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Jordan Love Discusses Pressure of Joining Packers, Virtual Meetings, More
May 15, 2020
Green Bay Packers rookie quarterback Jordan Love addressed several topics during an interview with NFL Network's Omar Ruiz on Friday.
After Love completed a workout at a California park with other NFL players, he spoke to Ruiz about applying things he learns in virtual meetings to his workouts, as well as what type of pressure he is feeling after the Packers took him in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft:
Omar Ruiz @OmarDRuizWe had fun being back out on a field for the first time in a while. I spoke w/ #Packers 1st round pick, Jordan Love, after one of his private workouts, on how he continues to prepare for his rookie season. Our interview from @nflnetwork & more on the workouts👇🏽 https://t.co/2wl1wL3ZxX
With regard to proving that the Packers were right to use such an early pick on him despite the presence of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Love said: "No matter where I would've landed, that was the goal for me. Gotta go out there and prove yourself and make a name for yourself. It's the job, you gotta be able to keep that. So, for me, it would be huge to just try and learn this offense and be able to go out there and just prove myself."
Love was the fourth and final quarterback taken in the first round of the 2020 draft at No. 26 overall after Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert.
Since Rodgers is a future Hall of Famer who has won two NFL MVP awards and one Super Bowl, it raised some eyebrows when Green Bay selected Love. Rodgers also helped lead the Packers all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season.
Rodgers undoubtedly could have benefited from some additional weapons at wide receiver or tight end, but Green Bay didn't go in that direction until the third round after taking Love in the first and running back A.J. Dillon in the second.
While the Love pick could be questioned for years to come, he is committed to doing everything possible to be ready for the 2020 season.
The coronavirus pandemic has complicated things for NFL teams, especially when it comes to integrating rookies. With no in-person OTAs occurring presently, teams have met with their players virtually instead.
With regard to the virtual meetings and workouts, Love said: "We meet every day and just go over the playbook, the plays, footwork and whatnot that I can just take out here. Do it on my own, be able to do the routes and the timing and just build that even though I'm not actually out there doing them."
If things go according to plan for the Packers next season and beyond, Love may not be in the conversation to start for at least a few seasons. That was the case when the Packers selected Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft, as he sat and learned behind Brett Favre for three years before taking over.
Provided the Packers are able to play out that ideal scenario, Love will have a chance to gain knowledge from one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Love has some impressive physical tools, but he is also something of a project after throwing just 20 touchdowns compared to 17 interceptions at Utah State last season.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Love as a prospect and the unique situation he finds himself in as Rodgers' understudy, he figures to be under the microscope in 2020 and beyond.