In this series of articles, our resident tape wizard Greg Cosell will take an in-depth look at some of the more interesting fantasy players for the 2020 NFL season. It’s a peek behind the curtain of the film room, as these are Greg’s raw, unfiltered notes he takes as he watches a player.
First up: a full breakdown of second-year Broncos QB Drew Lock’s rookie season.
Games Watched
All five starts: Chargers, Texans, Chiefs, Lions, Raiders
Lock’s stats: 100/156 passing (64.1%), 1020 yards, 7 TD, 3 INT
Overall Impressions
Lock features a quick, compact delivery with a strong power arm that can drive the ball with velocity. An easy thrower with little effort.
Initial thought: Is there some Matthew Stafford in Lock? He has a big arm with the ability to throw from different arm angles and platforms, willing to turn it loose into tight windows.
Lock showcased the ability to get out of the pocket and make second-reaction throws. He also showed more than basic functional mobility to run when he had to. There is a true playmaking dimension to Lock’s game.
Despite high-level arm talent, Lock must consistently play with more fundamental discipline in his overall game. He needs to focus on the details and nuances of the QB position.
Lock showed the arm talent to throw with pace and touch when demanded, and to drive the ball with velocity when needed.
Lock played with poise and composure for a rookie. He rarely looked frenetic and chaotic in his play and movement. He showed a good understanding of how to execute route concepts versus certain coverages. His elimination and isolation process was refined for a first-year QB.
Lock showed the ability to make off-balance throws from different platforms in the face of pressure.
Lock showed a good feel for empty sets and the quick game concepts that are featured.
What stood out watching Lock was how efficient he was on third down, which is normally a difficult down for a rookie QB.
Lock maintained good vision when he moved out of the pocket, stayed poised and composed.
Lock showed a good sense of timing and anticipation on spot throws outside the numbers.
Lock had the tendency to drift to his left when he perceived pressure. He left throws on the field and at times created his own pressure. Overall, Lock has a tendency to be a drifter, that’s something that needs to be cleaned up.
Lock at times is a little quick to break down and leave the pocket. He can compensate at times with his mobility, but overall he needs to play with more pocket discipline.
The Week 17 game against the Raiders was overall a good summation of Lock’s five starts in many respects. He had issues with lower-body mechanics and lack of a firm base. Lock left some throws on the field, lacking clarity and not turning it loose. However, Lock showed an understanding of progression reading with regards to route concepts versus specific coverage. He did have a tendency at times to break down in the pocket prematurely. Still, his mobility to make plays outside the pocket both throwing and running allows him to get away with it and turn those plays into positives.
Notable Scheme/Play Specifics
- The Broncos featured play action boot with Lock, and he threw the ball effectively on the move. Lock also showed good vision on the move, both off designed boot action and second-reaction (read: unscripted) movement.
- Broncos offensive coaching staff in 2019 did an excellent job with use of personnel, formations and route concepts to define reads and throws for Lock. Schemed concepts were evident versus Chargers and Texans.
- WR Courtland Sutton 26-yard TD on 3rd-and-8 vs. Chargers came out of “12” personnel 3x1 set with Sutton the boundary X vs. 5-man zone pressure with Cover 3 boundary lock coverage behind it. Lock threw a fade ball to Sutton versus CB Casey Hayward. The fade beat the blitz, which had S Derwin James unblocked.
- Vs. Chargers, Sutton was the boundary X receiver on the back side of trips. Hayward was the matchup on Sutton, traveling with him in shadow coverage.
- Lock was willing to make stick throws vs. man coverage. TE Noah Fant 14-yard TD vs. Texans was a stick seam ball versus 2-man coverage.
- Lock also showed the willingness and ball placement to place the ball in zone voids. WR DaeSean Hamilton 20 yards on 2nd-and-9 vs. Lions a great example.
- Broncos featured shot play concepts with Lock: maximum protection with intermediate and deeper routes. The Broncos were creative with formations and releases: Hamilton 27 yards versus Texans a good example.
- Lock needs to clean up some lower-body mechanics and more consistently throw with a firm base but his high-level arm talent allowed him to make off-balance throws: WR Tim Patrick 37 yards on 3rd + 9 versus Texans a perfect example.
- In the Lions game Week 16, CB Darius Slay matched up on Sutton and did a good job.
