Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Fangio: Drew Lock's Time Off Helped Him Be 'A Little Bit Better' QB
You never want to see a young player just entering the league suffer an injury. It has the potential to derail any and all momentum a rookie has built up.
In the case of Drew Lock, though, the sprained right thumb he suffered in the Denver Broncos third preseason game — and the subsequent three months he spent off the practice field — might have come with a silver lining. After watching him practice for a couple of days, head coach Vic Fangio explained how Lock's time off might have been a blessing in disguise.
“I think the time off in some ways, although you never want it, helped him," Fangio said on Thursday. "I think he learned a lot whereas when he was going through it in the spring and in training camp before he got hurt, it was piling up on him I think. Besides learning the new offense and being under center which he had never done in college, etc., all those things were piling up on him and getting in the way of progressing the way you’d like to see him progress. I think through his time off he’s been able to solve some of those issues emotionally and mentally. I think he’s looked a little bit better the first two days, albeit eight to 10 snaps, half the scout team snaps, very limited sample.”
If what Fangio says is true, it's a testament to how seriously Lock approached his recovery and his work ethic to stay on top of the mental aspects of continuing to learn the NFL game. Lock, we know, used the Broncos' virtual reality training program to go through each practice twice per day.
On top of all the film study, sitting in on team and position meetings and simply paying attention and observing what was happening around him, Lock's time off might have had not only a galvanizing effect on him to make him appreciate his opportunity a little bit more, but also a progressive effect, allowing him to take a quantum leap forward mentally.
“I think with how we prepared this whole time, when I wasn’t actually out here physically doing anything, being able to be mentally ready, I think that helped put me a step ahead," Lock said on Wednesday following practice. "As far as physically goes, it will probably take me a practice or two just to get kind of all the rust off a little bit because I can throw to bags and I can step over bags, but it’s a little different when you’ve got guys flying around you. Just give me a day or two and I’ll feel back to normal.”
Lock received some first-team reps for the first time on Wednesday, on top of running scout team. It was only 10 snaps or so, but Coach Fangio helped put in perspective that it was actually a sizable piece of the offensive pie.
“Eight to 10 which doesn’t sound like a lot, but the offense is only getting about 38-39 snaps total," Fangio said. 'When you look at it that way, it’s pretty significant.”
One thing's for sure, Lock's tired of watching. He's tired of being the observer. He's ready, champing at the bit to play. The competitor in him wants to get out there and vanquish all comers.
We're talking about a quarterback who started as a freshman in both high school and college. Drew Lock has never not been the guy.
The Broncos, by league rule, can take as long as three weeks to activate Lock to the 53-man roster, which would make him available to play on gamedays. For now, and until the Broncos feel like he's ready, he's technically still on injured reserve.
“The clear goal is to be activated," Lock said. "I’m not 100 percent sure how they’re seeing how it’s going to work, but like I said, I’m ready for whatever they throw at me and whatever they feel is best for me and what’s best for this team.”
What must Lock prove to the coaches, in order for Fangio and OC Rich Scangarello to feel comfortable and confident in activating him?
“Just that I’m clean—no fumbled snaps, just being an efficient quarterback, I guess because it’s different," Lock said. "If you’re running some scout team looks, you’re going to have to throw it to this guy no matter what the coverage is. There’s just a lot of different variables that go into trying to show that I’m ready, I’m ready to go. It’s where I don’t even know if there’s an exact answer on what I can do to prove to them just to come out every day and take it one step at a time.”
Fangio believes he'll know it when he sees it. Lock has to make it undeniable for the coaches and the front office. Everyone at Dove Valley is still so sensitive about blowing it with Lock after the failed first-round bust that was Paxton Lynch.
My educated guess is that it won't take longer than three weeks. Lock's going to play at some point this year.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.
