GREEN BAY: Sean Clifford is aware of his ridiculous appearance. He is indifferent. He’s not changing the sideline headgear he wears.
While most NFL backup quarterbacks watch the starter run the offense while donning a winter beanie or a baseball cap, Clifford, the rookie No. 2 quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, is different. He wears his helmet the entire time because, in addition to letting him hear the play calls that head coach Matt LaFleur radios to first-year starter Jordan Love, it also allows him to hear LaFleur’s calls exactly as he would in the event of an emergency where he had to replace an injured Love.
Clifford admitted this week, “You know, it would probably be smart if I just used the earpiece.” “But to be honest, I doubt I ever will.”
Clifford has been tuned into the LaFleur-to-Love in-game communications for the past 12 games, despite his peculiar choice of listening device. The Packers have won four of their last five games (and three in a row) to even their record at 6-6 heading into Monday night’s prime-time game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. He was listening in on the conversations while the team was dropping four straight games en route to a 2-5 start.
For this reason, Clifford is ideally suited to provide insight into one of the most significant developments to transpire during the Packers’ midseason comeback: the increased responsibility LaFleur has given Love recently at the line of scrimmage.
In particular, Love made more plays at the line of scrimmage in last week’s 27-19 victory over the reigning Super Bowl LVII champion Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field than he had in any other game this season.
For those who are unaware, many play-calls in LaFleur’s offensive scheme (as well as the numerous variations of the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay offense that currently dominate the NFL) have an accompanying play that LaFleur refers to as a “can” play. Why? For, in a cunning move, the quarterback can elect to run the adjacent play in place of LaFleur’s selected play if he is dissatisfied with the pre-snap look he is receiving from the opposing defense and feels that alignment will prevent LaFleur’s intended play from happening.
Love signals to his fellow offensive skill-position players that they have received the change at the line of scrimmage by cupping his hands and tapping each ear hole on his helmet.
