‘It’s gonna take some time,’ says Donald Driver
Jordan Love has had a rough go of it in his first full season as a starting quarterback.
Love took the reins of the Green Bay Packers after the organization traded Aaron Rodgers after 18 seasons.
The Packers selected Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft as they geared up for the future (naturally, Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs). But when the marriage between Green Bay and Rodgers ended, the keys were given to Love.
So far, Love’s Packers are 2-4, his 57.5 completion percentage is the lowest in the league, his seven interceptions are tied for the third-most, his 79.8 passer rating is the fifth-worst and he has yet to throw for 260 yards in a game.
So far, Love’s Packers are 2-4, his 57.5 completion percentage is the lowest in the league, his seven interceptions are tied for the third-most, his 79.8 passer rating is the fifth-worst and he has yet to throw for 260 yards in a game.
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But one Packers legend said it’s too early to throw in the towel on the 24-year-old. In fact, Donald Driver said Love is “the future of the Packers” – it just “takes time.”
“The thing people don’t understand — let’s go back to 2008 when Aaron [Rodgers] stepped in to take over the Packers offense. Aaron had the best-receiving group in the National Football League,” Driver told Fox News Digital. A recent interview. “You step in when we lose the NFC Championship game, Brett [Favre] retires, you step in, well guess what? All your weapons are still there. It’s easy when you have a group like that.
“Jordan Love is starting again – it’s fresh. All those guys are young… there’s no veteran guy in that locker room to lead that charge, and Jordan is young. It’s a young team but a team that can grow. I think Jordan Love is the future, he’s got his back foot. It’s going to take some time to bring, and at the end of the day, I think he’s going to be good.”
While some may be losing faith in Jordan Love, Donald Driver believes that Green Bay Packers fans have been fortunate, having been spoiled with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, over the past three decades. Driver envisions a future where Love could be mentioned alongside these greats.
Driver emphasizes that Jordan Love has the potential to reach that level but cautions that it will require time and patience. Drawing parallels to the past, he notes that Love spent three years learning behind Aaron Rodgers, just as Rodgers learned behind Brett Favre for two to three years. It’s a learning process that takes time to develop.
Furthermore, Driver highlights the importance of providing Love with the right talent and support to succeed. Currently, the Packers have struggled with consistency in Love’s supporting cast, with injuries to key players like Aaron Jones and Christian Watson, which has hindered Love’s growth and development.
“Christian Watson is the linchpin for our receiving group. If Christian Watson can’t maintain his health, it not only disrupts our fantasy teams but also poses challenges for the Packers as a whole. Our priority should be getting him back to full health, ensuring he remains on the field, and performing at 100%,” Driver emphasized.
Regarding the receiver on the opposite side of Watson, Romeo Doubs, Driver emphasizes the need for increased consistency in his performance.
“I believe Doubs has the potential to become the primary receiver if he consistently steps up and makes the plays we know he’s capable of. The key to success is consistency. When you have players who aren’t consistent, it erodes trust, and you start doubting whether you can rely on them to catch the ball. Trust is built on the relationship between the quarterback and his receiver. If that bond is strong, things will work out,” Driver emphasized.
Reflecting on his experiences with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, Driver noted the trust they had in him on the field, and he sees the same potential in Romeo Doubs to become the next significant receiver for Green Bay. However, Driver reiterates that consistency is the key to making that happen.
In their upcoming game against the Minnesota Vikings, Love and the Packers will aim to break their three-game losing streak as they face their NFC North rivals this Sunday.