GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is continuing to praise new starting quarterback Jordan Love.
According to NFL.com’s Brenna White, Love is preparing for his debut season by working closely with longtime quarterbacks coach Tom Clements.
“Just watching him last year. I think Jordan’s made some huge strides,” LaFleur told the media. “I really do and I think a lot of it is a credit to Tom, and just, he knows how to train these guys. He knows how to drill them and he’s very, very consistent. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He just is a matter of fact and I think there’s no doubt.”
Clements returned to the team last year after serving as the Arizona Cardinals’ passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2021.
LaFleur said Love responds positively to Clements’ instruction, similar to how Rodgers described Clements as having “incredible motivation” for him as a rookie quarterback.
“I asked Jordan after the season how he felt about him and he said he loved Tom, and thought he did a helluva job helping him, you know, develop over the course of the year,” LaFleur said. “For me, it was a no-brainer. It was just whether or not Tom wanted to come back, so I’m happy he wanted to be here, and you know, we’re lucky to have him.”
Clements spent the last offseason working on Love’s footwork. According to Packers.com, by the end of the season, the quarterback’s coach said that Love’s hard work had paid off.
“He’s probably getting to the point where the game has slowed down for him,” Clements said back in December. “When that happens, you kind of see things in slow motion. You see where guys are moving, you see where guys should go, and you’re able to react quickly… His footwork, rhythm, and getting the ball off on time is where he’s gotten a lot better.”
For the first time since 2008, the Packers are hoping to have a new franchise quarterback, and Love’s 2024 contract deal has up to $9 million in bonuses if he can play at a high level this season.
