by There are Some Interesting Parallels Between Jordan Love and Patrick Mahomes’ Playing Styles
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When the Green Bay Packers selected Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, many analysts drew comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. While still early in his career, Love has shown flashes that indicate he may follow a similar trajectory to the Kansas City Chiefs superstar. Both quarterbacks possess rare physical tools and a willingness to take risks that have fueled explosive offenses. As Love gains experience, the similarities in their playing styles will be worth monitoring.
Strong Arms
Arm strength is the most obvious parallel between Love and Mahomes. Both signal callers have absolutely cannon arms that allow them to make every throw in the book. They can zip the ball into tight windows downfield with zip and accuracy. This opens up the entire field for their offenses.
Mahomes’ arm talent was on full display in his record-setting 2018 MVP season. He led the league with 50 touchdown passes thanks to his ability to squeeze passes into tight coverage. Defenders have little margin for error when trying to defend Mahomes’ laser-like passes.
Love showed off a similar arm profile during his time at Utah State. He routinely made difficult throws look routine with his effortless velocity and accuracy on deep balls. Scouts praised his “howitzer” arm coming out of college. In his limited NFL action so far, Love has flashed the same arm talent when given opportunities. His potential as a downfield passer is sky-high.
Mobility Outside the Pocket
While Mahomes is rightfully considered one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the league, Love has shown he possesses above-average mobility as well. Neither are running quarterbacks in the traditional sense, but their ability to extend plays and scramble for first downs with their legs adds a whole new dimension to their offenses.
Defenses must be aware of Mahomes’ rushing ability at all times. He led all quarterbacks with 376 rushing yards during the 2018 season. His combination of speed, agility, and toughness allows him to consistently make something out of broken plays. This keeps opposing secondaries honest when rushing the passer.
Love may not have Mahomes’ sheer escapability, but he has demonstrated improving movement skills over time. At Utah State, he picked up yards with his legs when the pocket broke down. In limited preseason action for the Packers, Love has shown more willingness to take off and run when needed. As he gains experience, his rushing skills could develop into another valuable weapon.
Aggressive Downfield Mindset
Perhaps the biggest similarity between Love and Mahomes is their aggressive, risk-taking mindset. Both are willing to push the envelope downfield and give their playmakers chances to make big plays. This fearlessness has fueled explosive offenses but can also lead to the occasional turnover.
Mahomes is the definition of an aggressive quarterback. He routinely attempts sidearm and no-look passes that leave jaws on the floor. His willingness to rip 50/50 balls to receivers is a big reason for Kansas City’s high-scoring ways. Mahomes trusts his arm to fit passes into tight windows downfield.
Love showed a similar gunslinger mentality in college. He was willing to fit passes into tight coverage and take deep shots. This aggression was evident even in his limited preseason action. Love isn’t afraid to let it rip and take chances. While this comes with risks, it also creates big play potential that offensive coordinators love.
Learning from Mahomes’ Style
Love himself has acknowledged modeling parts of his game after Mahomes. He told reporters at the Senior Bowl that he’s worked on replicating Mahomes’ improvisational skills and no-look passes [The Athletic]. Love clearly sees the similarities in their playing styles and arm talent.
Emulating Mahomes makes sense considering their physical tools are so comparable. By studying Mahomes’ movements, Love can learn how to better manipulate defenses and create outside of structure. Some of Mahomes’ most explosive plays come from extending plays and making off-platform throws.
As Love’s experience grows, it’s easy to imagine his game taking on more Mahomes-esque qualities. The influence is already apparent in Love’s willingness to take risks. Continuing to learn from Mahomes’ film could help accelerate Love’s development into an elite dual-threat quarterback.
Experience Gap Remains
While the similarities are there, Mahomes still has a substantial experience advantage that separates them for now. Mahomes is a Super Bowl champion and two-time league MVP with four full NFL seasons under his belt. Love is still a relative rookie getting his first real NFL action.
Mahomes’ track record proves he can consistently perform his magic against NFL defenses. Love is still working to show he can execute at a high level against top competition on a weekly basis. Experience reading complex NFL schemes and defenses is crucial for quarterbacks, and Mahomes has a massive head start in that department.
Decision Making Nuances
Another difference is the nuanced decision making of Mahomes versus Love at this stage. Mahomes has shown an uncanny ability to process the field, recognize coverages, and make lightning-quick decisions. He routinely extends plays with his legs just long enough to find an open man.
While aggressive, Mahomes’ decisions are calculated risks. He understands when to live to fight another down. Love is still developing his pre-snap and progressional reading skills after limited starting experience in college. His decisions may be more instinctual now compared to Mahomes’ veteran polish.
With more NFL experience and film study, Love could develop a similarly elite mastyle of improvisation within structure. But for now, Mahomes’ otherworldly field vision and processing sets him apart from most quarterbacks, including Love.
Distinct Styles Emerging
As their careers progress, it’s also clear Mahomes and Love will never be carbon copies of one another. Mahomes’ style is defined more by pure improvisation and creating something out of nothing. He extends plays to the very limit until a man gets open.
Love appears to be developing a style more dependent on structure and rhythm within the offense. While he can extend with his legs and improvise when needed, Love seems most comfortable going through his progressions from the pocket. His running ability adds dynamism but isn’t his primary weapon like Mahomes.
Both styles can be tremendously effective with the right talent around them. But Mahomes and Love may never play in exactly the same mold given their natural instincts differ slightly despite physical similarities. Finding their own strengths will serve both players well long term.
Exciting Development to Monitor
In summary, while still in the early stages, Jordan Love shows the potential to follow a career arc resembling Patrick Mahomes’. Their rare physical tools and willingness to take big shots downfield create high-octane offenses. As Love gains experience reading NFL defenses and making split-second decisions, the parallels could grow stronger.
The experience gap between the two remains sizable for now. But Love’s development will be one of the more intriguing storylines in the NFL over the next few seasons. If he can continue progressing and emulate Mahomes’ improvisational skills, Love may soon threaten to reach a similar elite status at the quarterback position. Either way, both players’ fearless styles make them incredibly fun talents to watch.
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