Locker Up - How Good Does the Titans Quarterback Need To Be in 2013?

Much of the Titans offseason talk has included discussion of third year quarterback Jake Locker, his "accuracy issue" and whether Ryan Fitzpatrick could push him for a starting job. In my "hot seat" list I did include Locker for reasons that are readily apparent in the article. Clearly Locker has to improve on his 2012 season. Having said that, I do believe there is potential for expectations to be too high for Locker. Why do you ask? Let me explain.

Locker was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft and played sparingly his first season. With limited snaps however, he looked good.

I think we often forget how good Locker looked that year and how excited everyone was about what they saw in his performance. Sadly, his performance in 2012 was marred by injury, not only to himself but on the offensive line. Add to that inconsistency in the running game and some inexcusable drops from his receivers and his 2012 looks bad.

Two things in particular concern me about Locker's 2012 and neither really have to do with "accuracy" per se. One, he had 11 batted passes and that didn't appear to be an issue in 2011 (he had 2). His release point does seem a little low and how much of that was attributed to guarding and his left shoulder injury is a question mark for me. Regardless, that is an area he must work on.

OUCH

Locker took 5 sacks in his rookie campaign out of 76 dropbacks. In 2012 he took 25 sacks out of 370 dropbacks. His most significant injury occurred when he was sacked by Glover Quin. Of course, this isn't all Locker's fault. Chris Johnson needs to block better for one. I also think former offensive coordinator Chris Palmers' system contributed. Still, Locker has to recognize pressure better and operate to protect himself and the football. He also fumbled the football 4 times (all of them lost) in 2012 usually at inopportune times (is there ever an opportune time?).

All of this leads to the question of how good Locker needs to be in 2013 to satisfy the coaching staff and owner Bud Adams. Really what the fans think isn't that important. They say winning cures all and certainly winning more games in 2013 will help. Here is where I think the Titans would like to see improvement in 2013.

TIME OF POSSESSION

The Titans time of possession stats in 2012 were beyond atrocious. I wrote about it extensively in my game blogs if you are interested. While not all a product of the passing game that certainly contributed and this is a stat I believe without a shadow of a doubt the Titans want to see improved.

RED ZONE SUCCESS

The Titans ranked 22nd in the NFL in red zone scoring percentage based on touchdowns only. This is down significantly from 2011 and it is beyond embarrassing that they ranked only 25% efficiency in the red zone at LP Field. Not coincidentally, they also finished in the bottom half of the league in scoring points at 23.

PASSING EFFICIENCY

I labeled this efficiency and not accuracy with good reason. I have said time and again I think the accuracy issue is overblown. I think the Titans would far prefer to see less sacks, less batted passes and more production than they care about whether Locker throws a pretty pass. The first I have alluded to but one more stat I find discouraging from Locker's 2012 season is that his yards per attempt fell dramatically. Of course, the 2011 season is a small sample size and 6.9 isn't terrible. Locker ranked 18th amongst starting NFL quarterbacks in yards per pass thrown but dang if that 8.2 from 2011 isn't enticing. The Titans passing game ranked 22nd in the NFL in passing yards per game.

OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION

Obviously this is a catchall phrase and area but really if the Titans score points and win games isn't the goal accomplished? The Titans in 2012 finished in the lower half of the NFL in points, passing yards, rushing yards and total offensive yards. Per Football Outsiders, the Titans offense was ranked 29th in the league in offensive efficiency. Offensive production doesn't occur in a vacuum and in order to have a successful one the Titans must operate on all cylinders. Of course he was injured, but I expect the Titans to make better use of Locker's ability to operate out of the pocket and make plays in 2013 whether passing or running.

What are your expectations for Jake Locker in 2013?


 

My Thoughts on the Jake Locker Accuracy Tour

The Jake Locker "Accuracy Tour" is in full swing and I was going to sit it out, or at least watch from the bleachers, but I elected to join the party. That's me I'm just a a social butterfly that way. I wrote extensively about Locker, his injury and his performance last season and analyzed individual games if you are interested. You can find them on this blog. I concluded that the Titans did Locker a disservice by electing to keep him on the active roster and  the "Accuracy Tour" just reinforces that opinion.

Much was made of Locker's accuracy coming out of college and there is some foundation for it certainly. He struggled his last year at Washington behind a putrid offensive line and the results were fairly predictable. Sound familiar Titans fans? The Titans drafted Locker at the overall 8th pick in the 2011 draft, and he is now heading into his third year in the league.

What many forget is how electric and exciting Locker was to watch when he debuted in 2011. He didn't get a lot of playing time but made the most of it leaving everyone to think big days were ahead for him. After a much heralded quarterback competition between him and Matt Hasselbeck, he was positioned to enter 2012 with high hopes.

Locker actually looked pretty good his first 3 games before suffering the most severe injury to his left, non throwing, shoulder against Houston in game 4. Against New England, where he initially injured the shoulder, he was 23 of 32 for 229 yards, a completion percentage (Hi!) of 71.9, a QBA of 89.2, 1 TD, 1 INT, a bad lost fumble, and 2 sacks. He rushed for 11 yards on 2 attempts (5.5 avg).

