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Jake Locker--UW


Seahawks21
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I just got back from being out of the country for five weeks, and everybody here in Seattle is telling me that they expect Jake Locker to leave college to head for the NFL this season. My reply was that he wouldn't be a first round pick and should decide to wait and play his senior season. Then I started to do some research. Not only does every recent mock I can find have him in the top-10, but most have him now as the top QB in the draft. Heck, the article I just read on Yahoo had him going #1 OVERALL!!

 

Am I missing something? I thought we had learned that QBs must be accurate, poised in the pocket, be able to read defenses quickly and get rid of the ball. Locker's upside is his footspeed and arm strength. To those familiar, do you see his skills translating to the NFL that much more than Tebow's? I have had Bradford as the top NFL prospect, heads and shoulders above the rest. To me Bradford is the one with star written on him. He just looks like a pro QB in the pocket, while Locker tends to throw off his back foot, leave the pocket too early, get rid of the ball too late, and sprays the ball all over the place. What say ye?

 

ETA: I just looked at footballsfuture.com, which is usually my favorite mock type site, and they now have him going #1 overall as well! Aye!!

 

ETA2: Ok. 3 of the first 4 sites I looked at had him at #1 overall. Ohhhmagoots!

Edited by Seahawks21
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McShay and Kiper have him behind Bradford as the #2 QB. He has shown hugh improvement under Sark and combined with his athleticism his ceiling is higher than any QB in the draft my a mile -

 

You obviously haven't watched him this year have you??, he has improved tremendously, he looks great - and is a better passer and runner and athlete than Tebow. He is a much better pro prospect than Tebow - and that is why Locker will be top 5-10 and Tebow will be a 2-3rd rd pick

 

the sky is the limit for Locker

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McShay and Kiper have him behind Bradford as the #2 QB. He has shown hugh improvement under Sark and combined with his athleticism his ceiling is higher than any QB in the draft my a mile -

 

You obviously haven't watched him this year have you??, he has improved tremendously, he looks great - and is a better passer and runner and athlete than Tebow. He is a much better pro prospect than Tebow - and that is why Locker will be top 5-10 and Tebow will be a 2-3rd rd pick

 

the sky is the limit for Locker

No, I already said I haven't watched much this year, just through boxscores. Still, on the season he is completing passes at a 57% clip, even while playing in the Pac-10. A Pac-10 QB needs to be in the 65% range given the soft pass defenses in the conference. Believe me, there is no bigger fan of Jake on this website, and very few bigger fans of his on this planet, but I just never thought his game translated to the pros. You just don't usually put Locker and accurate in the same sentence, which is what I had thought was one of if not the most important parts of being a pro QB.

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No, I already said I haven't watched much this year, just through boxscores. Still, on the season he is completing passes at a 57% clip, even while playing in the Pac-10. A Pac-10 QB needs to be in the 65% range given the soft pass defenses in the conference. Believe me, there is no bigger fan of Jake on this website, and very few bigger fans of his on this planet, but I just never thought his game translated to the pros. You just don't usually put Locker and accurate in the same sentence, which is what I had thought was one of if not the most important parts of being a pro QB.

 

first of all- the Pac 10 is tough this year and right behind the SEC as the #2 conference, Sagarin has them at #1.

 

Locker is leading in total offense and TD passes, I believe.

 

It is all coaching my man- Sark is a QB guru and under him Locker has grown leaps and bounds. Keep in mind, UW isn't exactly rolling out the most gifted offensive players either.

 

He isn't there yet, but has obviously shown enough to make him a top 5-10 pick...........

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From what I've heard, it has been combination of Locker playing well, and other QB's underwhelming and falling back toward the pack.

Bradford's injuries have people questioning his durability, which is huge when you're handing out $40 million checks. I remember Trent Dilfer saying last season that he wondered whether Bradford had the build to withstand the punishment an NFL QB takes over a career.

Colt McCoy hasn't wowed everyone the way he did last season and Locker is seen as a more NFL-ready Tebow.

 

I also think he's benefited from leading what might be the most improved team in college football through a brutal schedule. Games against LSU, USC, and Notre Dame have put him in front of the East coasters that don't normally see Pac 10 football. Give the folks in Bristol a chance to see you, and all of the sudden you're the next big thing.

