How Jordan Love changed his throwing motion.
Disclaimer: This article was written in the beginning of the season, just prior to Week 2 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
After three years of apprenticeship behind the legendary Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love steps into the limelight as the Green Bay Packers' official starting quarterback. Following his inaugural Week 1 start, Love now aims to join the elite ranks of Packers quarterbacks, a franchise that had two back-to-back Hall of Famers behind center. In order to become another elite signal caller, Jordan Love needed to transform his throwing motion with the help of Tom Clements.
As Jordan Love entered the NFL Draft, he didn't carry the same level of hype as some of the other prospects, with most analysts projecting him as a late first-round or early second-round talent. However, during the combine, Love showcased his prowess in the passing game, attracting attention and accolades. Nevertheless, keen observers noted a potential drawback in his throwing motion—a slow release coupled with a high elbow position, factors that could telegraph the ball's trajectory and speed to defenders. This might not be an issue in the Mountain West Conference that Love previously was in, but a would be more difficult in the NFL.
To shed light on this transformation, let's draw a comparison between Aaron Rodgers' throwing motion during his college days at Cal and Jordan Love's mechanics as demonstrated during their college days. In both instances, there's a noticeable similarity: the placement of the ball above the shoulder level and a release time of approximately one second. These observations set the stage for a deeper exploration of how Love's throwing motion has evolved and adapted as he transitions to the professional football stage, and how these changes position him to excel in the highly competitive NFL landscape. Looking deeper into Love's and Rodgers throwing motion, we can see the similarities between the two prior to joining the Packers and the difference after becoming the starter.
When the Green Bay Packers drafted Jordan Love, they had a clear plan in mind: he would serve as Aaron Rodgers' understudy, although when he would become a starter remained uncertain. This strategic decision not only demonstrated the organization's long-term vision but also afforded them the opportunity to re-enlist the services of the illustrious Tom Clements, who had previously played a pivotal role in reshaping Aaron Rodgers' throwing mechanics upon his arrival in Green Bay. Clements' mentorship could play a critical role in refining Love's throwing motion, just as he had done with Aaron Rodgers. This strategic alignment of talent and coaching has not only demonstrated the Packers' commitment to quarterback development but has also heightened the anticipation surrounding Jordan Love's potential impact on the team's future success.
In contrast to his throwing mechanics on display during the 2020 NFL Combine, Jordan Love's throwing motion has undergone significant alterations with the guidance of Tom Clements, Love has sped up his release while maintaining a lower shoulder position. This adjustment holds several advantages, such as concealing his intended target from defenders, augmenting the velocity of his throws, and diminishing the likelihood of fumbles while executing his throwing motion. It's noteworthy that Love now positions the ball higher against his chest compared to Aaron Rodgers but notably lower than his stance during the combine, opting to raise it solely when he's committed to the pass. Take a look at the difference between his throwing motion during the combine vs when he played against the Bears last Sunday.
As evident in the video clip below, in a scenario where the play broke down, and Love targeted Musgrave with a pass, Love's throwing technique closely emulates that of Rodgers, with only a discernible contrast in their foot positioning. While Rodgers keeps his feet firmly planted, Love incorporates a slight hop step into his throw, strategically designed to elevate the trajectory of the ball, thereby increasing its distance in the air. The release is almost identical, Rodgers gets the ball out slightly faster than love with a more intact pocket. Both of these throws resulted in a completed pass of 20+ yards.
Jordan Love's position as the Green Bay Packers' starting quarterback is not just a changing of the guard, but a calculated positioning in the making. Love seems to embody the throwing motion of Aaron Rodgers with the footwork of Brett Favre, allowing him to throw the ball with ease and march the offense down the field. Hopefully, Love will be as successful as his two predecessors, but we will have to see how he performs the rest of the season and not just Week 1.