Green Bay Packers coach reveals big difference between Jordan Love and Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) and wide receiver Christian Watson (9) celebrate a touchdown connection against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsThe Green Bay Packers are 5-6 after a 29-22 win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
The win was Green Bay’s third in its last four games. Before their recent winning streak, the Packers had lost four games in a row and appeared to be in a tailspin.
The four-game losing streak was difficult to watch for many reasons. Not only did Jordan Love make mistakes, but his wide receivers did nothing to help him. Bad passes, bad routes and penalties seemed to sap any momentum the offense could muster at any point.
Although some Packers fans would rather not remember it, there was a bad stretch like this last year with Aaron Rodgers under center.
The difference, however, was that Rodgers could count on his friends Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb (and the New York Jets are seeing how well that worked).
Aaron Rodgers was quick to blame his Green Bay Packers teammates and coaches 8. January 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) leave the field after the game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports After starting the season 3-1, Rodgers’ 2022 Packers were 1-7 and the team was playing the ugliest football of his tenure.
But when he heard Rodgers say it, and he certainly did it every Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show, he wasn’t at fault at all. It was always the rookies’ fault, or the coaches’ fault, or Brian Gutekunst’s fault.
And Rodgers wasn’t afraid to call out his teammates in the media or on the field. It had been like this for years. Even the great Davante Adams remembers a time as a rookie when he committed the cardinal sin of misreading a famous Rodgers hand signal.
When the pass intended for him went out of bounds, Rodgers attacked him with an insult before returning to the huddle. Even Ndamukong Suh felt sorry for Adams that day.
It was no secret, inside or outside the Packers locker room, that players had to earn Rodgers’ trust. Mistakes were not tolerated. If a young pass catcher made a mistake, it could be a long time before he was targeted again.
Take Christian Watson, for example: After his Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, he barely managed to score a touchdown. It took him until Week 10 to score more than three goals in a game.
In many ways, the development of Watson and his fellow rookie receivers (Romeo Doubs and Samori Touré) was stunted because Rodgers refused to work with them until training camp (a period that Watson himself missed due to knee surgery).
Certainly, there was some growth during the season and Watson ended up having the best season of any rookie receiver in the Aaron Rodgers era. But it could have been better. It should have been better.
Jordan Love toughens up his wide receivers when they make mistakes10 September 2023; Chicago, Illinois, United States; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13), quarterback Jordan Love (10) and wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) celebrate with running back Aaron Jones (33) after a touchdown in the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
Man datory credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY SportsOf course, Rodgers is now a New York Jet and the Packers have decided to gamble on 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love as the franchise’s next quarterback. The 2023 season looks promising at the moment.
After the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, the Packers are now just 0.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the NFC. However, there hasn’t always been as much optimism within the team, and perhaps many still don’t feel as good about this situation.
After all, they lost four games in a row before their recent winning streak.During this four-game losing streak, Love made many mistakes, but also (and perhaps more) many unforgivable errors on the part of his receivers.
Watson, for example, dropped several passes during this series and lost balls 50/50 more times than he won them against smaller defensive backs.
But the difference this year is that Love continued to throw those passes to him. He didn’t let mistakes test his trust in Watson.
He took all the blame during press conferences and never threw Watson, or any other receiver, under the bus. On Monday, wide receivers coach Jason Vrable said:Last season, games 1 through 7 spanned nearly two full months.
The recent four-game losing streak lasted a month before Love and the offense started clicking. Of course, the 2023 season is not over yet.
There may still be some valleys this young team will have to overcome. But they also have a favorable schedule, as only one of their remaining opponents (the Kansas City Chiefs) has a record above .500.
In other words, they could very well finish with a better record than last year and perhaps even qualify for the NFL playoffs.
Because Love didn’t abandon his receivers when mistakes were made, the Packers are poised to have a more successful season than last year. This is an incredible testament to Love’s leadership.
