The Love-Watson connection has been a problem for the Packers
Before the 2023 season, there was a big expectation over the 10 to 9 connection in Green Bay, especially after glimpses of it in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles last season. So far, it's been more than a disappointment: it's close to a disaster. Love has had 10 interceptions this season, and five of […]
Before the 2023 season, there was a big expectation over the 10 to 9 connection in Green Bay, especially after glimpses of it in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles last season. So far, it's been more than a disappointment: it's close to a disaster.
Love has had 10 interceptions this season, and five of them happened when the target was Christian Watson. Two of them happened last Sunday, during the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Some of it is Love regularly underthrowing his fastest receiver. Some of it is Watson's inability to fight for the ball — maybe not necessarily for catching them, but at least to force incompletions avoiding interceptions.
It's shocking because Watson was a big difference-maker last season. When he started playing well, the entire offense was transformed. You could argue that, therefore, the issues this year are Jordan Love's fault. But the quarterback has had much better results when throwing to anybody else. It's a connection problem, and it has severely limited what the offense can be.
Passer rating when targeted:
- Jayden Reed 118.1
- Luke Musgrave 105.5
- Dontayvion Wicks 103.8
- Aaron Jones 103.3
- AJ Dillon 94.3
- Romeo Doubs 90.1
- Christian Watson 37.8
"It's frustrating for sure, just with the expectation I have for myself, the goal that I have for myself, when we're not being as successful as we want to be as a team," Watson said. "Just want to find ways to try to make more of an impact. But at the end of the day, I'm only one out of 11 people on the field, so we just need to find a way to get it done as a team."
Let's analyze each interception that Jordan Love has thrown when targeting Christian Watson:
vs. Lions
The first one came in the first Christian Watson game of the season. The play is a schematic staple of Matt LaFleur's offense, and Jordan Love expected Watson to be open. However, a linebacker tipped the pass, which allowed the interception. This is not Watson's fault at all, and Love would have to read it before the throw. However, quarterbacks of this tree are taught to trust the scheme there.
vs. Raiders
Against the Raiders, it was a contested throw. It was not a perfect ball placement from Jordan Love, but you would expect your best wide receiver to battle for the ball. The Raiders defensive back tipped it, and allowed an interception from Robert Spillane.
vs. Raiders (2)
This is a bad underthrow by Jordan Love, as Christian Watson had beaten his coverage. Watson could theoretically go back and fight to at least avoid the interception, but it was all too quick for that reaction.
vs. Steelers
Another contested catch, another underthrow by Jordan Love, another ball that ideally Christian Watson could fight for but didn't. Patrick Peterson tipped the ball, and Keanu Neal intercepted it.
"That was designed for single-high defense, they played a shell," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said after the game. "I've got to go back and look at it, but just thought that the ball needed to go backside."
vs. Steelers (2)
This was the last play of the Steelers game, so Jordan Love had to do something. He targeted Christian Watson, but probably Romeo Doubs at the top of the screen would have had a better shot. Watson didn't have much time to fight for the ball either.
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