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Rob Demovsky
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Two days after the Inexperienced Bay Packers‘ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs, Matt LaFleur urged that the subsequent step for quarterback Jordan Love was to “evolve as a vocal chief.”
4 months later, the Packers coach likes what he has seen.
It does not cease there, both.
On Wednesday, after the primary OTA observe that was open for viewing this spring, LaFleur got here able to problem anybody who thought Love regressed final season in 12 months 2 because the starter.
“I feel there’s like a story on the market for no matter purpose that he wasn’t as productive because the 12 months earlier than,” LaFleur mentioned. “Nicely, he missed important time.”
That missed time got here early, when Love sprained his left MCL within the season opener, and had a long-lasting impression. Even when he returned after lacking two video games, Love’s mobility was restricted. In flip, it meant his footwork grew to become compromised, which in flip impacted his accuracy. Simply when Love appeared principally recovered from the knee harm, a groin harm took him out of the second half of the Week 8 towards the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Nonetheless, the Packers went 11-6, a two-win enchancment over Love’s first season because the starter. Throughout that 2023 run, he was lauded due to a torrid stretch to shut the season, when he threw 18 touchdowns and one interception over the ultimate eight video games, after which blew the doorways off the Dallas Cowboys within the playoff opener solely to lose within the remaining seconds of the subsequent spherical to the San Francisco 49ers.
But there was the notion that the Packers — and Love — took a step again final season after they did not get out of the primary spherical of the playoffs.
“I imply, what’s a step again is what I might ask?” Love countered. ” what I imply? Everyone has totally different opinions, issues like that. You bought to dam that stuff out. It is all concerning the targets of the staff on the finish of the day. I might say we gained extra video games than we did the 12 months earlier than. That is why I ask individuals, ‘What’s a step again?'”
Jordan Like to Matthew Golden (and extra routes on air).
Observe: Savion Williams within the crimson (no contact) jersey. pic.twitter.com/NQaQXR3vId
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) Might 28, 2025
As an alternative, Love is wanting forward. A change in his place coach from the now retired Tom Clements to former NFL quarterback Sean Mannion hasn’t modified the main target for Love’s offseason work. Whether or not it was the accidents or not, Love’s accuracy dipped barely from a 64.2 completion proportion in 2023 to 63.1 final season. A few of that might be as a result of all of the dropped passes that plagued the Packers in 2024 (that they had the very best drop fee within the NFL and the second-most drops general, in accordance with ESPN Analysis) as a result of his off-target proportion really dropped final season from 16.1 in 2023 to 14.4 final season.
“Simply making an attempt to be as constant as potential with accuracy, ball placement, issues like that, the timing of my toes, timing up with the routes, making an attempt to marry all that stuff up,” Love mentioned when requested what he is engaged on this offseason.
After which there’s the management evolution.
“Clearly, he is performed plenty of ball and together with that has gained plenty of confidence,” LaFleur mentioned. “I feel he is actually comfy in serving to lead others and telling them what to do. He is a coach on the sphere. He is aware of this offense in addition to anyone regarding the particulars and what we’re making an attempt to get achieved. And I feel he articulates that properly to the opposite gamers.”
However he additionally cannot be somebody he isn’t. Actually, one of many issues receiver Jayden Reed mentioned he appreciates about Love is his regular nature.
“He is most likely a type of most calm quarterbacks I’ve ever been round, in my view,” Reed mentioned. “He is so poised within the huddle, whether or not we’re going by means of adversity or something, he is the identical individual. He is at all times calm, he is cool, collected. I feel he does an ideal job, we have simply received to assist him, rally round him and simply be higher for him.”
And Love is aware of a disingenuous or out-of-character method can simply be uncovered as fraudulent in an NFL locker room.
“I feel on the finish of the day, with management and talking vocally to guys, you bought to be your self,” Love mentioned. “You by no means need to be forcing issues or sound like a message is not coming from you, it is coming from any individual else. It is at all times looking for that stability of being your self.
“However I feel that largest factor is simply having these arduous conversations with guys when one thing must get executed and it may not be getting executed the proper approach.”
