Jordan Love and how the Green Bay Packers built around their new QB
Jordan Love, the starting quarterback for the playoff-bound Green Bay Packers, continues the long-term tradition of star quarterbacks for the team. The success looks immediate but was built up over the years. How did the Packers create such a successful team around Love?
At the college level, Love was famous for his down-the-field passing, out-of-the-pocket playmaking, and pocket presence. While this was not happening at the highest level of conference play, it was enough to catch the attention of the Packers, who saw in Love a successor to hall-of-fame QB Aaron Rodgers.
The Love Blueprint: Utah State 2018 offense
Love spent three years as the Utah State star QB from 2017 to 2019. The highlight of the blueprint is the 2018 season, which was the season the Utah State Aggies had the second-highest offense in the nation. Love passed for 3,567 yards and 32 touchdowns against six interceptions.
The Aggies had a rushing duo that went for nearly 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns, while three of his top four receivers averaged over 15 yards per catch. The defense was also ranked in the top 25 (22nd) in the nation for points per game allowed.
This shows a blueprint to build around Love—a strong run game, explosive receivers, and a defense full of playmakers. The Packers have followed this blueprint.
The Love Blueprint: Packers 2024 offense
This offseason, the Packers signed power running back Josh Jacobs to partner with explosive wide receivers Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wick. Every wide receiver listed averages over 10 yards per catch.
Tucker Craft plays the possession receiver role quite well. The defense also ranks in the top 10 in points allowed per game.
The Packers have emulated Utah State in building the ideal supporting cast around Love—a strong rushing attack, dynamic wide receivers, and a defense full of playmakers.
Why it is vital to follow the blueprint
A year after putting up the second-best offense in the nation in 2018, the Aggies regressed in multiple areas on offense and saw a massive decline in the play of Love. The starting QB dropped to 20 touchdowns against 17 interceptions.
The first area to experience decline was the running game, which dropped by over 400 to about 500 yards across the season. The wide receiver room was not as dynamic as the group only had one receiver average over 15 yards per catch, and the defense plummeted from the top 25 to 90th in the nation.
Love’s play is based on what is around him; if the quality around him drops, his level of play drops off as well, and as more of the offensive burden is put on Love’s shoulders, the more turnovers he produces. He is not a rushing threat, and he can’t move the chains himself; he needs his playmakers.
Love is a gunslinger whose focus is hurting teams down the field with his rocket arm. He needs an above-average offensive line to give him time to target down the field and explosive wide receivers who can separate down the field. A lack of great offensive linemen leads to an increase in sacks, while a lack of separation from his receivers leads to interceptions.
The Packers need to maintain a stable supporting staff around their young QB to avoid the slip he experienced at Utah State in 2019. As it currently stands, the Packers have done a great job following the blueprint of a strong offensive line, a dynamic running game, an explosive receiving game, and a defense full of playmakers.
Being the youngest team in the league, the Packers have surrounded Love with a team that will grow with him. The Packers should avoid putting too much on the shoulders of their young QB until he is developed enough to carry the burden himself.