his own pass on third-and-2 and the third series was a 15-play, 80-yard scoring march that ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson.

Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said getting Love settled in won’t be all that different than getting Aaron Rodgers into a groove.

“Maybe if it was like a rookie or someone who you were concerned about them knowing what was happening, but Jordan has a very good understanding of playbooks, of coverages, of all that stuff,” he said. “We put stuff in that he likes, he’s comfortable with. I think from that standpoint, it’s more getting the other pieces right now set and then Jordan will take care of all the other stuff.”

The “other pieces” will be managing a young fleet of pass catchers. With Watson out with a hamstring injury, the Packers will be relying on rookie receivers Reed and Malik Heath and rookie tight end Luke Musgrave to be an integral part of the passing game.

Fortunately for Love, the running backs are veterans and the offensive line is strong. They will offer plenty of support.

Love will have a lot to manage on Sunday. His debut as the starting quarterback? With an unproven receiver corps? On the road in a rivalry game?

That seems like the ingredients for a nervous quarterback.

“He seems like a complete wreck to me,” left tackle David Bakhtiari said to laughter. “He’s neurotic. There’s so many times I’m like, ‘Dude, will you just (expletive) relax, stop stuttering and just get the play?’ No, he’s been great. I mean, he’s chill. It’s Jordan, which I love and respect.”

Bakhtiari and cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas have done their best to get in Love’s head to get him ready for the crucibles that are on the horizon. Alexander and Douglas talked trash to Love all summer to see what Love’s made of.

“I don’t see Jordan get rattled at all, man,” Alexander said during training camp. “He’s pretty much the same. I’m always talking to him and trying to get in his head but, I don’t know, I don’t think it works.”

Love was the fourth quarterback selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert are entering their fourth year as starters. Burrow is one of the best in the business, Herbert’s not far behind and Tagovailoa led the NFL in passer rating last year. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, a second-round pick in 2020, has established himself as a star, as well.

Now, it’s Love’s turn.

“It’s been a waiting game,” Love said. “I’ve been waiting this whole time to be able to get out there and show what I can do, but it’s been awesome to see those guys. They’ve all made their mark pretty early. They’ve done really good things right off the bat, so happy for those guys. They did a great job but, yeah, I’m definitely excited to finally get my shot.”

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