Temper expectations with Jordan Love but progress is a must for Packers

As is the case with any first-year starting quarterback, patience with Jordan Love will be a must. But with that said, his learning curve needs to be shorter in comparison to many other first-year starters because of how his career with the Packers up to this point has played out.

Love took a big step forward in his third NFL season, which in part, is why the Packers are so willing to move on from Aaron Rodgers at this time. We caught a glimpse of that progression against Philadelphia, where his timing, accuracy, footwork, decision-making, and confidence all looked greatly improved.

However, as GM Brian Gutekunst has said on a few occasions, the next step for Love in his progression is to be a starter. Being the guy on Sundays and even throughout the week leading up to game day simply has a different vibe than when you’re the backup, and quarterbacks need to learn how to win games.

Inevitably, there will be ups and downs, difficult stretches, and frustrating moments as Love becomes acclimated to his new starting role.

"“We all have to temper our expectations for him,” said Matt LaFleur on Tuesday via Packers.com. “It’s different when you’re going into a game versus when you’re starting a game. But it’s a process; it’s going to be exciting for him (and) for us.”"

Although expectations should absolutely be tempered, progress throughout the season will be a must as well. While Love should be afforded patience, the expectation should be that his learning curve will be shorter as well.

Love isn’t a rookie in his first NFL season learning a new offense or adjusting to the day-to-day life in the NFL. He has been in the Matt LaFleur system for three seasons, and the primary benefit of having a quarterback sit for a season or two – or three – is so that when it is his time, he is better prepared to be the starter and can make a bigger impact more quickly. His bar should be higher.

So while mistakes are absolutely going to happen–how often does the same mistake occur? Is there progression from Love as the season goes on? Can he consistently make plays on his own?

This evaluation goes well beyond the win-loss column. In Rodgers’ first season as a starter, the Packers finished the year 6-10, but it was also evident that he was going to be the starting quarterback of the future.

This is what the Packers have to find about Love this season–can he be the Packers’ quarterback for the next decade-plus?

While, of course, Green Bay will still want to win games, the ultimate goal for the 2023 season should be finding out whether or not Love can be the guy moving forward. The worst-case scenario for the Packers is if next offseason they don’t have a strong feeling one way or the other because they either need to be working out a long-term deal with Love or to begin looking for their next quarterback.

So again, patience will be key, and comparing Love to Rodgers – even the 2008 version of Rodgers – isn’t fair. However, Love’s timeline should look different than other first or even second-year starting quarterbacks as well. Not to say that there won’t be bumps in the road, but from weeks one to five, five to ten, and so on, he needs to be making strides–after all, he is supposed to be more game ready after sitting and learning for three seasons.

"“It’s going to be a progression,” LaFleur said via Packers News. “Certainly I think we’re fooling ourselves if we think he’s going to go out there and perform at a level to the likes of an Aaron Rodgers. This guy is a once-in-a-lifetime, generational talent, and I don’t think it necessarily started that way when he first started. But he progressed into that. It’s going to be a progression, and hopefully we can surround him with enough people to help him perform at the best of his ability.”"