University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker is on the top of Heisman Trophy watch lists and is regarded as a premier NFL prospect. But what does he need to improve?
According to Todd McShay, ESPN’s talent evaluating expert, not a whole lot. McShay rates Locker 95 out of 100 and concludes, “Locker has elite physical tools and he made huge strides as a pocket passer under first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian in 2009.”
In Locker’s full evaluation, though, McShay finds some nits to pick. Here are some areas for improvement.
Still will force some throws into traffic. Still needs to learn when to say when and live to fight another day.
Needs to learn to put some more air under some of his deep balls.
Two questions he needs to answer in 2009: does he roll to his right too frequently when pressure comes, and will he learn to better-protect his body by sliding, diving and getting out of bounds?
All in all, Locker scores highly in toughness, leadership, accuracy, release, arm strength and mobility. Indeed, the only category that Locker isn’t rated “exceptional” or “above average” is Intelligence and Decision-Making.
Locker will use this fall to answer those questions for analysts and NFL scouts alike.
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