3 Areas of Improvement for Packers’ Jordan Love in Week 3

Green Bay Packers‘ quarterback Jordan Love has embarked on his fourth NFL season with a promising start, taking the reins as a full-time starter for the first time. It’s a debut with much to admire.

First and foremost, he finds himself in a tie with Kirk Cousins for the NFL’s touchdown-pass throne, both boasting an impressive six touchdowns. A notable divergence from Cousins, who has already registered four turnovers in just two games, is Love’s diligent ball security – he’s yet to gift the opposition possession. Out of 52 passing attempts, only one was interception-worthy. The overall stat line reads 29 completions out of 52 attempts, a 55.8 percent completion rate, 396 yards, six touchdowns, and an unblemished interception column.

However, perfection eludes Love, and there’s ample room for growth, even from his commendable early-season performance. As we dive into his development, three key areas for Week 3 come into focus.

Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Jordan Love has gotten off to a nice start to the season, but he has some key areas he can improve in heading into Week 3.

Easier/Shorter Throws

In the realm of Matt LaFleur’s offensive philosophy, quick distribution of the ball to dynamic playmakers is usually a focal point, shifting the onus of heavy lifting onto their shoulders. However, Love currently boasts an average depth of throw at a whopping 9.5 yards, ranking fifth in the NFL after two weeks of action.

This statistical feat implies a demanding task for Love, involving the need to linger in the pocket, survey the field, and pinpoint open targets situated nearly 10 yards downfield. Such a sequence of maneuvers burdens the young quarterback. Incorporating a selection of shorter, higher-percentage passes into the game plan could provide substantial benefits. This approach would enable Love to swiftly channel the ball into the hands of his playmaking compatriots, allowing them to exhibit their skills. This could spark the offense even further and help Love continue to build his confidence.

Completion Percentage

Shorter, simpler throws can be like the bread and butter of an NFL quarterback’s diet. Love has shown us he can whip up some gourmet touchdown passes, with six already served up in the first two games. But, there’s one dish missing from his menu – the easy, high-percentage throws.

Currently, his completion rate hovers at 55.8 percent, ranking a humbling 31st among NFL quarterbacks. Ouch, right? Even the advanced stats don’t throw him a bone, as his adjusted completion percentage, which measures how often he places the ball on the money, ranks at a rather uninspiring 33rd.

Now, I’m not saying he needs to suddenly transform into a completion percentage wizard overnight. But, if he can nudge that number closer to 65 percent, we’ll have ourselves a feast of progress. Think of it as adding a sprinkle of spice to a recipe that’s already got some zing.

Get His Weapons Back

Well, this one might not be within Love’s control, but it’s closely linked to his improvement. When the Falcons’ game wrapped up on Sunday, Love found himself missing some major players – David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Aaron Jones, and Christian Watson. These are the big guns on the Packers’ offense.

Jenkins is set to be sidelined for a while, and Bakhtiari’s situation is a bit of a mystery. However, Jones and Watson might make a comeback next week, and that’s crucial for the Packers. They can’t keep relying on AJ Dillon and hoping for the best. Love needs his key weapons on the field to do their job.