Dec 23, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker (10) (right) rushes with the football as Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (52) (left) chases from behind during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jake Locker is the starting Quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, but can he lead the Titans to the playoffs and hopefully the Super Bowl? We’ll see this year, hopefully.
Mike Munchak and Dowell Loggains have tweaked the offense yet again to take pressure off of Jake Locker. The expectations that Jake Locker will be able to air it out and move the offense up and down the field are gone. Instead, the Titans are reverting back to old days and a power rushing scheme that should be heavy with play action passes and bootlegs. Three yards and a cloud of dust, welcome back.
Say what you will, but the Titans have got to be concerned with Locker’s evolution as a passer and how he has picked up the game to change the entire philosophy of the offense in one year. Firing an offensive coordinator is one thing, changing the entire offense to make it easier on your young QB tells people that he can’t really do all that you thought he could when you drafted him.
Locker came to the Titans advertised as a guy that could get out of the pocket and escape the rush with his legs. Actually, Locker took more than a few sacks and didn’t have much of a feel for when the rush was getting to him. Locker never really looked comfortable lining up in the shotgun and throwing the ball all over the field either.
So this change in philosophy should help Locker, correct? Yes it should. Will it help him enough to become the QB they think they drafted? Possibly.
Locker has shown flashes and switching to a run based offense should help with his reads and help with his confidence. If the run game works like it should, then the passing game will be the biggest benefactor. Running the football allows the play action game to set up and it also allows the offense just a tad bit more time to get rid of the football, which should help Locker.
Locker, a young QB who needs as much time as he can get throwing the football will also enter training camp without the luxury of spending most of his summer throwing due to off-season shoulder surgery.
In Locker’s defense, he has had a rough couple of years to start his pro career. He’s been injured and already suffered through two complete changes to the offense. He is young and will work harder than anyone. He knows that he can’t just walk in and say that this is his team, he knows he must earn that title. If there is any player I believe in, work ethic wise that will make it to the top, it’s Locker, but sometimes being the hardest worker doesn’t make you the best player.
The question remains….Can Locker lead the Titans? The coaches hope so, but if not then Ryan Fitzpatrick might.
What say you?
Shawn Eagle
You can follow me on twitter @RS1Eagle