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Packers QB Jordan Love talks his early impressions of training camp

Packers quarterback Jordan Love addresses the chippy play from Tuesday’s practice, the play of WR Matthew Golden, the return of Elgton Jenkins and more.

It’s truly Christmas in July for Wisconsin sports fans.

The Milwaukee Brewers lead Craig Counsell’s Chicago Cubs in the National League Central Division standings and the Green Bay Packers are a week into training camp.

And though the Packers‘ first preseason game isn’t until Aug. 9, it’s never too early for a snapshot of how the Packers compare to the rest of the league.

The turnover at cornerback may be the reason the Packers are positioned as high as five and as low as 20 on various national rankings, but there’s a common denominator in their opinions: If the Packers are to improve on last season’s 11-6 mark, Jordan Love’s interception rate will have to improve, too.

Here’s how the Packers rate in training-camp power rankings:

Josh Kendall of The Athletic takes a look at why the Packers focused on receiver in the draft:

“The Packers have drafted six wide receivers in the first five rounds in the last four years, and they were second last season in yards per completion (12.8). Now, it’s up to quarterback Jordan Love to smooth out the rough spots in his game. Love was 22nd last year in EPA (expected points added) per attempt (.13) and 30th in interceptions per attempt (2.6 percent). He’s thrown 27 interceptions in the last two seasons, including five in the playoffs, which is two more than any other NFL quarterback in that span.”

Ralph Vacchiano notes that, while Love needs to take care of the ball, four of the Packers’ seven total losses (including the playoffs) last season were to the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions:

“The Packers went 11-7 last year and, outside of a meaningless season finale against the Bears, they only lost to the Eagles, Lions and Vikings — twice each to the three best teams in the NFC. What would get them over the top, considering they already have a top-five offense and defense? It’s really up to quarterback Jordan Love, who has been mostly terrific, but has still thrown 27 interceptions (including five in three playoff games) in the last three seasons. Drafting receiver Matthew Golden in the first round could make life easier for Love, but if he takes the next step, the Packers will, too.”

Yahoo is betting on the Packers’ youth movement:

“The quickest path to contention is if Jordan Love recaptures the form that he had late in the 2023 season, which helped him get a four-year, $220 million contract extension. Love wasn’t bad last season. He just wasn’t better than the previous season, leading to some questions about his true ceiling.

“The Packers can also point to their historic youth as a way for the roster to improve. Two years ago, the Packers were the youngest team based on weighted age (which takes into consideration how many games each player appeared in) to win a playoff game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Last season the Packers were again the youngest team in the NFL. None of the Packers’ key players, other than 2024 addition (Xavier) McKinney, are considered to be the best at their position in the NFL, but being really good in your early 20s gives you a chance to be elite in your mid-20s. Maybe natural progression pushes the Packers to being contenders.”

Maurice Moton of Bleacher report says it’s time for the Packers to throw the ball:

“Is Jordan Love a top-tier quarterback or a mediocre one with a high-end offensive play-caller, Matt LaFleur, and a plethora of playmakers? Last season, the Packers utilized a run-heavy approach, featuring running back Josh Jacobs. Green Bay finished with the third-fewest passing attempts.

“If the Packers want to dethrone the Detroit Lions in the NFC North and get into the Super Bowl discussion, Love has to prove he’s worth his recent four-year, $220 million contract extension. He has plenty of options in the passing game: Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, Dontayvion Wicks, Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. Forget the need for a wideout to emerge as the go-to target; Love must uplift his pass-catching unit for the Packers to become an elite team.”

We’re including ESPN’s rundown of current NFL rosters and the Packers rank 14th. Most of the analysis focuses on the secondary, where Mike Clay gives the Packers high marks at safety and low marks at corner:

“A very solid offensive line was under consideration, but a safety room led by Xavier McKinney gets the nod. McKinney was a home run acquisition last offseason, as the ex-Giant produced eight interceptions (second most in the NFL) and posted PFF’s sixth-highest grade for a safety. A pair of 2024 draft selections, Javon Bullard (second round) and Evan Williams (fourth), each played substantial roles as rookies and are candidates for a Year 2 leap in a defense that loves three-safety looks. 

“Standout corner Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes departed this offseason and were ‘replaced’ by Nate Hobbs and seventh-round rookie Micah Robinson. The shake-up positions Hobbs (who, like Alexander, has struggled with injuries in recent seasons) for a starting role, along with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. No other corner on the roster played a regular-season snap last season.”

Alec Sanner of The Sporting News ranks the Packers behind, among others, the New York Jets (17th), the Atlanta Falcons (16th) and the Chicago Bears (15th):

“This is a young team that had high expectations last year. This offseason wasn’t a good one for them. They’re still talented but definitely overhyped.”