In game 2 against San Diego he wasn't as good going 15 of 30 for 174 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 0 sacks, and 0 fumbles. He rushed 2 times for 21 yards (10.5 avg). Game 3 against Detroit was perhaps his best game of the year where he was 29 of 42 for 378 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 0 sacks and 1 fumble lost. He rushed 4 times for 35 yards (8.8 avg).

After getting hurt at the beginning of Game 4, he missed the next 5 games and it was widely reported his left shoulder injury would require surgery after the season. He suffered a dislocation and his shoulder continued to pop in and out during the course of the season. I invite you to peruse my game blogs where I talk extensively about his guarding issues and how it affected his play.

In any event, his play after returning from injury was sporadic at best. Much is made of the inability of the Titans to score early on when he was the quarterback but those issues continued even after Hasselbeck assumed the helm. The Titans offense was offensive for many reasons: offensive line issues and injuries, a lackluster and then spotty running game, the disappearance of Kenny Britt in games, the "Palmer issue" amongst others. On top of that the emergence of young quarterbacks like RGIII, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick and Andrew Luck made Locker's struggles look even worse.

I also wrote and I believe this more than ever that it would be unfair to judge Locker on the 2012 season because of the injury and the other issues facing the offense. The "Accuracy Tour" was as predictable as it is maddening and the Titans are completely to blame for it.

I know hindsight is 20/20 but they did Locker a disservice by keeping him active after it was patently obvious he was struggling. The "Accuracy Tour" is a direct result of their decision to keep playing him instead of shutting him down and putting Hasselbeck back in charge.

Speaking of hindsight, I think in time people will look back on the Titans 2012 and 2013 seasons as the years where decisions were made because people were concerned about losing their jobs. Time will tell whether those decisions worked out. For Locker, it means 2013 is a big year for him.


You can find Locker's full stats here:  Locker NFL stats

Which Titan on Offense Will Step Up and Lead?

The Titans lack leadership and direction. This is hardly a surprise to anyone who follows the team or pays any attention to the NFL. Is this coaching? Is it personnel? Both? Yeah, I think I will have to go a bit with both. In my opinion it's pretty clear leadership on the field needs to be better. Who are the likely candidates? Let's take a look.

On offense, the clear choice has to be Jake Locker. Am I right? The starting quarterback is generally a leader, if not THE leader, on offense and Locker has already shown he has those attributes. The Titans are hopeful he will stay healthy in 2013 and if he can he should be the clear leader on offense.

Are there any other candidates? I think so.

Nate Washington has proven he can be a dependable veteran and go to guy for the Titans. Was he a leader last year? I think its debatable. Can he be a better leader? I think without question he can be a better leader both on the field and in the locker room. I would like to see him be more vocal with the young receivers.

This may seem an unlikely choice because offensive lineman AND he is super quiet. I am not of the opinion you have to be a loudmouth to be a leader. Roos is the best offensive lineman on the Titans roster and one of the best left tackles in the game. He comes across as intelligent and his knowledge of the game particularly the offensive aspect is unquestionable.

This might seem another unlikely candidate since it is rare you would find a backup player, much less the backup quarterback, a leader on the team. Hasselbeck can pull this off. His accomplishments in the game speak volumes and he has a proven track record as a leader. Finally, Hasselbeck is a smart guy who is not afraid to voice his opinions. He has embraced whatever role the Titans have asked of him and been all class about it.

Honorable Mentions:

The Titans offensive line was in disarray in 2012 but Fernando Velasco was a bright spot. Unfortunately,  he is a free agent and there has been no information on whether the Titans will bring him back. Rookie wide receiver Kendall Wright was also a bright spot and is also a likely candidate to be a leader on offense.

Those are my choices. What say you? Who would you choose and why?

The Good, The Bad a & The Ugly - Jets MNF

The 6-7 New York Jets came to Nashville Monday night hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive against the 4-9 Tennessee Titans. Already eliminated from playoff contention, and with the future of the coaching staff and front office in question, eyes were on the Titans to see how well they would fare on Monday Night Football.

LP Field was once a place where opponents found it difficult to play but the Titans had only won 2 games at home prior to hosting the Jets. The Titans have clearly struggled at home as of late particularly in 2012 so it was important for them to defend their home turf and they did. The Titans beat the Jets 14 to 10 but the performance can only be called sloppy. So without further ado let's take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly.

THE GOOD:

The Titans defense keeps playing better. A lot of people will mark this game off saying it was Sanchez and the Jets but let's not forget the Jets have won 6 games and have a pretty good running game. Sanchez has definitely struggled due to inconsistency and the Titans defense is now blitzing regularly and getting a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Jets have a good offensive line but the Titans sacked the Jets 4 times for 24 yards. The Titans also intercepted Sanchez 4 times and forced a fumble and are now -5 in the turnover ratio.

Cornerback Jason McCourty, not to be outdone by twin Devin McCourty of the Patriots, intercepted Sanchez twice and now leads the team with 4 interceptions on the year. I think McCourty is playing very well and for the most part has very good coverage abilities.

