Packers QB Jordan Love continues to progress in joint practice vs. Patriots
Jordan Love was pretty solid when the Green Bay Packers took part against a good Cincinnati Bengals defense last week, so naturally, people wanted to see how he fared against another good defense in the New England Patriots. "You watch tape, but anytime that you've gone against a defense like this, you know, it's a […]
Jordan Love was pretty solid when the Green Bay Packers took part against a good Cincinnati Bengals defense last week, so naturally, people wanted to see how he fared against another good defense in the New England Patriots.
"You watch tape, but anytime that you've gone against a defense like this, you know, it's a very game-plan-predicated defense where they could throw a lot of different things at you and that is a challenge," head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters Wednesday. "But [it's] one that we're excited for and it's great to have that in a practice setting."
Love and the offense started off slow, but per reports, it was more of a give-and-take situation where he was simply making the best play against a Patriots defense that was notorious for limiting opposing passing attacks in 2022.
Then, later on, Love connected with Christian Watson for a 75-yard bomb while Patriots first-rounder, Christian Gonzalez, was in coverage.
It was the first time -nor the second time- Love got the best of Gonzalez. Per Packer Central's Bill Huber, Love also found rookie tight end Luke Musgrave and second-year wideout Romeo Doubs in the end zone for TDs.
Yep. Gonzalez was in coverage during those plays, as well.
Two of the touchdowns came during a red-zone period with a seem route to tight end Luke Musgrave and an out to Romeo Doubs against first-round draft pick Christian Gonzalez.
His biggest play of the day came during an unscripted, move-the-ball series. After a deep shot to Romeo Doubs was broken up by cornerback Jack Jones, a wounded duck incompletion to Jayden Reed, a checkdown thrown behind AJ Dillon and a sack, Love unleashed a perfect deep ball to Christian Watson. The ball beat Gonzalez by a step, and Watson turned upfield and sprinted for a 75-yard touchdown. – Bill Huber, Packer Central
Overall, it was another good day for Love against another good defense. What makes these last two weeks most impressive, however, is the fact that the first-year signal-caller, along with the rest of his teammates, go into these practices pretty much blindfolded. Meaning, there are no game plans on offense and the team doesn't spend a whole week prepping for the defense like they would during game week.
To go in, with zero game plan, and execute against a defense that is ever-changing and always disguising itself is quite the feat. Especially for a guy in Love's situation.
"I think there are more looks in joint practices. I think the defense has given us more looks that what they might do in a preseason game," Love told reporters after practice. "You know, they're trying to work things as well and we're trying to work some new concepts. So I think you dive a little bit more in the playbook…
"… I think all that stuff will help when we have a game plan where you're able to game plan throughout the week and you kind of see different looks on film. Going into a day like today, you kind of don't know what they're going to throw at you. So anything's kind of open."
Wednesday's practice lasted nearly 2-1/2 hours, so, it remains to be seen how intense today gets in terms of overall activity. But, you know Bill Belichick and the Patriots will have something up their sleeves for Love and the Packers offense if things are even at half-tilt on Thursday.
How Love responds on Thursday, and probably Saturday, will bring us one step closer to understanding how his 2023 season could play out.
Luke Musgrave shows off crazy ability during Packers-Patriots practice
The Packers rookie can do special things and he put that on display during Wednesday’s practice with the Patriots.
Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
