Jake Locker regresses as Mark Ingram impresses

by Dan Kadar on Sep 18, 2010 10:12 PM EDT in 2011 NFL Draft

Two of the nation's best draft-eligible players, Jake Locker of Washington and Mark Ingram of Alabama, had starkly different days Saturday.

Against Nebraska, it was Locker's day to truly become a star.

His underdog Washington Huskies faced a formidable Nebraska defense. With a good game – not even a great one – Locker could have cemented himself as the top prospect for the 2011 NFL Draft.

Instead, he and his teammates failed terribly.

The senior signal caller went an exceptionally bad 4-for-20 passing for 71 yards and two interceptions.

Any other quarterback would have been benched. Perhaps Locker should have been benched.

In addition to a poor performance at the end of the BYU season opener, it's hard not to question Locker's ability. Now he's a paltry 3-12 against ranked teams in his career. Heading into the season, Locker's lofty status was based mostly on upside. This should be the season to realize his potential.

Instead, you can't help but question his passion, ability to get up for big games and consistently complete passes. Sure, Washington has only played three games, but it's hard not to begin scratching your head about Locker.

Conversely, Alabama running back Mark Ingram was impressive in his season debut against Duke.

Sure, it's only Duke, but who expected the reigning Heisman Trophy winner to have a game like he did today? The stat line reads nine carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

Impressive after sitting out Alabama's first two games due to knee surgery.

As a draft prospect, Ingram proved me wrong with his performance. I knocked Ingram in the past for having a lack of breakaway speed and foot quickness.

With first quarter runs of 48 and 50 yards, he dispelled that notion. Alabama routed the Blue Devils 62-13.

After the game, Ingram said he wanted to make an impact in his first contest of the season. He not only did that in the world of college football, but in his professional future.

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4 of 20

words can’t even describe how bad that is

by Yankees10 on Sep 18, 2010 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

I think losing badly in a Seahawks uniform with 20 million in his bank accounts looks alot better than losing badly in a Huskies uniform with “Great college memories”

Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net

by Jonathan Loesche on Sep 18, 2010 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Ingram was running away from Dukes defense

And it’s neither fast or talented. lol

The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun

by mob16151 on Sep 18, 2010 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

So do you think this game will hurt Locker in the long run or can he bounce back with a few good games? Do you think this was a one game aberration or a sign of things to come?

I would not read much into Ingram’s performance today. Duke’s run D is insanely terrible and their tackling is some of the worst I have ever seen.

The Mikan Drill

by JoshuaR on Sep 18, 2010 11:29 PM EDT reply actions

Sure he could come back from it but it will be very difficult. He is going to have to be sharp in the rest of his games.

If he has another bad game like this his draft stock goes way down.

Lead organizer of the annual 7-round live mock draft at MtD and Moderator of MtD, AnaheimCalling, and Coltzilla.

I have stopped actively participating at Stampede Blue as a big section of their articles have regressed, and much of the overall community environment has also gone way down (if you have questions for me you can email me at colts.faithful@yahoo.com).
Many of us Colts fans are now at BRB, where we have a series of AFC South threads running throughout the season for fans of the Colts, Texans, Titans, and Jags. You can discuss those teams and almost anything else you want.

by TheAngelsColts on Sep 19, 2010 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Mike Floyd and Kyle Rudolph played well. Too bad they’re on an awful team

"Young men, I have no doubt that you're gonna do well today. But I have 1 favor to ask of you... SAVE JIMMY JOHNSON'S ASS FOR ME!" Lou Holtz

by TheRealSlimShady on Sep 19, 2010 12:37 AM EDT reply actions

Crist looked pretty good.

He was placing the ball where only ND players could get it.

Pats Pulpit

by Richard Hill on Sep 19, 2010 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I disagree

I thought that first half he threw about 3 passes on target and the rest were just plain lousy.

by Naptime! on Sep 19, 2010 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe Floyd is that good?

But it looked like Crist would throw it where only Floyd could catch it. Can’t have one without the other.

Pats Pulpit

by Richard Hill on Sep 19, 2010 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I've always thought Floyd made his qb look better

Even though I think Clausen was a thousand times more accurate than Crist is now, I’m hoping he’ll develop. But w/that first half TD pass to Floyd, it was a classic jump ball – the same thing Clausen used to throw in the red zone. It was even thrown a little behind, but they were both lucky that corner didn’t look back to find the ball because Floyd just stopped and let the guy go by him and then he jumped up and took it out of the air.

by Naptime! on Sep 19, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

The pass to the back of the end zone?

I don’t think it was a jump ball in the sense that Crist threw it up and gave the defense a chance to make the play. Floyd picked that out of the air from where only Floyd had a chance to grab the ball.

Pats Pulpit

by Richard Hill on Sep 19, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm going to have to disagree

Floyd looked back, turned, came to a stop and swatted at the corner as he ran past. Then after he was past he jumped up and caught it, and I don’t remember it being too high either, so it’s likely the corner could have made a play on it if he had only turned his head earlier.

by Naptime! on Sep 20, 2010 6:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I was at the game, Locker looked like a freshman.

Overthrew some passes. One of his INTs was called back due to a hold, but he shouldn’t have thrown it anyways, it was like a punt. His footwork was sloppy, and he couldn’t even scramble, which he did with ease his redshirt freshman year.
That being said, his receivers were covered well and his offensive line was horrible. I counted three separate occasions where the red shirts were in the backfield in half a second behind any o-lineman.

by LantermanC on Sep 20, 2010 2:27 AM EDT reply actions