That 16-3 lead over the Titans’ starting defense evaporated on Sunday night, turning into a 19-16 loss, and if you watched the second half, you know why Seattle’s backup quarterback situation behind Super Bowl-champion Sam Darnold is not looking totally reassuring.
Drew Lock Was Electric, But We’ve Seen This Movie Before
Let’s be real, Drew Lock had us hyped up early. The veteran backup, who once started for the Denver Broncos, looked sharp as heck against the Titans’ starting defense. He went 12 for 14 passing, bolting our reserve offense to that sweet 16-3 lead. That’s the Lock we want to see!
But here’s the kicker, 12s. We’ve seen this movie before. Early in his career, Lock looked brilliant when defenders weren’t crashing in. The problem? When the pressure hit, his passes changed. His decision-making and decisiveness went sideways. He lost nine of 13 starts in 2020 and led the league in interceptions in his second NFL season. He knows what Jalen Milroe is going through because he’s been there.
Milroe’s Two Picks And The Dreaded Fourth-Down Sack
Jalen Milroe, our 23-year-old third-round pick from Alabama, had a rough night, plain and simple. He struggled big-time with decision-making and threw two interceptions while under pressure. Those mistakes were huge as the Titans clawed their way back for the win.
His first interception was the classic NFL recipe for disaster: late over the middle. The pass was behind a receiver, allowing rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. to snag it, a gift the Titans turned into a field goal, cutting our lead to 16-12. Then, with just three minutes left and us trailing 19-16, Milroe scrambled to his right in his own end zone, avoiding the rush. A rookie receiver was open downfield, but instead of throwing it, Milroe threw his second pick.
And here’s the real gut punch: For the second consecutive preseason game, Milroe took a sack on fourth down by holding onto the ball instead of giving a receiver a chance. Last week against Dallas, it was a 14-yard sack on fourth and goal. Coach Mike Macdonald summed it up, saying, “You don’t want to be reckless, because you don’t want to throw a pick-six, But if you have an opportunity, you want to be able to give someone an opportunity to get the first down, for sure.” Sam Darnold would throw it, even into heavy coverage. Drew Lock would throw it.
Lock, the 29-year-old veteran, is trying to help Milroe navigate this early rough patch. “Me and Jalen have a lot of good talks,” Lock shared. “I think for him, the thing that I have experienced in my career is just continuing to find ways to get to the next play. Just clear your head no matter if it was your fault, somebody else’s fault. He does a great job of that.” While Milroe needs to clear his head, he also desperately needs to fix these recurring mistakes. We’re early in the season, but every snap matters for a backup, and these aren’t the trends we want to see. Our depth behind Darnold is critical, and we need these QBs to step up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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