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http://fansided.com/2014/01/20/nfl-free-...-locker/#!s2zyeQuote:
The Tennessee Titans have a new head coach in town, which means that they’re going to reconsider their current roster. One of the questions that the new regime has to answer is what to do with quarterback Jake Locker. Despite hearing excitement from Locker about working with new head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the team remains noncommittal.
According to Peter King’s MMQB column this week, Whisenhunt hasn’t said that the team will move on from Locker but he remains on the fence about the team’s current quarterback.
“I haven’t studied him as much as I need to,” Whisenhunt said. “I have seen good, and I have seen bad. No question he has ability, and I have heard good things about him. The question is, can he harness the ability, and can he be consistent?”
Again, this doesn’t mean that Locker is on his way out in Tennessee, but it’s starting to look like that might end up being the case. Locker could be a starter in the NFL, but he needs to develop more and the Titans are likely leaning towards drafting a quarterback and developing him from scratch that re-working Locker.
A quarterback is likely to be drafted regardless of whether Locker stays on roster or not, but how committed the team is to Locker will determine how high that rookie quarterback is selected.
Really, he wasn't bad at all last year (86.6 rating) - before he got hurt. I'd certainly offer our extra 3rd round pick, and may even give up a second. Would free us up to take Sammy Watkins at #4.
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The biggest determiner, I think, would be who our head coach ends up being and what sort of offense he sees us running, and would Locker fit into that?
If the answer to all of the above meshes well, then it's definitely worth investigating what it'd cost us. Even so, I'd still draft another QB - and perhaps even very high if someone superb is sitting there. The nice thing about this would be getting a guy like this would mean we wouldn't be forced to reach. We could sit back and let things come to us.
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... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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Why would we give up the opportunity to take a plus level QB? (If we feel one if there) Locker has been a very average QB, and is injury prone.
He did not start as a rookie. He missed 5 games in the middle of his 2nd season. He missed 9 games in his 3rd season. He does not seem to have much pocket awareness. For example, he was sacked 16 times in only 183 pass attempts. Ryan Fitzpatrick, hardly a guy with Michael Vick wheels, was sacked only 21 times in 350 pass attempts. Further, it could be argued that Fitzpatrick was better than Locker when he did play.
In 2012, he was outplayed by Matt Hasselbeck.
Now he might be a late bloomer, and I would not be opposed to bringing him in as a veteran backup to compete for the job, but, I sincerely hope that this will be the last time we will draft this high for quite a while. I certainly would not want to put all of my eggs in the Locker basket. Even Locker/Hoyer would be a major concern.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
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Quote:
The biggest determiner, I think, would be who our head coach ends up being and what sort of offense he sees us running, and would Locker fit into that?
If the answer to all of the above meshes well, then it's definitely worth investigating what it'd cost us. Even so, I'd still draft another QB - and perhaps even very high if someone superb is sitting there. The nice thing about this would be getting a guy like this would mean we wouldn't be forced to reach. We could sit back and let things come to us.
Totally agree - especially as Locker would be best in offense that can utilize the deep ball. I think keeping Hoyer and picking up Locker would solve the problem where we need to take a QB at #4. We could instead target a guy like Mettenberger or McCarron later in the draft.
Also, I think that Locker has just as much chance of turning into a top QB as the top three in this draft --- but like good used cars, QBs tend to get much cheaper as soon as they are drafted.
Last edited by Lyuokdea; 01/23/14 01:02 PM.
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Quote:
Why would we give up the opportunity to take a plus level QB? (If we feel one if there) Locker has been a very average QB, and is injury prone.
He did not start as a rookie. He missed 5 games in the middle of his 2nd season. He missed 9 games in his 3rd season. He does not seem to have much pocket awareness. For example, he was sacked 16 times in only 183 pass attempts. Ryan Fitzpatrick, hardly a guy with Michael Vick wheels, was sacked only 21 times in 350 pass attempts. Further, it could be argued that Fitzpatrick was better than Locker when he did play.
