Packers: What we learned from Jordan Love’s 2022 preseason
Jordan Love was coming into the 2022 preseason with what was most likely the most pressure the Green Bay Packers‘ quarterback has faced in his young career.
Throwing the stat sheet aside, the most important thing to look at when evaluating his performance in the three games he played is his decision-making and signs of development.
In the first game of the preseason against the San Francisco 49ers, Love looked like he was uncomfortable.
Packers vs. 49ers
Maybe this was an offensive line issue or something related to chemistry with the young receivers, but it looked as if Love was off target frequently. Love did connect with two different receivers for touchdowns, Danny Davis for 33 yards, and Romeo Doubs for 33 yards.
The latter may have been Love’s best throw of the entire preseason.
The 49ers game was an overall average showcase for Love. He did finish the night with three interceptions, later denounced by coach Matt LaFleur as bad routes and drops his receivers. With the blame taken off of Love going into week two, expectations were high.
Packers vs. Saints
In the second preseason matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Love did not disappoint. He was playing as if he was a seasoned veteran, standing tall in the pocket and making smart and decisive reads to his second or third options. Love seemed poised, and it showed.
Love finished his night against the Saints going 12/24 for 113 yards and a touchdown pass to none other than Romeo Doubs.
Love also was able to make plays with his legs during this game, finishing the night averaging over four yards a carry, including picking up a big first down scramble on the first play of the game. The young quarterback showed he can turn a dead play into a new set of downs.
Although the stat line may not look impressive for someone who was playing as poised as he was, the lack of mental errors shown by Love is accredited to his development this offseason and could be a sign of things to come for the potential future quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.
With this ride of momentum from the game against the Saints, going into Week 3 in Arrowhead Stadium, expectations were sky high for Love.
Packers vs. Chiefs
Love seemed to have started the game off right where he left off, firing the ball into tight windows where his receivers could make plays on the ball. However, there was something different about this game compared to the previous week — Love seemed uncomfortable again in the pocket.
The offensive line for the Packers could not pick up the blitz that Kansas City was sending, and it got him off target frequently during the first half. This scheme on defense for the Chiefs is very similar to the scheme they came out in during Love’s first career start against them last season.
All this pressure by the Chiefs culminated late in the second quarter when Love was forced out of his spot and fired a rocket down the middle of the field that was intercepted by Chiefs safety Bryan Cook.
Love finished the night going 16/26 for 148 yards and the one interception. In what may have been his final chance to show his development, Love played down compared to the week before.
Overall, Jordan Love did show that he took a giant step in his development this offseason and that he definitely has the skill set to become a starting quarterback in this league. Hopefully, during the regular season, Love continues to study and practice his fundamentals and continues to move forward in his progression.