Jordan Love is such a cool QB.
The Packers’ sign caller performs the sport with such a brazen aggression that it makes watching him the good expertise within the sport. He’s fourth within the NFL in Common Depth of Goal at 10.1 per Sumer Sports activities, and it’s not simply that he’s throwing these passes downfield rather a lot, he’s attacking these coverages which have confused QBs the best manner.
We spent a big majority of the season speaking about beat 2-high defenses, and the reply remains to be which you can gash them downfield. In the event you wad up the safety and have a QB with as a lot aggression as Love does, you’ll be able to nonetheless assault these defenses. Amongst all QBs with at the very least 30 makes an attempt in opposition to what Sports activities Data Answer calls two-high shells, Love is second within the NFL in Common Throw Depth in opposition to these defenses. His perception in his arm, mixed with the aggressive nature of the passing offense, permits for them to stay explosive in opposition to these constructions.
Let’s take a look at what he did in opposition to Arizona, peppering in some actually excessive degree throws that showcase his perception in his arm. The Packers are working Dagger out of a journeys formation, with the skin receiver having to return all the way in which over on the dig. The Cardinals are in a two-high shell, however Love is about on getting this dig throw off. He holds this ball, ready for the dig to clear fully by all of the throwing home windows earlier than getting this ball off. Most QBs would’ve went for the checkdown or gone into scramble mode. Love is a pocket passer within the phrases of when the ball is in his palms, he’s going to gash you downfield, it doesn’t matter what.
These subsequent couple of throws simply showcase the assumption Love has in his arm, making these tight window throws that elevate the complete offense behind him. It’s fourth and 9, the Packers go away their offense on the sector. Gotta have it for the primary down, and so they run an over adopted by a bottom dig. The Cardinals spin into Cowl 3, and there’s nothing open. The intermediate a part of the sector is flooded and the skin path to the highest is being swamped.
Love merely lofts a go with the proper quantity of contact and velocity to place it over the linebacker’s outstretched arms and into the palms of Christian Watson. I imply, that is an unbelievable throw, among the best I’ve seen a QB make this season given the down and distance. Watch how cool Love is within the pocket. He appears to be like to his left, doesn’t prefer it, comes all the way in which again to his proper earlier than the stress will get house and throws a strike. These tight window throws are what make him such a enjoyable QB to look at from right down to down.
This throw may be one other one for the “greatest passes of the season class” and it reveals how proficient Love is, and the way he additionally manages stress conditions. Love is never a scramble attributable to stress man—this season he’s solely scrambled thrice attributable to stress, per SIS—however what Love does is belief in his arm to gash groups downfield in opposition to the blitz. Now, typically he’ll get burned for it, as his interception numbers are excessive this season, however that perception and concept of regularly being in assault mode is what makes watching him so cool, and separates himself from a few of the different high QBs within the league. This landing to Romeo Doubs is only a sick throw, with the Cardinals bringing the home in opposition to him. It’s a Cowl 0 blitz, that means they’re simply attempting to ship virtually everybody and drive this throw to be fast or inaccurate. What Love does beneath stress is fascinating. He’ll typically drift, however due to how proficient his arm is, he can place the ball precisely the place it must be. Most sign callers aren’t even escaping this stress, not to mention preserving the ball inbounds. But, Love is simply the proper quantity of loopy to make this throw and it repay with a landing. What a participant, man.
I do know folks will take a look at Love’s interception numbers and balk on the concept of Love being excellent for attacking 2 Excessive shells. His interceptions have been unhealthy to start out the 12 months, and a few of them have simply been unfortunate. Nevertheless, he’s attempting to gash groups downfield together with his arm, as an alternative of throwing a bunch of RPOs and taking part in it secure. I feel that’s the largest distinction between some QBs as we speak versus the previous. Sure, completion share numbers have been down, however a lot of the QBs again then have been taking these sorts of pictures in opposition to these coverages, remaining aggressive in opposition to them. Love has a giant problem forward with an equally aggressive Houston Texans protection, however I’m excited to see how he retains his trickshot king crown on high of his head.