In 2012, he was outplayed by Matt Hasselbeck.
Now he might be a late bloomer, and I would not be opposed to bringing him in as a veteran backup to compete for the job, but, I sincerely hope that this will be the last time we will draft this high for quite a while. I certainly would not want to put all of my eggs in the Locker basket. Even Locker/Hoyer would be a major concern.
First off, we're not giving up that chance, you could still certainly take a Bridgewater if he was available at 4. I don't think either of the other QBs are worth #4 overall in this draft -- so this saves us from needing to reach for one.
Also, Locker's QBR this season was 58.8, that puts him in between Russell Wilson (58.9) and Cam Newton (56.2). And it puts him ahead of Dalton, Roethlisberger, Stafford, Palmer etc. It's not an average number - it's clearly above average.
Yes, injuries are a concern, but before he got hurt, things were really coming around for him this year.
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I don't see a game changer in either one of them. Now, if the team feels that there is not a game changer available when they pick, then he might be worth looking at as a guy to complete with Hoyer ..... but frankly I have never seen anything out of Loclker that made me say "wow!". He reminds me of the bulk of the middle of road QBs that teams with records ranging from 4-8 wins often have.
The QB position is so vital that we need to get it right. I don't think that Locker would be "getting it right". Besides, we have no idea what offense we will run at this point, We don't know who the coach will be, what his offensive philosophy will be, and who will fit.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
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Quote:
The QB position is so vital that we need to get it right. I don't think that Locker would be "getting it right". Besides, we have no idea what offense we will run at this point, We don't know who the coach will be, what his offensive philosophy will be, and who will fit.
Sure - we're certainly speculating.... just like we are when we talk about Manziel or any other QB out there.
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We do need to get the QB position right. We also need to ensure that we set it up to be "good enough until we can get it right" in the event that we aren't able to get it right this offseason.
A quality, middle-of-the-road QB fits that bill.
Far more than needing to hit a homerun, we need to stop grounding-out at the QB position.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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Here's to that -- I think we win 7-8 games this last year with a league average QB.
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Hoyer starting game one, not getting injured - I can see us at seven or eight wins as the outcome. Some of those games were so close and just a first down here or there - and we are pretty much striking one in the W column instead of the L.
But, I don't want Locker. If we had an outstanding QB, we may go above .500 in terms of a regular season. Hell, may even hear the line "Cleveland Browns first round wildcard rounds!"
Gee, this city would EXPLODE if that ever happened. Ever.
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If we're thinking along those lines, I might rather see what it would take to get Sam Bradford from the Rams. Our 2nd rd pick is a pretty high pick - not sure I'd want to give up our second 1st rounder, but I'd think about it.
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A quality, middle-of-the-road QB fits that bill.
I think/thought thats what we have/had in Hoyer. Why would we make a lateral move so we can get a WR or another position player at #4. We need this QB if 2013 taught us anything it is that we got to get this done...NOW not tomorrow.
There are 3 top QB candidates. I have personally looked at 2 of them enough where I believe they are overall #4 worthy...but really who am I - its what Lombardi thinks which just might be scarier 
If its just one...we might go all out to get that "ONE"...if more than one is to our likings we will take them at #4. If all 3 are gone sure don't reach for the 4th QB but of course that would mean the 3 best position players would be available in Clowney Matthews and Sammy...and we could take them or auction them off. Go for Carr Garrofolla or an other that we can develop while Hoyer plays.
But investing in another and was he in the era of the Highly paid rookies? Or in the sensibly paid rookies which makes the trade expensive price wise.
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He'd not be an upgrade to Hoyer/Campbell. So, no.
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I love Locker. The dude just can't stay healthy. I would absolutely give him a shot, but I wouldn't want to give up anything of value for him. He is one of the most athletic QBs in the league (up there with Newton and Kaepernick).
Alas, I don't think he will be available as I'm guessing Whisenhunt probably sold the Titans brass on being able to fix him.
