Soon enough, Jordan Love will be the new starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. While the Packers and Jets work to finalize the trade for one Aaron Rodgers, the only thing Love can do is focus on getting better.
After all, preparation is one of the few things Love has had control over since he entered the league three years ago. That is why he uses his offseasons to reconvene with private quarterbacks and wide receivers coach Steve Calhoun to work on his throwing mechanics.
Calhoun, who has coached Love since he was a freshman in high school, recently appeared on NFL Network to discuss how Love is preparing for the most important year of his NFL career. Some may find it hard to believe, but not much has changed between years one and three, according to Calhoun. That includes any conversations regarding Love’s mindset now that he is expected to replace Rodgers.
“It’s not like he says, ‘Oh my god, I might have the opportunity to be the guy now, so now my focus is going to go up, or I’m going to start working out harder.’ It’s always the same,” said Calhoun. “We’re preparing every day to become the best Jordan Love that he can possibly be and work on his fundamentals and his throwing mechanics and really understand the playbook as well as Coach (Matt) LaFleur.”
For Love, it’s all about having your nose to the grind, which is probably the most effective approach to blocking out all the noise. But what exactly are they working on? Anyone who follows Armed & Dangerous QB on Twitter can see some of the workouts Love goes through. However, Calhoun can provide even more insight into what the objective is.
“Just him to continue to develop as a passer. The biggest thing for me is I’m coaching every small detail from where his left foot plants and where his arm is coming through in the slot — just coaching all those details and see if he can make the correction without me saying it because I won’t be in Green Bay with him. So, just by the way the ball comes out or the flight of the ball, he’ll understand exactly what he needs to do to make those adjustments to be a really accurate passer,” Calhoun explained.
Naturally, when the head coach says he wants Love to work on something, it becomes a top priority for Calhoun. The latest note from LaFleur is making sure Love plants his left foot when finishing his throwing motion. As Calhoun tells it, this helps with both balance and accuracy.
“(LaFleur) wants his left to be flat on the ground as he’s coming through throwing the football because that will create more balance, and balance will create more accuracy,” said Calhoun.
This trio of offensive weapons is expected to play a huge role in Love’s first season as a starter. Getting together now could make it easier to hit the ground running when the offseason program begins on April 17.