Drew Lock’s basketball background is changing his football narrative

Drew Lock’s basketball background is changing his football narrative.

Drew Lock put on a show against the Carolina Panthers for a Denver Broncos win Sunday on the road. The young quarterback did something not many players his age do; he threw for 4 TDs and 0 INTs. According to Pro Football Reference, Lock is the youngest Broncos QB to have a 4-TD, 0-INT game since Don Breaux in 1963.

It’s games like this that show Drew Lock’s development is a major reason to watch the rest of the season, regardless of the team’s playoff hopes.

Many of us focus on his footwork as a big reason for his inconsistencies. It wasn’t just his footwork that did it. You can’t change your habits in between games. You may be able to be intentional during a play or two throughout the game, but usually, we all fall back to our habitual behavior.

Drew Lock has several things he needs to do, or stop doing, but the issue was never just his footwork. Of course, he must clean it up because it offers him more efficient movement on the field. Improved fundamentals free your brain to process more complex information efficiently and effectively.

His issues have been brewing since high school, and his remedy has been available to him since then as well.

Lock played basketball throughout his high school career. He was good enough to receive several Division-I scholarships. Lock’s scoring ability and skilled 3-point shot were incredible.

Lock’s ability to shoot threes and desire to keep shooting them gives insight into the players he is. No game or play was beyond him, and he always believed he can will his team to a win.

Fast-forward to Lock’s time at Missouri; he was far-and-away the best player on his team. A team that played in the SEC with the likes of Alabama and LSU each year with unequal talent.

Lock got used to having to play above the X’s and O’s. Meaning, he knew that he had to make big plays beyond the play calls throughout the game for his team to have a shot.

So like his time on the basketball team, if he made a bad play, he’d keep shooting. If he missed, he’d keep shooting. If he had a short jumper available, he would step back and shoot a three.

Most of the time, it worked for him. Lock sits third in SEC history with 99 touchdowns, just ahead of Peyton Manning.

So, what does all of this have to do with his play over the last few weeks?

Here is how Drew Lock turned around his season.

Drew Lock is allowing the game to come to him.

Like all great basketball players, they do not force the action. Their biggest games come from simply making the plays that are in front of them. If a layup is there, take the ball to the basket.

If an opportunity to hit a big three is there, allow the flow of the game to get you into the shot.

Drew Lock was rated by Rivals as a four-star recruit and was ranked as the sixth-best pro-style quarterback in the 2015 class. When entering the draft in 2019, many draft experts had Lock as a 1st round pick, often finding his way to the Broncos at their scheduled 10th overall selection.

He is gifted and has been for his entire playing career.

So why has he struggled if he has this type of talent?

Drew has been trying to win the game on every throw. He was forcing up shots in an attempt to get his team back in the game in just one play.

With the added pressure of oncoming rushers and a desire to win the game on each down, Lock began to utilize the poor habits he developed early on.

This leads to off-balanced throws that are ill-advised. It’s Lock’s desire to force the action that leads to mistakes, not simply his footwork. It isn’t his back footed throws, its forcing the throw when the situation doesn’t call for it.

So, what has been different?

Lock has allowed the game to come to him while maintaining aggressiveness.

Lock played within the offense. He did not force up an ill-advised 3 pointer, or attack the rim on a 1-on-3 fast break.

Lock made the throws to keep his team on schedule. He allowed the talent of his teammates to create big plays.

Here, he uses his mobility to play calm and within the play to set up Troy Fumagalli for a big play.

The Denver Broncos offense is ripe with talent, Lock needs to understand he doesn’t have to be the best player on the floor all of the time. He doesn’t have to lead the team in points, assists, and rebounds each game. He simply, needs to allow the flow of the game to come to him and the stats will come.

The defense will gradually try and cheat to take away what is working. That is the same in basketball and football. Defenders will take a false step one way or another, and that is when you go for the kill.

That is what Drew Lock did Sunday. When the defenders gave him opportunities, he gashed them for it.

As you can see in the play to Jerry Jeudy, Lock’s footwork isn’t clean. However, he uses his natural talent to make a tremendous throw.

Lock is able to set up the defenders because of the throws he made earlier in the game. The throws Lock made for 4-5-6 yards, those throws build on one another and then you can hit your teammate cutting to the basket off a sweet pick-and-roll.

Then, when you are locked in from hitting high percentage shots, you are in rhythm. Just like a 3-point shooter, you get in a zone within the flow of the game and can launch one from a few steps beyond the 3-point arc.

On this throw, Lock is dialed in and recognizes the coverage presnap. He signals to K.J. Hamler to run a go route. He also is in such control, he brings Tim Patrick down to create conflict for the safety. That opens up the deep shot, and splash!

https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1338209225353297920

Allowing the game to build on itself helps the quarterback, but also the play-caller. Pat Shurmur is allowed to use plays to set up other plays. When that is working, even more opportunities can present themselves, and they did.

When those plays were there, Lock was ready. He was ready because he stayed within the plan and was prepared to make a play instead of forcing them when there was little chance for success.

When a quarterback continues to get comfortable and let the game come to them, their fundamentals become cleaner. As a quarterback plays within the flow, he focuses less on the small things and can process the big things.

With that added comfortability come confidence. Increased confidence helps quarterbacks trust what they see. That trust brings big plays when they are there.

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Drew Lock can continue to use his basketball experience to keep focused on playing within the flow of the game, and that will change the narrative of him in Broncos Country.