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All we have in Hoyer is an unknown backup that looked decent in two outings.
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Quote:
He'd not be an upgrade to Hoyer/Campbell. So, no.
If he stays healthy and is in the right system he is better than Campbell by leaps and bounds. Hoyer is still an unknown to me.
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Quote:
Yes, injuries are a concern, but before he got hurt, things were really coming around for him this year.
Not comparing him to Locker, but the same thing could be said for Hoyer..
He looked pretty good until the injury. Which is another reason I think it was nutty to fire Chud.
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I will pass on Locker, unless, of course, it were somehow down to Weeden or Locker.
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Locker has injury and accuracy issues. That's not a good combination.
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Quote:
All we have in Hoyer is an unknown backup that looked decent in two outings.
Agreed. The guy showed promise, but we can't bank on him. That's for sure. I'd like to keep him over Campbell and Weeden though.......
I really wish there was a QB available that we could get without losing that 4 spot. Chiefs got a great deal last year with Alex Smith............. And someone like Sammy Watkins would be a huge upgrade. Gordon, Watkins, Cameron. A new RB and a new QB would make all the difference. Grab a better tackle and try to move Schwartz inside to guard. Things would look a lot better......
I just don't feel great about any of the top 3 QBs, and you've got someone like Watkins there at 4, that bar-injury will be a stud
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Locker has the same problem now as he had when he was coming out... He can throw pretty well on the run outside the pocket, but isn't good in the pocket even when unhurried. That tells me he's probably always going to be like that. No thanks. We have two first round picks, I say take two quarterbacks with those picks. Hope one of them can step up and be the man....Maybe take a 3rd QB later in the draft. Hoyer makes 4 and dump the rest. Perhaps pick up a 5th for the practice squad after first cuts in camp.
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This league desperately needs an effective developmental league. These QBs need so much time to see if they can pan out. With five more years of play could Locker pan out in the arena league or canadian football? Maybe. I hope for guys like Locker, Tebow, Gabbert, and Lalich they keep trying to develop their games until they are at least 30.
As a side note. I think it would be a brilliant move to look for backups and starters from those developmental leagues. Every year try to find the Cameron Wakes and Doug Fluties of the world seems like a very good idea. I'd invest a good amount of college scouting towards looking at players who have had more time to develop at certain positions that really need the time and grooming.
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J/C
If Wisenhunt decides he doesn't want him, then I wouldn't take him either. (I know, he wanted Kolb, but I'd still trust his judgment on Locker). His injury history concerns me as well.
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according to you - I mean if I ask the blind guy how it looks outside and he's says - Black just like yesterday. It don't make it so.
Sorry I know it all comes out condescending. what I saw was a kid who made good pre snap reads and got rid of the ball quick.
Which many are citing as the real important stuff to evaluate prospective QBs. I know I just read a post praising Farmer who stated that is what he's been looking for in these prospects.
So Hoyer is not as UNKNOWN as you might think cause I know...I don't know it all as in how he will do against Championship competition. I know he is a "GOOD" QB. It is said that will get you into the Playoffs...but you need that "Great" QB to win that championship. You are correct in that regard. No way I know if he is great...maybe after 14 games I'd have a better inkling.
Just like if I saw a batter who would come along and have those quick hands and excellent eyes and his a load of HRs...runs well and then gets hurt. I still know in that small data what I know...the kid will be good.
Same here. I cannot tell you if Hoyer will be GREAT. But I can pretty much say he is good.
jmho - just cause your opinion don't have you KNOWING doesn't mean it goes for everyone. We each have our own values on Knowing or not pretty much what I am saying not the condescending thing you or others might think from the get go 
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What you saw was a two game sample. I don't care if you're the second coming of Paul Brown, you still don't KNOW much of anything from that. You can see certain traits, but those traits alone don't mean he is good (his numbers don't exactly scream it, either). We've had tons of QB's come in off the bench and look good for a couple of games (Holcomb, Anderson, etc..) - it doesn't by any means make them a good long-term solution. And, if you can predict a batter's career off of two games of hitting, then you're better than anyone in MLB
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NRTU,
One other thing to consider -- I get the feeling this will be a playoffs or bust year for the Browns -- and we're going to see that at the Front Office Level.
