SI.com's Don Banks: insight's from today's Combine workouts.

[Randy White]

Locker could really help someone down the road. He needs a team where he can sit and learn for a few seasons behind a veteran? He has all the intangibles and was the only offensive weapon at Washington for a few seasons.

When people say that football is a game of inches, that's true in every sense of the word and beyond.

There but for the grace of the football gods goes Carson Palmer when I see Jake Locker and Palmer actually had a 10 times better coach in Paul Hackett than Locker ever had. Hackett was too busy being the HC and Palmer almost didn't develop. It wasn't until Norm Chow, under Carroll, got a hold of him and finished polishing the rough edges, that Palmer finally became the QB he did.

People may laugh at this, but I think that's also the biggest difference between Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers. Just about the only year that Smith looked good was when Norv Turner was the OC. Once he left, Smith didn't have the same success again.

 

[Randy White]

I would be very doubtful that we took any QB at 9 but I suppose it could happen..

Oh no, no, no.. Don't count me in that wagon.. I don't want the Cowboys to draft a QB at all, unless it's one of this guys that fell to the 3rd round or something..

no way, no how..:nono:

 

[InmanRoshi]

Locker was already getting great quarterback coaching at the college level. Both the UW's head coach and offensive coordinator/QB coach were former NFL Quarterback coaches.

If he hasn't developed any accuracy consistency to this point, it's because he just doesn't have it in him. Not because he was lacking anyone to teach him how to properly throw.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Must be lots of inspection stickers today. Not seeing many updates from Joe today.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Just not sure I follow here logically.

Locker has all the physical tools one seeks at QB.
We are on the same page there.

Problem is he will be over-drafted based upon those skills versus what he has actually shown as a QB. So he won't be a value in the draft. A 2nd round pick at worst to take a guy who you'll sit for a few years makes very little sense to me when you already have a guy in that role; McGee, who has not only sat but actually played last year.

If the Cowboys drafted Locker with all the other holes they have I'd lose my mind. If they draft Cam Newton I'd expect them to trade Romo and recover picks/players but they won't turn the team over to Locker in short order like they would Cam.

Personally I wouldn't draft either guy but Cam has the better physical skill set and was far more successful in college.

I'd rather have Locker over Newton but it's here nor there. Not sure why you are confused. McGee is a decent prospect but he doesn't threaten Romo and I don't see him as anything more then a backup. I would think that if the Cowboys were going to consider drafting a QB early, as they have eluded is a possability, they would take somebody who has the skills to be the Franchise QB. That's not McGee IMO. There is a lot to work with in Locker. If you have the time to develop him, he could be a real nice QB. He has all the skills but it's a time thing with him IMO. It's not what I would do but if the Cowboys are honest in their statements, I'd have to think that a guy like Locker would be of interest to them.

 

[jterrell]

I'd rather have Locker over Newton but it's here nor there. Not sure why you are confused. McGee is a decent prospect but he doesn't threaten Romo and I don't see him as anything more then a backup. I would think that if the Cowboys were going to consider drafting a QB early, as they have eluded is a possability, they would take somebody who has the skills to be the Franchise QB. That's not McGee IMO. There is a lot to work with in Locker. If you have the time to develop him, he could be a real nice QB. He has all the skills but it's a time thing with him IMO. It's not what I would do but if the Cowboys are honest in their statements, I'd have to think that a guy like Locker would be of interest to them.

McGee is a very similar athlete to Locker. He played in a running based offense and that held him back but he actually showed more accuracy than Locker over the course of his career.

McGee came out in an insanely deep QB class. Stafford, Sanchez and Freeman were the top 3.... McGee was the 5th QB taken.

McGee completed over 60% of his college passes and had 28 TDs and 13 INTs. He lost his job as a senior after injury.

McGee was 6'3" and 225 and ran a 4.61 40. He was a good athlete who had been in a read-option offense and proven a tough and effective runner.


Locker is nearly identical size, 6'3" and 230 : Ran a 4.59 40
And completed about 5% less of his passes in college.
He did pass for many more yards but also had 35 total picks in college.
He completed his collegiate career against Nebraska and completed only 5 out of 16 passes for 56 yards.

These are essentially the same guy except McGee has been here and knows the system.

Locker is zero threat to Romo so I am again back to being confused. Except now I understand my confusion is a specific one about how you can feel Locker is this good a prospect? He was a 55% passer in college for cripes sake.