Matt LaFleur knows how rare it is to follow up a three-time MVP quarterback with a four-time one. So when it comes to clearing the decks for Jordan Love, the Packers head coach says expectations should be tempered for the young QB.
Telling reporters Tuesday:
It’s going to be a different role for him certainly, and I think we all kind of have to temper our expectations for him. It’s just different when you’re going into a game versus when you’re starting a game. It’s going to be a process, but it’s going to be exciting for him, for us. I don’t think any quarterback can truly do it on their own in this league. It’s going to be everybody rallying around him and trying to play to the best of their ability, so he can go out there and perform as good as he possibly can.
Matt LaFleur: We all should temper our expectations for Jordan Love. https://t.co/wD3KczoNiK
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 28, 2023
LaFleur went on to explain that Love has a come a long way in his progression and he believes that will continue throughout the year. With that said, he says there’s still a difference between an 18-year veteran and a quarterback with one career start.
Certainly seeing just his performance in practice, his mechanics, his decision-making, his timing in the pass game, I think just his accuracy, which is always what we’re grading the quarterback on, I think he’s come a long way.
… I just think it’s going to be a progression. Certainly, I think we’re fooling ourselves if we think he’s going to go out there and perform at a level of the likes of Aaron Rodgers. This guy is a once-in-a-lifetime, a generational talent. I don’t think it necessarily started that way when he first started, but he progressed. It’s going to be progression and hopefully we can surround him with enough people to help him perform to the best of his ability, and then we’ve got to do a good job as a coaching staff.
We’ll see how Love does as QB1 this season.