Given that he was a first-round pick way back in 2020, it is easy to forget that last season was Jordan Love's first as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.
Love led the Packers to a surprising playoff berth in 2023, throwing for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a stout 62.1 Total QBR. At 25, he was already well above average for an NFL starter.
However, if the Packers want to be true contenders in 2024, Love may need to take another leap forward--especially with the NFC runners-up, the Detroit Lions, lurking in their division. And according to an insider, Love has made strides in a key area that could signal a leap is imminent.
Packers reporter Rob Demovsky of ESPN reported on Tuesday that Love has been impressing the Packers in camp with his improved deep ball accuracy, a metric in which Love finished middle-of-the-road among starting quarterbacks a season ago.
"It's easy to forget that even with 17 deep-throw connections last season, Love's completion rate on those passes was no better than 15th among all quarterbacks," Demovsky said.
The Packers' first preseason game was a positive sign for those scrutinizing Love's deep ball accuracy. On the third play of the game, Love hit Dontayvion Wicks in stride for a 65-yard touchdown, longer than all but one of his career regular-season touchdown passes.
"That's what we wanted to do; that's what we talked about all week -- starting fast," Wicks said, per Demovsky. "That's what we came out and did. Coaches called the play, trusted us and we got it done."
Love's inaccuracy on deep balls was a hot topic of training camp at this time just a season ago. That he's already making headlines for his performance in that avenue is a great sign for Green Bay heading into the season. It just might be a monster year for number 10 in green and gold.
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