Packers edge rusher Preston Smith may not play on the same side of the ball as Jordan Love, but he still thinks the team’s defense can help make an impact on the young QB’s development.
Appearing on the NFL Network yesterday, Smith said that Green Bay’s D has a lot of confidence in Love and that their unit is doing whatever it can to help his transition from three-year backup to first-year starter as smooth as possible.
“With so much talent on our defense, we know we have to step it up a lot, and knowing we have a young quarterback, we have to be tremendous this year,” the veteran pass rusher explained.
Edge rusher Preston Smith wants Packers defense to “step up,” help QB Jordan Love show what he’s “really made of”https://t.co/tG9kBfbmRx pic.twitter.com/zoXBOplg1t
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 20, 2023
“We have to make sure we step up and do our part to help [Jordan Love] to get comfortable out there on the field. Help him get the ball in great situations and get stops to let him get comfortable back there and make sure we put him in great situations,” Smith continued.
“It’s not just about him putting us in great situations, but helping us be comfortable to put him in great situations with the ball in great field position and getting stops. So he can go down the field and get us touchdowns and do his thing and gain his confidence throughout the season.”
There’s almost certainly going to be growing pains for Love in his first season as QB1, but the former first-round pick is making an impression on teammates thus far.