Another week, another slow start from the Green Bay Packers’ offense. Jordan Love and Green Bay’s young offense put up a whopping zero points in the first half Sunday afternoon in Denver. It’s not the first time that the Packers’ offensive engine has struggled to turn over.
Green Bay had a bye week and a 10-day break before the last two games. Therefore, it’s shocking to see how unprepared they look. They had time to prepare for the Las Vegas Raiders game and even more time to prepare for the Denver Broncos game, with calamitous results in both.
The thing is that it’s not that the Packers are unprepared; the problem is with the plan itself. The flaccid performance stems from Green Bay’s game plan. Matt LaFleur likes to ease Love into the game, but that makes the Packers vulnerable because opposing defenses know it. LaFleur calls a lot of screen passes and short-yardage routes. These easy throws are supposed to get Love in rhythm, but it’s costing Green Bay by making it too easy for defenses to stop.
Below is a graphic of all the throws that Love made in the first half.
That’s seven throws at or behind the line of scrimmage. There was only one pass beyond 20 yards, and it fell incomplete. Most of these are screens or short dig routes. All of these routes and concepts are meant to make things easier for Love to start the game.
But Love is supposed to be the guy. The Utah State product looked fantastic in the first few weeks. The offense found its footing in the second half. The game plan was different and had Love attacking down the field. Why does LaFleur insist on limiting Love to start the game?
The answer to that is probably found in the last play of the game.
Love is now tied for second in the NFL in interceptions. Decisions like that one are why LaFleur wants to limit Love and start him off with short routes. Simply put, LaFleur doesn’t trust his young quarterback to make plays.
When the Packers are trailing and need to open up the offense, LaFleur opens up the playbook and Green Bay’s offense comes back to life. But that comes with externalities. Love is turnover-prone, and his decision to throw into double-coverage at the end of the game is why LaFleur doesn’t want to set him loose right after kickoff.
When I watched Love’s first-half performance on Sunday against the Broncos, it reminded me of a game I saw the night before Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. For some context, the Miami Hurricanes were hosting the Clemson Tigers. Miami’s starter, Tyler Van Dyke, was questionable all week. That injury led Miami to start true freshman, 18-year-old Emory Williams.
Williams had just 31 yards and an interception in the first half. The ‘Canes only scored seven points, which came off a long rushing touchdown. Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson tried to make things easy for Williams. Almost all of the freshman’s throws were short-yardage routes or screens at or behind the line of scrimmage. Dawson did not want to make the big stage any harder for the freshman quarterback. Dawson did not want to risk Williams having to make a decision with the ball that could result in a turnover-worthy play.
That game plan makes sense for a true freshman making his first career start. Dawson doesn’t trust Williams because he’s a true freshman subbing in after an injury. But that game plan does not make sense for a quarterback who is supposed to eventually lead a contending team. It seems like LaFleur is treating Love like a freshman quarterback who is afraid of the big lights.
LaFleur’s game plans have been far too pedestrian. Love has the ability to make big-time plays; he’s shown that before. He’s also prone to making mistakes, but that’s just part of being an inexperienced quarterback. LaFleur is handicapping Love because he’s afraid of the detrimental decisions that Love could make. LaFleur is playing not to lose to start the game.
The Packers cannot afford to be passive. Love has played his best ball when Green Bay is being aggressive. LaFleur and the Packers have to get out of their own way. Start playing games to win; don’t be afraid to lose. Love is a rollercoaster and the Packers signed up to be a part of the ride.
