Spring Outlook - Quarterback - All about Jake
by John Berkowitz on Mar 2, 2010 5:46 AM PST
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PrintWashington heads into spring with three QB's on the roster, only one of whom has game experience. Fortunately, the one is Heisman candidate Jake Locker, who is expected to have a monster season in 2010, culminating in the Huskies return to a bowl game.
Jake had an up and down season in 2009 as he got his feet wet in Sarkisian's pro style offense. Mid-season injuries slowed down his mobility, corresponding with some tough fourth quarter losses, ultimately knocking Washington out of bowl contention.
The Jake we hope to see in 2010 will be the one we saw the last two games of the season, where he led UW to wins over WSU and California. Those performances represented an almost perfect balance of the use of his many talents. Look for Locker to continue to improve and become more comfortable in the offense in 2010. He could have left and been drafted in the first round but his confidence in Sark, Nuss, his teammates, and bonus money from the Angels convinced him that one more year at UW was more adventageous than holding a clipboard for a season in the NFL.
Backup (Rainbow) Ronnie Fouch decided to transfer in search of playing time, leaving an uncertain void behind Jake should he go down with an injury. RS Keith Price will be the first QB off the bench if the unmentionable happens in 2010. Price is a solid athlete who showed well in his first season running the scout team. The staff has spent a lot of time rebuilding his delivery and we will see the results of that this spring.
What I like about Price is his pure athletic ability. The kid can run and he has a strong arm. Mobility, as we have seen with Jake, is a great asset and Price has plenty of it. The coaching staff is pretty high on Keith, believing he can compete for the starting job in 2011.
Nick Montana arrives this spring fresh out of high school to get an early start learning the system. The coaches love everything about this kid; while he needs a year to learn the system and get stronger, he is considered the heir-apparent to take over the starting duties upon Locker's graduation.
Montana represents the ideal Sark QB recruit at Washington. He is a straight-arrow, smart, talented and has similar leadership abilities to his father, NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana. His arm needs to get stronger over the next year, so he isn't as ready to play as a Skyline High School's Jake Heaps, but he showed that he has the ability to make plays all over the field.
We all know what Jake can do but I think plenty of eyes this spring will be on Price and Montana. The battle for the 2011 starting job starts this spring. In a perfect world Nick won't play in 2010 and Keith Price will assume the backup duties. Washington is also scouring the HS ranks for a walk-on QB to take the place of Taylor Bean who also decided to transfer. Depth at this position has rarely ever been this low.
As for the future the Huskies will likely bring in two QB's in the 2011 class. You like to seperate it out by having one for every class but with only two returning Washington needs to build some depth into the position.
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The Dawgs are in an even bigger catch-22 at QB than last year.
Jake is at his best when he’s allowed the freedom to run, but the depth behind him makes that a less than desireable option. Much more so than last season, when Fouch was the backup.
Speaking of Fouch, it’s too bad that people didn’t get to see how much he improved from 2008. From the practices I saw, it was as much or more than Locker, really.
I imagine that Jake is going to be much more comfortable making the run/pass decisions this season than he was the last. That’ll split-second timing will help to keep him healthier. The other big factor is the improvement on the offensive line; if they are physically stronger and better able to protect Locker, then running can be by choice and not out of necessity.
Price is a very good athlete, but this will be the first year that the bulk of his time will be spent running the UW’s offense instead of that week’s opponent’s. He made the UW’s starting D look foolish at times with his running ability, but he also showed that he’s got a lot of work to do as a passer. Dynamic, but very inconsistent.
Not necessarily agree with that
I think we’ve seen the last of Lappano’s offense i.e. designed running plays for Jake. I think Sark wants Jake only to run when absolutely necessary. As he steps under center and as the play develops, Jake is reading defensive coverage and blitzing schemes. Jake will have more seasoned skill personnel around him and that will make his job easier then last season and he looked awfully good last season in his first season in Sark’s pro style offense. Imagine how much more he developes, matures, and produces in a 2nd season?
If the protection breaks down, if the opposing coverage has his receiver locked up, you’ll see Locker scamp off for positive yardage. But the days of designed running plays for Jake are officially over. It’s not about keeping Locker healthy anymore. It’s about becoming the complete pro style QB in a pro style offense- that will go along way in Washington winning games next season [see results of last season’s WSU and Cal games]. Also it is about developing Locker into the premere pro style QB so that he is completely prepared to be drafted No.1 overall, where he can step in as a rookie and play as well as Mark Sanchez did. In Sark’s camp it’s all about preparing kids for the pros, which will translate to very good recruiting classes in the future, player development, aquiring depth, retaining quality assistant coaches, and WINNING. Does it stop there? Nope, it’s all apart of the snowball effect. Winning snowballs into all the above + funding, donations, which will lead to rennovation projects.
