There has been a lot of focus on Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love this offseason. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as he is the player tasked with replacing the legendary Aaron Rodgers under center.
Love has been receiving tips and words of advice from a lot of people this offseason as he adjusts to his new role. After being traded, Rodgers told him to reach out if he ever needed anything. The two have texted a few times and Love is appreciative of everything that Rodgers has done for him.
Most recently, it was Hall of Famer Peyton Manning that was a guest at the Packers’ training camp. He also gave advice to Love, whose No. 1 goal should be carving out a path for himself, not trying to replicate anything anyone else has done.
Throughout the offseason, there has been plenty of hot takes about Love. People have already written him off based on his performance in practice against a stout Packers defense. It is not surprising that the offense has lost a majority of the competition portions of practice as they are inexperienced compared to the defense.
But, one NFL analyst is tired of all the negativity surrounding Love. Louis Riddick of ESPN has become a voice of reason in the Love situation. He offered a very clear set of expectations for the Utah State product in his first season under center and preached patience before passing judgment on his status as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
“We haven’t even played a preseason game yet and we’re already debating what is Jordan Love going to be like in. Like if he struggles in the 2-minute drill in the first 2 weeks of Camp we’re going to be like “oh no, you know what they need to go out and find a successor.” Riddick said. “Managing expectations is really going to be job number one for the Green Bay Packers, and I know this football team is the Packers and they’re used to winning and they’re used to competing for division titles and they have a former four-time MVP that just left I get that! But do we understand that Jordan Lovd hasn’t made his second start of his career? Do we understand of his six primary pass catchers, the top six, four of them, FOUR OF THEM are rookies! Both tight ends and then Jayden Reed and Dontavion Wicks. That’s six guys who are in their first two years of football. So there’s going to be some growing pains. I’m telling you once you get into the regular season you’re going to need to be patient there too. We know that patience doesn’t come by the bucketful in the NFL, it doesn’t even come by the glassful but you better exercise some because there are going to be growing pains.”
Love has only 10 appearances, including one start, in the first three seasons of his NFL career. His supporting cast is just as inexperienced, as the Packers don’t have a single wide receiver on the depth chart with more than one season of NFL experience.
With Josiah Deguara taking over an H-Back/Fullback role in the offense, the top two tight ends on the depth chart are also rookies. There will certainly be some growing pains for this offense, but there is no denying the high-upside talent that the team possesses as well.