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My issue is with the formula. Haven't we pretty much proven that timing, mechanics and accuracy are the most important pieces? Those happen to be Locker's three biggest weaknesses. Does anybody here want a guy like him to be your team's QB of the future?

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McShay and Kiper have him behind Bradford as the #2 QB. ...

Bradford is garbage which should tell you something about putting any stock in anything these two jagoffs say.

 

Spread offense... check.

An OL with 3-5 guys who could start in the pros... check.

Zero mobility... check.

Zero poise under pressure... check.

And a less than ideal delivery... check.

 

Oh, but he threw a bunch of TDs and won a Heisman under Stoops so obviously he's a top pick. :wacko: Except for it not being OU/Stoops and minus the OU OL, this describes virtually every Texas Tech QB under Leach. The latest went undrafted and plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

We'll see, but color me skeptical on Bradford (and maybe a little Burnt Orange :D ).

Edited by kingfish247
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Here in STL, we are not only the odds-on favorite for the #1 overall pick, we are going to need a QB. Ironically, his name came up just yesterday on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website:

 

QUESTION: If the St. Louis Rams were to take a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft, which current college quarterback would you suggest they select?

 

BERNIE MIKLASZ, PD Columnist

Very tough call, and of course I reserve the right to change my mind later, after these kids play more games and also go through the NFL Scouting Combine. Because a lot can change between now and the draft. But if we are talking right now, I’d go with Washington’s Jake Locker. Big (6-3), strong and athletic, Locker has a plus arm, and a quick release. He’s been thriving in the pro-style offense installed by first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian. Also, Locker is being tutored by one of the best, QBs coach Steve Clarkson, who in the past has worked with Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Leinart and others. Clarkson cleaned up Locker’s mechanics and the improvement was immediate. And keep in mind that Locker is getting it done at Washington, and he’s not surrounded by elite talent. That makes his performance even more impressive.

 

Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen has moved up as an NFL prospect. Clausen has always had the natural talent, but he’s grown at Notre Dame, and is more physically imposing now. Looks like a tough kid, too. He is certainly used to pressure and it doesn’t get to him. The best is yet to come for Clausen. The red flags are out on Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford; it’s not only the shoulder injuries, but the questions of whether he can throw while under pressure, because he doesn’t encounter much of a pass rush at OU. Cincinnati’s Tony Pike could be the steal of the draft; he’s likely to be downgraded and drop down the board because of multiple injuries to his left wrist. But he’s a player. Not sure if Colt McCoy (Texas) has the frame, but he seems like a good fit for a West Coast offense. Jevan Snead (Ole Miss) has been touted by scouts and draftniks, but I haven’t seen enough (yet) to get excited by his NFL future. Again, that could change. All of this could.

 

The locals are souring on Bradford - big time.

Edited by STL Fan
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Bradford is garbage which should tell you something about putting any stock in anything these two jagoffs say.

 

whatever...... Bradford is going to be very good at the next level and he will be light years better than McCoy in the NFL that much is certain.

 

I have no love for OU or Texas but Bradford is legit and McCoy is totally overrated and won't do chit in the NFL

 

and fwiw - the Big 12 stinks this year :wacko:

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My issue is with the formula. Haven't we pretty much proven that timing, mechanics and accuracy are the most important pieces? Those happen to be Locker's three biggest weaknesses. Does anybody here want a guy like him to be your team's QB of the future?

 

 

formula?? you mean like Sarkisian being a great offensive and QB coach? pretty sure he was QB coach at USC in '02 when Palmer won the Heisman - and as well as tutoring Cassel and Leinart - gee combining that with Locker's tools sounds like a pretty good formula to me. Throw in the fact he is an awesome kid and a natural leader - unlimited potential.

 

right because every good QB in the NFL comes out of college as a finished product

Edited by wildcat2334
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formula?? you mean like Sarkisian being a great offensive and QB coach? pretty sure he was QB coach at USC in '02 when Palmer won the Heisman - and as well as tutoring Cassel and Leinart - gee combining that with Locker's tools sounds like a pretty good formula to me. Throw in the fact he is an awesome kid and a natural leader - unlimited potential.