Believe it. A lot rides on how Jake developes and performs. Everything is on the upside from the moment Sark was hired.
All I saw was purple
wow
If carazidawg’s scenario is where Jake and Sark are headed it could be a very fun Fall season.
by Gig Harbor Husky on Mar 2, 2010 8:48 PM PST up reply actions
With all due respect to Crazi . . .
he doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about. I guess we’ve got along for too long now, but Crazi is clearly thinking with his heart again and throwing logic right out the door.
Sark has made it quite clear, over and over and over again, he is going to use Jake’s feet as a weapon. Sark is a very smart guy, he knows that his job security is based off of one thing, wins. Notice how as last season progressed and our record got worse, Sark let Jake run more and we won a few more games. I’m not saying Jake is going to be running for 100 yards per game, but don’t be surprised when he runs for 50 yards per game. Yes, they want to protect him and keep him healthy, especially with the lack of experience at QB, but I fully expect a few designed QB running plays every game. Only a total fool would take your single biggest weapon and only use half of it.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
The key phrase...
“a few designed QB running plays….”
If Jake has 10 rushes in a game, I’ll be shocked if more than, say, 5 are called plays.
I think a lot of Sarkisian taking advantage of Locker’s legs is going to be encouraging him to pull the ball down and take off. Last year, for the bulk of the season, he worked so hard (too hard, maybe?) to be a pocket passer that he missed some opportunities to run for very easy yardage.
I really hope we don’t see that read option play out of the shotgun that really isn’t an option at all (it’s a designed Jake run every single time). It never worked.
We also have to remember.....
the deep quad injury Jake suffered against Oregon. I think we might have seen more performances like the WSU and Cal games, ie., more designed running plays, if Jake had remained healthy.
Still, I’m eager to see how Keith Price does. Hopefully, we can get far enough ahead in some games that he’ll get actually game day experience.
Nice to see Crazi & Lear are back at it.
Expect to Win!!!
Keep in mind...
If you want more running plays, you need to realize he only has one qb behind him on the depth chart (I’m not counting Montana since they want him to RS).
I was going to disagree with crazi too, but he put in that key qualifier – “designed running plays”. While I don’t think they will be scrapped entirely – Jake running the QB draw in the empty backfield with 5 WR’s within about 5 yards of the goal line is our best play IMO – I do think Sark is going to avoid calling designed running plays for the most part. That’s not to say Jake won’t be rolled out and given the option to take off running if his WR’s are covered and the field is open in front of him, but I think his runs are going to come mostly off of scrambles and bootlegs.
Agreed
But, the best way to keep the defense honest is the threat of Jake running the ball. I expect just enough designed running plays to keep the defenses thinking about Jake.
Couldn’t agree more on our best play. Anytime we are 3-10 yards from the goal line, put 5 WR’s out there and let Jake run it. Shoot, call a pass, if nobody gets open Jake can still run it in.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Well, I think defenses will still account for Jake whether he has designed runs or not – as long as he demonstrates that he will take off and run if his WR’s are covered and/or the field is wide open in front of him, Defensive Coordinators will absolutely have to gameplan around that potential threat.
I like the roll out with run option if nothing is open. This way you get the benifit of Jake’s legs with the large likelyhood he doesn’t have to take a hit as he can get up field and out of bounds.
Sark likes the play-action rollout plays. As Jake gets more and more comfortable with Sark’s playbook, he’s going to feel more at liberty to tuck the ball and run when the pass isn’t there rather than trying to force something. I think that’s going to be a really good play for us – with Polk established as a good RB, it opens up play-action plays, and obviously getting Jake on the run outside the pocket is a good thing, as it gives him good options if the pass isn’t there.
The key to opening up that run off the rollout
is a fullback that’s a receiving threat at the first level, and a tight end dragging over the middle at the second level.
If defenses have to play those two guys honestly, there’ll be a lot of green grass in front of him if Jake chooses to run.
Are you sure?
We tried that multiple times vs. Notre Dame and got stopped at the goal line every [explicit] time fella. The best way to use Jake’s feet is to use them when the defense least expects it. I call it “disception”. Putting 5 receivers in the game in a goal line situation tells the opposition to key Jake to run. It might look good on paper, but you have to look at it from an opposing DC’s view. Everybody in South Bend knew Jake was running. So I don’t think that is our best play in that situation. I think our best play in that situation is to play action to Polk and hit Middleton on the hook or Kearse on a hunt route.
