Kurt Benkert gives a credible, strong defense of Jordan Love amid struggles
Former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Kurt Benkert took to X.com (formerly Twitter) to give a strong defense of Jordan Love, who has caught the brunt of criticism after the last few weeks. After a strong late-game comeback that Love helped lead against the Saints, Love and the Packers have lost three straight.
Benkert first points out that the Packers were just a play or two going another way from being able to win the game.
Then, he pointed to the youthful roster as a very clear reason why Love's struggles make plenty of sense, in addition to the simple fact that Love has had minimal time to generate chemistry in-game with these players:
"Instead, with the youngest roster in the NFL, that doesn't happen. You have to remember, Jordan has been groomed for 4 years by a guy that did those exact things, the high level parts of the game consistently - with success. But he also had vet guys - his guys - ALL around him that played at an intellectually high level with him."
Even his top receiver, Christian Watson, has been limited to just three games of real action with Love this season.
Benkert also condemned the Packers coaching staff and playbook for not setting Love up in the best way possible:
"Not to mention he's playing in a scheme with very little answers right now and has his back against a wall most of the game from play 1. They could be making it easier in GB right now for him but haven't."
In weeks 4, 5, and 6, Love has had a -0.282 expected points added after he put forth a second-best-in-NFL 0.295 in the first three weeks of the season.
There's some statistical evidence that receivers aren't running the best routes. Despite earning a fourth-best average cushion (distance between defender and player at line of scrimmage) in the NFL, Green Bay receivers are 15th in separation (distance between receiver and defender at time of ball's arrival). Some of that is on Love's timing, too -- and the stats can be muddied by opponent coverage scheme -- but it's a two-player stat that receivers have some share in, too.
The progression for a young quarterback is seldom linear. Love flashed potential in his first few weeks as the clear arbiter of the Packers' offense, but has room to grow. That should be expected.
Growing pains.
Chris Olave arrested in New Orleans for speeding
New Orleans Saints sophomore wide receiver Chris Olave was arrested late Monday night by Kenner City Police after he was pulled over for operating a motor vehicle 35 miles per hour above the posted speed limit (70 in a 35). The arrest was first reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football and confirmed by NFL.com and Nola.com.
Nola.com reports that Olave was pulled over shortly after 9:00 p.m. and released about half an hour before midnight. A police spokesperson told Nola.com that Olave was swerving around cars on a street that featured residential and commercial areas, and was arrested for reckless driving.
Olave's brother posted on X.com (formerly Twitter) to say Olave was running an errand to CVS, downplaying the arrest.
To this point, it doesn't appear as if there are other factors at play outside of the speed and recklessness to Olave's driving. No reports of intoxication or substances were at play, which will be viewed as -- and is -- good news by the Saints organization.
Still, it's a tough look for a Saints locker room that has continued to bend in the post-Sean Payton era. Miserable losses and offensive performance the last few weeks have put the team's on-field performance in question, and a distraction like a reckless driving arrest will only put the spotlight on how things are going in New Orleans for all the wrong reasons.
Olave was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons Thursday after catching vitriol from Derek Carr for running a route run.
Is John Lynch working the phones already?
San Francisco 49ers executive John Lynch pulled off one of the best trades of the NFL season last year when he acquired Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers. Were it not for an untimely Brock Purdy injury in the NFC title game, the trade may have been a Super Bowl-winning one.
This year, it's unclear if the Niners will make another big splash, but Monday provided some hints.
Matt Barrows shared a picture on Monday Night of Niners general manager John Lynch and Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensa engaged in conversation for 20 minutes ahead of the two teams facing off on MNF.
Barrows is quick to point out two facts: One, Adofo-Mensah is a former Niners employee, so they could just be catching up. But he also reminds fans that Lynch and Scott Fitterer were engaged in a long conversation before the Niners acquired Christian McCaffrey. Clearly, Lynch uses these games as an opportunity to get some work done, not just bump elbows and exchange pleasantries.
If Lynch is to engage the Vikings for a star, the biggest splash to make would be to acquire defensive end Danielle Hunter, rumored to be on the block. It seems as if stars like Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson are off the table, but who knows what Lynch might be able to pull off.
At 5-2, the Niners hold a one-game lead in the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks on their heels. San Francisco has looked like the best or second-best team in the conference for much of the season. Unfortunately, their measuring stick game against the Philadelphia Eagles doesn't come until Dec. 3, far beyond the NFL trade deadline on Oct. 31.