While many Wisconsin football fans and analysts have been quick to point the finger, the quarterback play out of Madison has been improving.
Quarterback Braedyn Locke is currently in the midst of his second season being thrust in the starting role for Wisconsin. A season ago, a similar event occurred when an injury forced Locke into the starting role despite not quite being ready. As Locke has progressed however, other issues have begun to arise that paint a much different picture.
Thus far into the season, Locke has played six games recording 1281-yards passing, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions. Locke is currently on an interception streak of six games, tossing one in each of his appearances this season. Last season, Locke did not have interception issues, tossing just one but struggling with fumbling during the season.
Many fans and analysts alike have felt that Locke is less accurate this season, and has been making bad decisions as well. While there might be truth to some of that, the quarterback is also improving in many areas that have gone unnoticed.
Wisconsin Football Quarterback Braedyn Locke Developing Despite Some Struggles
While Locke has thrown more interceptions, his completion percentage is actually up to 57.6%, 7.9% higher than last season. The adjusted completion percentage of Locke is 69.9% this season, which factors in passes that are considered drops.
Drops have been a significant issue for Locke this season, with Wisconsin football receivers dropping 12 passes. Last season, the Badgers dropped 13 passes in just four games of play with Locke as the starting quarterback. Wide receiver Will Pauling has been the main culprit, dropping eight passes this year for the Wisconsin football team.
Another aspect that has kept Locke back is that the quarterback predominantly not mobile, but has shown some development. Locke never attempted a scramble a year ago, but has done so on multiple occasions this season. Locke still does not have the confidence to keep the ball on option plays frequently, but has shown some development with his legs.
At times for quarterbacks, interceptions can be the cause of two main things: Pressing too hard, or battling a sort of mental block.
Often times with quarterbacks who feel like they are not doing enough, the athlete tries to make bigger throws and bigger plays. Attempting to force plays to work is a recipe for loss yards or turnovers, and unfortunately that could be what Locke has felt at times. Between the receiver drops and the offensive struggles at times, Locke could be trying to make something big happen which in turn is slowing down the offense more.
The other possible option involves Locke battling a mental block, which is common for other players such as kickers especially. This option seems the most evident with Locke throwing seemingly awful interceptions that appeared to be what the quarterback felt was the safest read pre snap. The quarterback could be looking through his progressions and committing to a target pre snap, but not adjusting fast enough when the target is not open.
Regardless of what might be affecting the play of Locke on the field the most, the quarterback is still working through it. Sometimes development takes time, such as quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Cam Ward, and Dillon Gabriel who all had bad seasons before blossoming into great players.
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