Missouri quarterback Drew Lock improved but still isn’t ready
Missouri QB Drew Lock progressed significantly after a tough freshman year. However, another losing season put Lock and the Tigers out of the spotlight.
Missouri football has fallen on tough times recently, but there’s reason for optimism at the game’s most important position. Sophomore quarterback Drew Lock certainly showed strong improvements from year one to year two.
Every statistical category made a jump in Lock’s second year under center. However, the team ended up with a 4-8 season following a 5-7 2015 campaign. The Tigers’ defense fell off dramatically, allowing 31.5 points to 2015’s 16.1 points per game. The team’s plummet in the SEC made Lock disappear off the national radar.
Lock’s ability jumps off the tape. First and foremost, he boasts a strong, arm. He can throw from nearly every platform. He can make throws on the run, off his back foot and across his body. Furthermore, his athleticism allows him to buy time and make plays outside the pocket.
Regardless of the talent he put on display, Lock still needs to improve in a lot of areas. His numbers are deceiving. He threw for 3,399 yards, 23 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He also added 123 yards (sack yardage included) and a touchdown. These look respectable especially for a sophomore that threw twice as many interceptions as touchdowns during his freshman year.
Under further inspection, he’s spotty in a lot of areas. In Lock’s first four games, he threw for 1,508 yards, 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His season started hot, and he looked to have overcome the previous season’s woes. However, he put out two of the biggest passing clunkers of the season over the next two games.
Against LSU and Florida, he completed just 21-of-55 passes for 206 yards and three interceptions. To be fair, both defenses were top 10 in the nation, but those numbers won’t work for any team. Elite quarterbacks play well on the biggest stages against the best teams. Before I write his big game obituary, he’s played just two seasons.
The dip in his numbers would rise back in the final six games of the season. He would throw for 1,685 yards, nine touchdowns against four interceptions. Overall, his biggest problem is inaccuracy. He’s completed just 54.6 percent of his passes this last year. He recorded eight games with a completion percentage below 60 percent.
Moreover, he completed under 50 percent of his passes in four games. He’s got to get better, or Missouri will struggle to get back into bowl contention.
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The upside in all of this, he will likely stay with the Tigers for all four years. He didn’t reach his four-star recruit ability in 2015 or 2016. He’ll need two great seasons to prove he’s NFL ready.