Jordan Love era in Green Bay begins

Now that the 2023 preseason has come and gone, the Green Bay Packers enter their first season without Aaron Rodgers under center in 18 years.

While the hype around Love is looking to be proven right more and more by day, it is going to take more than Love for the Packers to win the Super Bowl this year.

Although running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon are solid pieces to help Love’s development, it will all start with the offensive line. The Packers will welcome back All-Pro tackle David Bakhtiari to an offensive line that already includes Elgton Jenkins and Jon Runyan Jr. The two spots that seemed to be questioned this summer though were the center and right tackle positions. The current depth chart shows Josh Myers at center and Zach Tom at right tackle, the combo that seemed to provide the offense with the most success throughout the summer. Given the inexperience in the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends room, the offensive line will need to work cohesively this season to support the team.

“I think the (offensive line) did a great job this whole preseason,” said Love. “I don’t even think that I got hit in the pocket at all. I think they did a really good job, just keeping me clean. The run game also was really clean, and there was a lot of holes opening up. I am proud of the O-line. They battled, and they did a really good job.”

The aforementioned wide receivers and tight ends will also be a big help in the progression of Love. Given the team’s inexperience — as well as losing veterans Randall Cobb, Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan and Allen Lazard in the offseason — guys like Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are going to be thrown into some big-play situations.

What those rooms lack in experience though, they more than make up for in athleticism. Given the youth, Green Bay’s pass catchers look like one of the fastest, toughest cores to guard. Watson stands at 6-foot-4, rookie tight end Luke Musgrave at 6-foot-6, fellow rookie tight end Tucker Kraft at 6-foot-5 and Doubs is 6-foot-2; excitement surrounding the offense is warranted.

It will all come down to doing the little things right for these pass-catchers to have a lasting impact. Looking the ball into their hands and finishing their blocks through the whistle will be the first steps of a potentially successful offense for years to come.

“I think that it is going to be a work in progress, but I am excited about the guys in that locker room,” said head coach Matt LaFleur. “The overall attitude of the team, the energy that they are bringing on a daily basis, the competitive spirit — that’s what we are looking for.”

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com