It’s not what any Green Bay Packers fan wants to hear. After a series of wins, and then to lose in the disappointing manner in which the team did, to be talking about intangible qualities and positive aspects is not a particular discussion many want to be a part of. In reality, with these young pieces, and a first year starter at quarterback, an up and down season was to be expected. Clearly disappointed in some of the decisions, and the execution from the loss against the Giants, Matt LaFleur took a moment to acknowledge the mental toughness of his quarterback.
Green Bay Packers Next Day Press Conference
Whoever the reporter was, it would be wonderful if this article were to be viewed by them so that they could be credited for their really good question:
Matt, I get that you are in the business of winning football games, but the growth does still matter. When you look at what Jordan did in those last three drives, like a guy with his experience, there’s plenty of guys that would’ve played the way he did to start the game and never pull himself out of it…You still want to win the game I know it sucks, but is there a value in him doing what he did on a day when he wasn’t very good, for a good portion of the day, to find a way to kind of figure it out and get the job done?
Coach LaFleur would answer by not only commending Love’s character, and speaking of the type of values that he enjoys seeing of his team as a whole, but credited him for finding a way to still put the team in a position to win.
Green Bay Packers Possible Explanation For Early Struggles?
In a strange way, his answer can serve as an analysis of the microcosm of Love’s season so far. Jordan Love did not get off to a great start, but has showed growth throughout the year, similar to his individual performance against the Giants.
What Green Bay Packers Coach LaFleur proceeded to say is an interesting possible explanation, not only of why this staff believed Love was struggling, but also why they see him as the next potential franchise guy.
If you’re indecisive in this game, especially at that position it’s hard to be effective all the time.
This could be a stretch, but there are two possible ways to interpret this quote.
One is at face value. The obvious, that if your quarterback hesitates or does not fully commit on a given play then mistakes will happen.
On a possible deeper, reading between the lines interpretation, Coach LaFleur may be giving the biggest endorsement of what he sees in Love. That he believes that he has all of the physical traits, and that he has the characteristics that you are looking for in a quarterback. He moves on to the next play, is even tempered, a hard worker, but that the biggest obstacle holding him back, is when self doubt creeps in.
Following in the line of succession of two Hall Of Fame talents, watching Aaron Rodgers in practice everyday for three years. It would be understandable if imposter syndrome creeped in every now and then.
Fortunately, when fixed for himself, the ceiling has unlimited potential. This staff likely feels that if he is able to gain the needed stable self-confidence, or if they figure out what buttons to push, that he is exactly what they are looking for talent wise, and is an exemplary example of who they want representing the Green Bay Packers.
