What’s in the Locker?

No draft pick is fascinating me more, than where Jake Locker finds himself at the end of April. Locker has been creeping up mock drafts in recent weeks, and in a CBS Sports mock, Rob Rang had the Titans passing on Nick Fairley and taking Locker at number 8. The risk with taking the former Washington Huskie that early, is that there is clearly work to do with Jake’s performance in the pocket. I know he’ll be sick of hearing it, but the footage and stats show he is a lot more accurate when he steps out.

The Huskies finished third in the PAC-10 and won the Hollywood Bowl in Locker’s final college season. Locker was a draft prospect a year ago, but decided to see out his time at Washington and graduate from college. But an extra season in the NCAA could have helped or hindered his progress.

Locker is certainly not worried about getting hit in the pocket, so you can take that out of the equation. This is a guy who Jon Gruden (ESPN analyst and former Buccaneers Head Coach) told recently, that his main concern for the youngster’s career was his ability to preserve himself. The former Huskie is a big unit, and doesn’t often shy out of a tackle when running with the ball. In fact Gruden thinks he likes to hurt the man coming at him. That is unusual in the game, and it would be enjoyable to watch such a combative QB, but not if he plays for your team, and in fact, not if you want to see more of what Locker can do as an NFL fan.

So he clearly has to learn to stay out of the fight, and his movement is clearly good enough to get him out of danger. If you are drafting Locker in the first round though, you are obviously drafting him as a season starter. If you do this, it may only work for the young arm, if he joins somewhere with a coaching staff who have a proven record of making good on prospective talent. The Titans have that, which is probably why some analysts are being bold enough to draft him so high on their behalf.

Under Chris Palmer, Tennessee’s new Offensive Coordinator, The Dallas Cowboys went to the playoffs in Tony Romo’s first season as a starter. Palmer also worked with Eli Manning and was the Giants’ Offensive Coordinator when they won Super Bowl XXII. The list goes on as far as Palmer’s record of improving Quarterbacks is concerned, having spent 20 years at the top level. So the Titans would have faith in Palmer getting Locker ready for game one.

If the Titans aren’t that bold however, and others pass on Locker, then he could be a perfect fit for a franchise looking to groom a replacement. And one franchise who could be looking to do that in a season or two, are the New England Patriots. Aaron Rodgers has served his apprenticeship patiently at Green Bay and we all know the rest of that story. In the Patriots’ organisation, and with Tom Brady to shadow, Locker could become a very frightening proposition for opponents as the future New England figurehead.

Locker’s explosive away from the snap, and his accuracy outside the pocket has seen him make big play, after big play. He has been labelled a scatter arm however, and he will have to work hard to right that, and to show the NFL and the team that drafts him, that he can be a game winning starter. It is not only going to be fascinating to see where he drafts, it is going to be fascinating to watch this young QB come of age.