 

right because every good QB in the NFL comes out of college as a finished product

No but all current successful QB's come out of college as accurate natural passers, minus maybe McNabb.

 

Think of the current best QBs--Warner, Brees, Brady, Mannings, Rodgers, Ryan, Cutler, Rivers

 

Think of the busts we have seen--A. Smith, Boller, V. Young, Q. Carter, J. Russell, Losman

 

The best QB's excel in terms of touch, accuracy, and reading defenses in order to get rid of the ball quickly

 

The busts all excel in terms of arm strength and athleticism.

 

Locker's strengths are in the second category. Bradford's lack of mobility will not hurt him because he gets rid of the ball SO quickly. He has "it". He just looks beautiful in the pocket and delivers the ball accurately and on-time. If he can stay healthy, I don't think he can miss if given a decent situation, which he has a better chance for now that he doesn't figure to be a top-5 type pick. I think he is the exception to the major college rule and would excel anywhere in the country.

 

Locker does have the mental makeup. He is a warrior that will refuse to fail. There is a chance that he can still learn mechanics and accuracy, and if anybody could learn these type of things along the way it would be a kid like Locker. I'm just scared of that accuracy, which is alarming given his baseball background. That said, arm strength and footspeed don't mean jack to the QB position. If he can't be accurate, he will not succeed, period.

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It will come down to the combines and whether he can sit on his ass and throw an 80 yard bomb through the goal posts before Al Davis will offer him $80 million.

 

Whatever you were trying to do with this post to make an Al Davis joke didn't make any sense...

 

Edit: Anyway, I've watched my fair share of UW games this year, as the Huskies are my team and therefore it may negate anything I say.

 

However, I would say the improvement from last year to this year is IMMEDIATELY and INCREDIBLY noticeable when it comes to Jake Locker. I know you have only looked at box scores, but take a look at how the kid is playing now. Far more accurate and poised in the pocket than last year. Not to mention all the things others have said about his leadership abilities and athleticism.

 

That being said I think he stands to benefit a LOT from playing his senior year at the UW under Sark. Anything he's learned in just one short offseason will be exponentially better next year. And of course I want that because we'll have a better team next year and may be able to stay ranked for more than one week (supposing Locker stays).

Edited by Medal of Honor
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That being said I think he stands to benefit a LOT from playing his senior year at the UW under Sark. Anything he's learned in just one short offseason will be exponentially better next year. And of course I want that because we'll have a better team next year and may be able to stay ranked for more than one week (supposing Locker stays).

 

I agree with this as a UW alum, and also as someone who's nephew was Locker's TE at Ferndale HS and fellow safety in the defensive backfield, as well as baseball and basketball teammates since they were very young. The kid has the 'it' factor of a #1 overall pick in the leadership and personality department, a cannon for an arm and Tebow speed. HOWEVER, he is not as polished as he ought to be and needs to probably prove he can stay healthy for an entire season before a franchise would be willing to throw down the coin necessary for a top 5 pick on him.

 

Tough to tell a kid to pass on $25-30 million to play for free for a year and maybe get $50 million the next time around. See Bradford, Sam.

Edited by godtomsatan
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GTS - I agree with most of your post, except Locker is WAY faster than Tebow.

 

Locker is a work in progress and needs refinement but the scouts are drooling at his potential. nice Ferndale connection!!

 

he is as good as gone IMO - no reason at all to stick around if you are top 5-10

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GTS - I agree with most of your post, except Locker is WAY faster than Tebow.

 

Locker is a work in progress and needs refinement but the scouts are drooling at his potential. nice Ferndale connection!!

 

he is as good as gone IMO - no reason at all to stick around if you are top 5-10

I agree. He has to go. He really doesn't have a choice anymore.

 

It pains me to knock the kid so I'm going to say this and leave it alone....

 

If Jake Locker goes in the top-10, he will be the second most inaccurate QB that I have ever seen go in the top-10, the first being Mike Vick.

 

I'm going to watch 2 or 3 games tonight to try to get caught up. Maybe he somehow became accurate overnight.

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