How did Packers offense answer biggest questions before Week 1?

The Leap asked three questions about the Packers offense back in May. The team has provided some answers but one major issue remains unsettled.

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The NFL regular season officially kicks off in less than a week, and the Green Bay Packers have turned their attention toward their opener against the Chicago Bears. But even with meaningful football just around the corner, this moment between final cuts and Week 1 provides a valuable opportunity to revisit some important matters from the offseason.

Back in the heady days of the post-2023 NFL Draft period, The Leap posed three questions that the Packers needed to answer about their offense before the start of the regular season. In some instances, the team has indeed received clarity. However, some of these queries remain unanswered as the Bears game approaches.

Can Jordan Love make plays outside of structure with consistency?

Answer: Inconclusive

Jordan Love's best football since joining the Packers has come within the structure of the offense. His two drives against the Philadelphia Eagles last season -- both of which resulted in scores -- saw the 2020 first-round pick hitting his marks and delivering the football on schedule. No play better highlights this notion than the "strike" concept on which Love connected with Christian Watson for a 63-yard touchdown.

Of course, operating well within the design of the offense represents a positive. But for Love to establish himself as a long-term solution under center, he has to deliver when the play breaks down and he has to improvise.

Through no fault of his own, Love hasn't demonstrated that ability much during the preseason. The Packers' starting offensive line yielded just one sack between all three exhibitions, allowing Love to work from a clean pocket and move through his progressions at a measured pace. Considering that All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari didn't suit up in any of those games, Green Bay might not learn how well Love navigates unscripted situations for some time.

But while Love has operated mostly within the structure of the offense, that doesn't mean he has played conservatively. The young signal-caller has pulled the trigger on essentially every opportunity for a one-on-one deep shot, most notably his 42-yard connection with wideout Romeo Doubs.

(via @packers)

Love's skill set suggests that he can improvise when the situation calls for it. However, the Packers still haven't seen him do so enough to know how he'll handle those situations in live game action.

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