All I saw was purple
Very simple
If you have 5 WR’s and everybody thinks Jake is going to run, fake the run and throw a pass.
Jake’s feet keep the defense honest and will open up more yards for Polk and the WR’s.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Easily defended Lear
The entire secondary bottles up the 5 reciever set, meanwhile the entire defensive front keys No.10. Doing that has everything locked up and Notre Dame did that and shut us out on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th downs.
To take advantage of Locker’s running ability, the best time to have him run is to call it when the defense doesn’t know it’s coming. Sark and Chow killed defenses like this with No.5 Reggie Bush. Use that talent when the defense least expects to see it coming brotha…
All I saw was purple
…and Notre Dame did that and shut us out on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th downs.
No, they didn’t. I know this because I was screaming at the TV for Sark to run that very play, and he didn’t.
That play has had an excellent success rate since Jake has been here – probably 80% or higher.
That play is horrible in the short field
5 reciever set inside the 10 yard line is a horrible call to make. For one if you do decide to pass, your receivers have no chance of getting open, because the field is so small. And in that situation all you have to do is key Locker to run, because everybody knows No.10 is coming on a keeper.
P.S. Maybe ND didn’t stop that play on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th down, but I do recall Jake getting the call to run it in short and goal and on back to back plays, Jake was stopped before reaching the goal line. Jake is a better runner when the defense doesn’t know it’s coming.
All I saw was purple
…but I do recall Jake getting the call to run it in short and goal and on back to back plays, Jake was stopped before reaching the goal line
You recall wrong.
5 reciever set inside the 10 yard line is a horrible call to make.
And yet we’ve had tremendous success with it since Jake has been here.
5 wide near the end zone is smarter anyway
You spread the field out, make the defense play dime and man up, and you’re basically getting a hat on a hat inside and Locker gets a free pass to the second level, which at that point is the end zone.
Sark called the spread QB draw once. It scored us our first touchdown.
Never called it again in the ND game. Like kirk, I was screaming for him to run it again.
kirkd that is exactly what I said. How much will we need Locker’s pressence in the running game with C. Polk blossoming as a redshirt sophomore? Polk is going to be more explosive then last season, especially with a better O line. Locker will get rushing yards, but most of them will come on bail outs.
All I saw was purple
DON'T OVERLOOK
TWO highly rated freshman running backs already enrolled and will be at spring practice. Maybe a three back offense?
Exactly
We have dependable RB’s on the roster that can run the ball consistently. We need a QB that can make plays thru the air and can make big plays. Our running game will compliment the passing game and vice versa. Meanwhile look for No.10 to have a break out year running w/ the football when our receivers are locked up or the protection breaks down. But the days of designed running plays for Locker are ancient history.
All I saw was purple
Apparently Lear doesn't know what the hell he is talking about
What the hell are you talking about? I said the days of “designed running plays for Locker are officially over”. Sark is not going to run designed running plays for Locker. It ain’t going to happen Lear. Now like I said (again) if the protection breaks down or if the opposing secondary has our receivers locked up, then Jake will scamp off for positive yardage. That is how Locker will be involved in the running game. Locker dropped 25 lbs. in the offseason between the 08 and 09 season, so apparently Jake doesn’t have that extra cushion to take blows. That tells me that Jake knows that designed running plays are a thing of the past.
Sark is going to use Locker’s feet, but he is being groomed to run when only absolutely necessary. I beleive this upcoming season we’ll see Locker take off more often, just because he will recognize when to take off and when to stay in the pocket better. But you are delusional if Sark is going to install anymore designed running plays for Locker this year. Sark wants Locker to be the No.1 draft pick overall. That alone will be HUGE involving recruiting the best QB recruit prospects in the country. And the best way to get in on those kids is to show them that you can develop QBs to become NFL-ready upon graduation.
Now I will take a step back, the only time Sark calls Locker to run will be in goal line or short yardage situations. But a lot of those plays will be deemed safe, where play action goes up the middle and Locker boots to the perimeter.
All I saw was purple
That's exactly what you said last year
Yet I saw them practicing designed running plays during the spring practices. Maybe you should try attending a practice or even a game, then you can act like an expert and be able to read Sark’s mind!
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
We had to use some of that spread stuff Lear!
We lacked talent to operate consistently out of a pro style system. So Sark implemented a few schemes of the spread to keep D coordinators off balance in preparation. Yes we ran some QB counters and that horrible read option that went for no gain almost everytime it was called. But those plays were implement for that very reason, to keep opposing D coordinators off balance in preparation. It is going to be phased out.