Safety Michael Griffin also registered 2 interceptions and now has 3 interceptions on the year. After a slow start, Griffin has come on and played fairly well in the second part of the season. A standup guy, it is good to see him playing better.

Speaking of Griffin, the Titans are blitzing a lot more and it is effective and this safety blitz ended a drive for the Jets. Griffin is very good in this blitz package and the Titans have used it successfully in the past.

I singled this play out for another reason and that is to illustrate something I have long said about defensive end Kam Wimbley. He gets held a lot and it doesn't get called and he often will shake free and make the play anyway. Like here.

I would hide too

In large part the Titans defense made it miserable for the Jets offense. One final note I want to mention is that defensive end Derrick Morgan doens't get enough credit for how well he is playing. The guy is having a solid year and really has made it miserable for opposing offenses. He had a sack as well as a tackle for a loss, as well as a quarterback hit and 4 hurries.

Quarterback Jake Locker didn't have his best game, but he did cut out the turnovers. Locker finished 13 of 22 for 149 yards passing and 7 of 53 rushing including a rushing touchdown. I will have more on Locker later as we discuss some bad things from the game.

Running back Chris Johnson finally broke a long run for a touchdown. On 2 and 9 at the Tennessee 6 yard Johnson hit the gap his blockers set up for him and dashed for 94 yards to score setting a franchise record in the process.

Just a well executed play all around and it was nice to see the Titans starting to score touchdowns again!

However, the Titans really should have scored more which leads me to the bad.

THE BAD:

The Titans did manage to score two rushing touchdowns, when your defense has 5 takeaways and you only score twice Houston we have a problem. Part of the problem stems from injuries to the offensive line, and that unit took another hit when Kevin Matthews went down with a high ankle sprain and is done for the year. Rookie wide receiver Kendall Wright also suffered an injury to his ribs and his availability is in question for the Green Bay game at the least.

I considered putting Loggains in the good but he made the bad list based in large part on the inability to capitalize and the ill conceived option play alone.

This play was doomed from the start and continues a list of head-scratching playcalling by this staff. While I do see improvement, plays like this one still leave me baffled.

I have to put Jake Locker's accuracy issues in the bad category although I still do think they are overstated and there is no doubt in my mind his injury is affecting him. I hate to criticize the offensive line too much because of the injury situation and I know those guys are doing the best they can but Locker's pocket begins to collapse within 2 seconds. He clearly doesn't trust his pocket and you can't blame him. At this point, I don't even know why he is under center at all he is just getting killed there.

I have watched I don't know how many hours of Locker film and he is clearly guarding his left shoulder. When he throws across his body is when you see it affect him the most, but it clearly affects him sometimes even when he is running. I hesitate to say the Titans made a mistake not shutting him down so he could have surgery but I do wonder how this might affect his confidence level going forward.

The Titans lack of depth at linebacker is concerning and this is an area that must be addressed. Starting middle linebacker Colin McCarthy has missed 7 games this season and the Titans have limited options behind him. Linebacker Tim Shaw did a good job in the past but he has a terrible game against the Jets.

Veteran Will Witherspoon has lost more than a step and is just a liability in coverage now. It wouldn't surprise me if the Titans didn't draft another linebacker in the mid rounds.

Along those same lines, the Titans were generally bad at stopping the Jets trickery plays. Tim Tebow came into the lineup and rushed for a first down and then converted a third down.

The Jets also successfully ran the wildcat formation.

Tebow was actually moving the offense fairly well until the Titans started to blitz him.

Hey Coach, did you see that play!?!?

Wait til you see what I do to ya now Tim!

You gonna let me play some more Coach??

The Titans began blitzing and Tebow had very little help.

THE UGLY:

The Titans were penalized 14 times for 111 yards. This is simply unacceptable. Safety Jordan Babineaux is a good player but he has clearly lost focus. He committed two costly penalties on the Jets first drive, one a holding where he tripped and tripped the receiver and the other a facemask. 

I do question the Titans handling of the safety position and I don't think it is all his fault. The good news is that he recovered and went on to have a good game.

Cornerback Alterraun Verner added a pass interference penalty on that drive and it was clearly a good call.

Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks cannot keep jumping offsides like he has been and really all the tackles have been lucky not to be flagged more for jumping early.

Finally, special teams was just putrid in this game and overall has played poorly the second half of the season. Kicker Rob Bironas missed his 4th kick of the season.

Clearly, the hold was not at issue here either.

The usually awesome Brett Kern had one good punt while punting 10 times. He averaged 39.1 yards per punt. He gets a pass because he is having a great year.

The Titans continue to make stupid mistakes and commit stupid penalties as well. Tommie Campbell once again committed a stupid special teams penalty, and the Titans aren't getting consistently good position on offense. In fact, I think its safe to say the opposite is true. Return man Darius Reynaud did generally make good decisions this game however. 

Finally, the Titans converted 2 third downs. 2 out of 13 shot and only ran 56 plays. This is completely unacceptable. Ultimately, the good outweighed the bad and ugly and the Titans were able to come away with the win.