At the age of 25, it now seems like it is do or die time for Jake Locker. The young QB out of Washington, who was selected with the 8th pick in the 2011 NFL draft, will be entering his 4th year in the league with the Tennessee Titans. He has only started 18 games so far in his career, but the lack of starts is not because of performance, but more so because he has yet to show anyone he can stay healthy enough to be trusted as the franchise QB. He is in the final year of his original 4 year deal that he signed as a rookie. There was a team option on a 5th year, but the Titans have decided not to pick up that option.
The 6’2 230 lb, strong armed, QB stayed for all 4 years at Washington, but prior to his disappointing senior year, he was considered the #1 QB in the nation and was even compared by some scouts to a bigger Steve Young. After the Titans selected him and said he would sit the 1st year behind Matt Hasselbeck, the rookie show glimpses of his bright future, appearing in 5 games, throwing for 4 touchdowns, and running for 1, with no interceptions. It got the Titan fans excited for what they could be seeing in a future franchise QB. The sky was the limit for him and the Titans organization.
In 2012, Locker made enough progression, and showed enough in the training camp, that he beat out Matt Hasselbeck, and was named the starter. He played well for 3 games, threw 4 touchdowns with 2 interceptions, and then got hurt with a shoulder injury 3 plays into the 4th game of the year. He came back 6 weeks later, but was never truly the same, and finished the year with 10 touchdowns, 1 rushing, and 11 interceptions. He showed that he can run the offense, but he still showed that he wasn’t in complete control of the offense yet, but that was soon coming as he began his 3rd year.
For most QBs, the 3rd year is when you see them really start to take control of the offense. It was no different for Locker. The Titans started 3-1, which included a thrilling last second game-winning touchdown throw to Justin Hunter in the home opener. Locker had thrown for 6 touchdowns, ran in 1 for a rushing score, and had zero interceptions. However, in that 4th game, the injury bug, once again, bit Locker and knocked him out for 2 weeks. He came back, played a surprising solid game against the 49ers, in a loss, and then struggled against the Rams and the Jaguars before getting hurt in that game and ending his season after only 7 games started.
The naysayers to Lockers say he hasn’t led the Titans to the playoffs and he hasn’t proved he can stay healthy. The supporters of Locker, and I am 1 of them, state that while he has won 6 of the last 10 games he has started, while throwing for 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, with another 3 rushing touchdowns added. Not to mention that his completion percentage, which was his biggest knock coming out of college, has improved every year he’s been in the league. Starting at 52% as a rookie and going all the way up to 61% last year.
With a new coach in the fold, in Ken Whisenhunt, Locker must prove that his arrow is still pointing north, and he can’t prove that from the trainer’s room. When new coaching normal come in, they usually want their own selected QB, because their success is essentially tied with them. Locker has 1 year to convince his new coach that he is the one he wants to ride or die with. If that isn’t enough motivation to go all out and get yourself physically ready to start the entire year, he will not be in a Titans uniform, now THAT is do or die.
