The main storyline for the Packers throughout the summer was who was going to win the backup quarterback position.
While there was a fair amount of hype surrounding the story, many knew that it wasn’t really that big of a deal because Jordan Love was expected to build off of his incredible end to the 2023 season.
Neither the incumbent Sean Clifford or the newcomer Michael Pratt did enough to make the team, so Green Bay went out and traded for Tennessee Titans’ backup quarterback Malik Willis. Once again, in the long when the team traded for Willis, how much did it really matter, because Love is in Green Bay.
That all changes now though that a sprained MCL from Love will sideline the Packers starting quarterback for three to six weeks. Given the four-year, $220 million contract that Love recently signed, it will be interesting to see how quickly Green Bay will reactivate him.
“I don’t know,” said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, when asked twice about the extent of Love’s injury after the team’s Week 1 loss to Philadelphia.
The question moving forward now, will be who plays quarterback for the Green Bay Packers in Love’s absence. The options are Willis, Clifford or an outside option like Ryan Tannehill.
Either way, the Packers have a few other problems to fix than the quarterback position. While it is easy to make an argument that traveling to Brazil and playing on a below average field was a major factor, committing 10 penalties is inexcusable. The 10 penalties that Green Bay was called for against the Eagles is the most that the team has had since week eight of last season.
“There is a lot to clean up. It was definitely a sloppy game I think from us,” said LaFleur. “Ultimately, we all have to look ourselves in the mirror and find ways to get better.”
As this Green Bay team has been built, removing key veterans like Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Aaron Jones and David Bakhtiari has left a leadership hole. Under the direction of Mike McCarthy and Rodgers, Green Bay was rarely harmed by costly penalties, but under LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst, costly penalties has seemed to become a common theme.
Whether it be an illegal contact on third and long or a false start on second and goal, it is no secret that penalties have impacted the overall ceiling of this team.
No matter who is leading the team as the quarterback, limiting penalties is the key to staying in the game.
Along with penalties, capitalizing off of Philadelphia’s mistakes was a key issue for Green Bay in its Week 1 loss. Even though it lost the game, Green Bay actually won the turnover battle, 3-1. Off of those three turnovers, the Packers only came away with nine points.
This was an odd thing to see from a Green Bay offense that was so efficient in the red zone last season.
“I think that there were a lot of opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on and when you don’t do that, you get beat,” said LaFleur. “The red area was a huge problem tonight, and a year ago, I would say we were pretty good in that area and we got destroyed in that area tonight.”
Some of those struggles in the red zone dealt with Green Bay’s inability to get the run game going early in the game. Running back Josh Jacobs was a major signing in the offseason for the Packers after losing Jones. Through the first quarter, Jacobs had totaled 13 rushing yards, with 23 offensive plays taking place in Eagles territory.
With Green Bay’s loss of talent at the quarterback position moving forward, establishing the run game is going to be key to stay afloat without Love. That all starts with the offensive line.
Fans saw first round rookie Jordan Morgan take the field in game one, but he was rotating at the right guard position with Sean Rhyan. Add into the fact that tackle Rasheed Walker underperformed, LaFleur and the offense will need to get creative to avoid teams stacking the box against Green Bay.
Whether this be including more motion in the offense or getting the ball into playmakers hands quicker, it is no secret that whoever is starting at quarterback will see pressure. Green Bay did find success get the ball to Jayden Reed and Emanuel Wilson in the backfield, so adding more sweeps and tosses may be the key (along with limiting penalties) to the Packers winning game in the next six weeks.
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