The Green Bay Packers are getting ready to enter the 2023 off-season with a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2008, when Aaron Rodgers took over for Brett Favre.
Life in Green Bay, well, let’s be real, it has been good.
Could those times be changing? Probably. Most likely. Right?
I think it is highly unlikely that Jordan Love comes in here and becomes the third straight hall-of-fame QB, and quite frankly, it is unfair to even expect that from him.
But, I think there is something here that definitely needs to be addressed based on some internal discussions here on Wisconsin Morning News, as well as other places, I’m sure.
Let me start out by asking you this?
Who has the most pressure on them in Green Bay in 2023?
I’ll give you a few seconds to chew on that, and most people will probably be screaming at their radio “ITS JORDAN LOVE!”
I would push back on that, and argue against it.
It’s head coach Matt LaFleur, and if you want, you can probably tag in general manager Brian Gutekunst in there too.
Jordan Love shouldn’t have much, if any pressure on him.
He hasn’t played enough to expect anything substantial out of him, and if he fails, most people will point and say “I TOLD YOU SO!”
Sure, he’s been in the system for the past few seasons, and I have no doubt he’ll be fine.
But the guy who really has the weight on his shoulders is his play-caller.
The guy who will be responsible for developing him, leading him and putting him in a winning position.
Since taking over in 2019, LaFleur has won 47 of his 66 games he’s coached in, winning just over 71% of them. Also winning 13 games in his first 3 seasons, setting records, yet no one gave him much credit.
Why, you may ask? Aaron Rodgers.
Now, things will be changing, at least we think that will be the case.
Is he a good coach? Is he a great coach or is he going to fall flat on his face without the Rodgers crutch?
If he’s great or even just good, he will help Love develop and be the leader this team will need despite them losing their leader of 15 seasons.
Bottom line – The expectations in Green Bay have always been high, that could change entering this season, but the pressure of developing, and leading a first-year starting quarterback and this team will reside in the hands of Matt LaFleur, not Jordan Love.
