Matt LaFleur reveals a surprising Jordan Love trait that even Aaron Rodgers couldn’t match
The Packers head coach obviously likes working on a daily basis with Love, and his progression in the NFL has been notable.
Jordan Love’s ability to set protections at the line of scrimmage has separated him from every quarterback Matt LaFleur has coached, including Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, and Jared Goff. The Green Bay Packers head coach praised Love’s mental processing during an interview with NFL Network’s Stacy Dales and Brian Baldinger at Packers training camp, and one particular comment stood out: Love is the best LaFleur has ever been around at adjusting pass protection before the snap.
That distinction matters for the Packers’ offense in particular, even though protection adjustments are the invisible foundation of any passing attack. Love’s command of that part of the game is a significant reason Green Bay has been so consistently successful offensively over the past few years.
LaFleur’s praise for Love’s mental game
LaFleur didn’t hold back when describing what Love can do pre-snap.
“He’s got to be the best I’ve been around in terms of protections and adjustments, and rarely does he get out-schemed,” LaFleur said. “It’s pretty remarkable. And that was all formed for him coming into the league. I think having the opportunity to sit back, learn from Aaron, and watch him do it at the level he did, it was invaluable for him.”
LaFleur acknowledged that sitting behind Rodgers shaped Love’s development, but he made clear that Love has surpassed his predecessor in this specific area.
“Aaron’s gonna be mad about this, but no, it’s uncanny what he can do at the line of scrimmage without protection adjustments,” LaFleur added. “Watching his growth has been a really fun process. He’s a great guy to work with every day. He’s so consistent, so even-keeled, and I think that’s why in those critical moments he can go out there and perform at a high level.”
Advanced numbers back it up, and it’s more than just the collective success
Love’s mental development has translated directly into production. Since 2023, among players with at least 800 plays, Love ranks third in adjusted EPA per play, 12th in success rate, 14th in completion percentage over expectation, and second in air yards. Those are excellent numbers across a three-year sample.
Last season showed clear growth in areas where Love previously lagged. He finished seventh in success rate, third in completion percentage over expectation, and sixth in air yards. The improvement in success rate and CPOE indicates a quarterback who became more precise and more efficient as a decision-maker on a play-by-play basis, not just a big-play generator.
Love is no longer the so-called “EPA king” that detractors try to reduce him to. He has developed into a complete quarterback who can individually elevate the Packers’ offense. One of the strongest indicators of that completeness is his pressure-to-sack ratio. Love’s ability to avoid sacks and negative plays has been remarkable, and it ties directly back to what LaFleur described at camp.
While conversations about turnovers still follow Love, he is actually one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL at avoiding bad plays. His mental development allows him to process pressure, escape negative outcomes, and still create explosive plays for Green Bay.
