Down but not out, Jake Locker is "working his butt off".

This current staff has absolutely nothing tied to Jake Locker. Unlike Mike Munchak, Ken Whisenhunt has no loyalties to the former Washington Husky, and neither does his staff. With Munchak, it always felt like he was going to find a way to use Locker, even if it wasn't the right move. That is why it is great to hear that the new coaching staff really likes what they see from the former first round pick.

A recent article on the team's page quoted new Tennessee Titans OC Jason Michael saying that:

"From day one, he’s worked his butt off from rehabilitation of his foot to jumping in the playbook, to how he’s gone about his preparation on the field. It’s been a frustrating go at times with his foot, but he’s never shown it. He’s a poised man. I’m excited about working with him. He does some good things that we’ve already seen."

Poise is a unique word to describe Locker, but it is one of the best compliments Michael could give. In Locker's first year starting he was erratic, and largely acted like he was lost whenever pressure was in his face. In year two, he made a great leap forward and even seemed like he had turned the corner and become a top-10 type of quarterback. However, the subsequent injuries have forced Titans fans to worry that he could regress. Poise is not a word to use when someone is digressing.

Jake Locker has a cannon for an arm, and with Justin Hunter looking to see more action in year two, that could be a great asset for the offense. If Bishop Sankey can become a constant threat on the ground, and the Titans can get a good passing game going it should keep defenses on their heels. If that happens, then Locker should finally be able to stop worrying about getting pressured all the time, and make plays with his legs only when he needs to.