Lots of people have been working hard to keep optimism high in Green Bay lately. Most of it centering on the belief that Jordan Love, their 1st round pick from last season is going to be just fine taking over for Aaron Rodgers. The Hall of Fame QB remains away from the team due to a dispute with the front office and doesn’t seem inclined to return. Those close to the organization have done what they can to pump up Love in the months since.
While there is no denying the talent of the young QB, there was a reason he fell that far in the 1st round. If Green Bay hadn’t taken him, most experts were certain he’d have dropped into the 2nd. It certainly didn’t help his cause that Love was relegated to the #3 quarterback spot as a rookie. A surefire sign of where his development was. The fact that head coach Matt Lafleur wants Rodgers back “badly” according to reports doesn’t help.
Minicamps weren’t a highlight for him either.
Rob Demovsky of ESPN provided an update on Green Bay’s 1st round pick, cornerback Eric Stokes. Apparently he didn’t waste too much time making an impression when the rookies and veterans came together. In the first minicamp of his career, he cut off an ill-advised throw by Love for a pick-six. While it was a great play for the 29th overall pick, it probably wasn’t the best thing to see your projected starting QB get housed by a kid who has yet to see an NFL snap.
“How does a pick-six in your first NFL minicamp rate as far as strong starts to a career? That’s what Stokes did on Day 3 of the Packers’ mandatory minicamp. Drafted in part because of his speed in the 4.2s at his pro day, Stokes showed that off when he broke on an out route and picked off Jordan Love during an 11-on-11 period. Even though the Packers re-signed Kevin King, don’t be surprised if Stokes is the opening-day starter opposite All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander.”
Could Love be a success? Sure. Yet people continue to talk him up as if he’s going to be an instant sensation. This despite plenty of evidence to the contrary thus far. Some people are even certain Green Bay will win the division whether Rodgers is the quarterback or not. That feels like a bit of a stretch given how central the QB was to their success the past two years.
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Packer fans are clearly waiting on Jordan Love with held breath
They’re terrified of what might be coming. They know this organization has been incredibly spoiled with all-time great quarterback play for 30 years. First with Brett Favre and then Rodgers. The fact they managed to win just two Super Bowls in that time is something that doesn’t get talked about enough. So what will happen to this organization if that position finally takes a noticeable dip in quality?
Jordan Love didn’t ask for this situation he’s in. He had no control over the Packers trading up to get him, igniting the feud that eventually led to Rodgers stepping away. If he’d have ended up literally on any other team, the pressure wouldn’t be nearly as high. Yet here he is, trying to accelerate his development in time to help keep a championship window open before it’s too late.
All without having played a single game in over a year.
Not even a preseason game. Don’t forget it was canceled last year due to COVID-19. So this upcoming preseason will be his first actual action since December 20th of 2019. The odds of him immediately playing up to the level Green Bay is accustomed to are remote. If optimism were really that high, then the buzz would much louder than its been.
One thing is certain. Bears, Lions, and Vikings fans are just itching to see this ship go down in flames.