How do you know I haven’t attended practice or games? Now who is making crap up? Just keep to what you know Lear and all is well. The future of Husky football is in pro style. Not spread or a hybrid offense using both pro and spread. Sark is a master of the pro style and that is going to be a huge recruiting niche up here.
I Bark for Sark! WOOF!!!
All I saw was purple
More like George and Lennie from "Of Mice and Men"
I’m sure you can figure out who is who!
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Ok, Crazi . . .
How many practices and games did you attend last season??
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
I'll take the under!
I’m betting it’s zero. I’ve asked before and he’s failed to answer every time. If he answer’s anything but zero, I’ve got a nice easy question that will prove if he’s telling the truth or not.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Does Crazi's failure to answer . . .
force us to assume the “under” is correct?
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Come on Crazi . . . . .
We know you’ve read this, why don’t you want to answer it??
Bueller . . . .Bueller . . . . . .Bueller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
"looked awfully good last season"?
… I don’t really remember it that way. I think we could say that he “looked good in flashes”, but I also remember a bunch of silly interceptions, a lot of missed plays due to hesitation, some overthrows, and far too many throws off his back foot.
Obviously, he’s our best playmaker. But he still has much room for development. Like all of you, I’m hoping / expecting a real breakout.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
Keep in mind...
That was Jake’s first full season playing in a pro style offense. How much of it is just learning the terminology? How much time did Jake spend reading defenses? Jake had one offseason to get all that in and had one season to put it on the field.
I was more impressed with Jake last season then all of his previous seasons altogther. Jake has a lot to learn about the pro style QB play, but I see a great QB coming into his own in season 2 under Sark. And yes Gekko, I thought Jake looked awfully good when healthy. The LSU, USC, WSU, and Cal games were rock solid. And we saw flashes of greatness in other games, but not consistent due to key injuries here and there.
All I saw was purple
One would think
that with the dearth of bodies at QB, a “top-flight” (whatever that means) JC QB would be looking at the opportunity to start from day one with the Huskies. He’d obviously have to compete with Montana and Price next year, but with two extra years of football under his belt, he’d have to like his chances.
So far, it doesn’t appear Sark has anyone on his radar from the JC ranks, but it’s really early.
I think it was on Condotta's blog
But there was a kid from Oregon who might walk on.
He ran a wing-t in HS and skewed his stat line so he ended up getting slept on.
by B Money on Mar 2, 2010 11:52 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I'm not sure about the JC route for QB.
How many pro-style QB’s ever come out of the JC ranks and start at BCS schools? If a guy didn’t make the grades out of high school, do you really want him at the most cerebral position on the field?
It’s going to take an exceptional case, like a Taylor Barton transfer sort of thing to make a JC appealing.
Aaron Rodgers was a JC recruit for Cal
I knew they had a couple big ones so I was browsing the Scout archives… Joe Ayoob was another one. 5-star JC who didn’t have quite the career that Rodgers did.
2nd year success
But he wasn’t all that good during his first year. He blossomed a couple of games into his 2nd year.
Things have changed since those days. Not too many QB’s have come out of the JC ranks that were impact guys in recent years. It can happen, but they are rare.
Johnny Durocher was a JC kid too (technically)
Left Oregon and got his AA. I wouldn’t mind picking up a QB that way again…
Great Pic!...
…personally I’d prefer a darker brew though.
by doubledeucedawg on Mar 3, 2010 8:31 PM PST up reply actions
Roger Stauback was a JC
So over 50 years we have Stauback, Moon, Millen, and Rogers. I think the ex pro baseball players have a better current record at the QB position.
We're not going the JC route with QBs
Many times when you take QBs out of the JC ranks, you have to unteach a lot of bad habits. I think Rogers is the only logical exception to the rule when dealing with JC QBs. But why did Rogers go the JC route to begin with? Was it grades out of high school? Or was it that most of the bigger QB schools passed on him and maybe Rogers didn’t want to head off to Pullman to play ball. Maybe Rogers thought he’d head off to a junior college and transfer to a bigger school who was in need of QB depth. Now all this is speculation so don’t buy too much into it.
The point is, the days of acquiring top QB talent in the JC ranks are a thing of the past. One reason is due to the spread offense spreading from shore to shore. You can’t take too many spread QBs and teach them how to operate out of a pro style offense and develope into a pro style QB with less then 2 years left of eligibility. In the end the return profit is marginal at best.
Sark is going to go after young prep QBs that he and Nuss can shape and mold them into good pro style QBs, where you don’t have to unteach a lot of bad habits. If we go JC for a QB anytime soon, it would be because a kid like Rogers went that route, but that doesn’t happen very often. Go JC route only for immediate need. I don’t think we have an immediate need under center.
All I saw was purple
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