1.) Haslam is a bit more of a fan than the traditional owner - I don't think he's a wait and let the team rebuild kind of guy.
2.) Lombardi and Banner know that their seats are hot - they need to show great improvement this year if they want their jobs.
Because of this:
1.) I expect us to be very active in free agency - resigning both Mack and Ward (maybe franchise tagging one) - and then signing at least one of the top 5-10 FAs available after teams resign.
2.) I think it's risky to do "playoffs or bust" with a rookie QB - it almost never works that year. It's a good reason for looking at a guy like Locker, who will probably outproduce any of the 1st round QBs in their first year (even if he's not a better long term option).
Not saying this is necessarily the right way to rebuild a team - but it's a likely way for this team.
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Not that it is saying much, but Hoyer passed the eye test for being a competent NFL QB. The first since '07 DA.
I'm not sure of Hoyer's stats, but just watching the guy. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. There was really no hesitation or signs of being overwhelmed.
He made some big mistakes in Minnesota, but overcame them and put together a GW drive, something rarely seen with the Browns. It was vintage Tom Brady.
Even then it was still only 2 games (you have to wonder if Gordon doesn't drop that ball early in the Buffalo game, that the butterfly effect doesn't prevent that play happening where he got hurt) and I firmly believe he should be your starter going into training camp, I think we're all on board with still drafting a QB with 4 or some other combination of our picks....
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it doesn't by any means make them a good long-term solution.
First off I've never said a long term solution I said good enough to start while we develop the High investment...and that his body of work THEN would determine how long that would be.
As for knowing it.... believe it or not the wow factor comes immediately...you just know you are seeing something special.
As for Hoyer...I didn't have that wow from his first game I was more ho-hum ok not BAD. It was the 2nd game that I got that wow good feeling. What I do know is I would like to have him start...if he is not who I think he is (speaking as the coach not me the fan) the rookie takes over. I don't expect Hoyer to be 16-0...but I do think he can bring us to the Playoffs if things fall in place...again if not the rookie.
I have always said invest high in the Franchise QB....
And you still don't get it...the predicting thing is when you see GREAT you see it and know it right away! Average is another thing at least in the baseball that I saw.
Back to the QB thing. I did see GOOD things from Hoyer. not great.
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Oh, I agree that he passes the initial eye test in a lot of ways, but when your sample size is so small that is a far cry from being able to declare much of anything with any real certainty.
I can say that I think we definitely have a solid backup QB in Hoyer, but I would be very leery of even calling him a middle-of-the-road starting QB without a larger sample size.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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Locker is the same now as he was coming out of college. Very mobile but has difficulty throwing the ball from the pocket. Much better on the move. Well, if you can't thorw from a clean pocket you won't make it in the NFL. He will most likely always be mediocre at best. No thanks. We have plenty of draft picks in May. Take two quarterbacks, hell take three....
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I actually had thought about the idea of obtaining Jake Locker yesterday. He's still pretty young only having been in the league 3 years, so their still might be some coachable potential in him. If the Titans were to let him go I wouldn't mind signing him to a 2 year deal or something just to see what he has to offer.
I can also picture a scenario where we swap 1st round picks with the Titans and obtain Locker and a 3rd round pick in the process (instead of the standard 2nd round pick usually required).
It isn't my first choice but if Pettine and Farmer liked him enough to make a move for him I wouldn't cry over it, just hope that it works out.
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Quote:
I can also picture a scenario where we swap 1st round picks with the Titans and obtain Locker and a 3rd round pick in the process (instead of the standard 2nd round pick usually required).
It has been said that the Titans are likely going to cut Locker because of his salary.
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Forums The Archives 2014 NFL Season NFL Draft 2014 Think Outside the Box: Jake
Locker?
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