Getting benched for Bridgewater may actually be a good thing for Lock

Drew Lock endured arguably the most-difficult moment of his football career on Wednesday. After months of constant speculation and a lengthy training camp battle, Lock lost the starting job for the first time in his career as a quarterback.

Contrary to the happy-go-lucky, swagger-filled “gunslinger” who spoke during the final five games of the 2019 season, Lock took the podium this week with poise and grace in the face of defeat. The emotion he displayed was honestly refreshing because, in my opinion, it showed that he cared. It showed growth beyond the whiteboard. It showed maturity.

And while it clearly stings now, this setback may actually benefit Lock in the long run.

By and large, the days of a young, highly-drafted quarterback sitting and learning behind a veteran have gone by the wayside. Mentorship has been microwaved and rapid development is the expectation, not the hope.

Even now, roughly three years into his NFL career, Lock has never had a true mentor at the NFL level. Joe Flacco (in)famously made it very clear that helping Lock was Rich Scangarello’s job. Jeff Driskel and Brandon Allen, despite their veteran status, had very little they could to do truly elevate Lock’s game, which was already better than theirs in many ways. Brett Rypien, a solid college quarterback in his own right, is the same age as Lock and was not selected in the 2019 draft, so his resume as a teacher is pretty light, as well.

Things changed with Bridgewater in the building, though. Entering his seventh season in the NFL, the veteran QB has now occupied a roster spot on five different teams. Impressively, he’s worked his way into the starting lineup on four of those five teams, including the Broncos.

Despite being a relatively young man himself, Bridgewater has seen the game from many different angles and was able to pick the brain of a future first-ballot Hall of Famer day in and day out in New Orleans.

As evidenced by Lock’s press conference after the announcement, Bridgewater’s presence has already changed his approach to the game. Unexpectedly, Lock stepped up to the podium, after his head coach and fellow quarterback had spoken, and delivered an opening statement prior to fielding questions. It was noteworthy, because not only was it the first time Lock had made such a formal address at a weekly press conference, but it also mirrored the exact way Bridgewater conducts his media availabilities.

In very presidential fashion, each time Bridgewater approaches a microphone, he delivers a prepared statement. It’s concise, well thought out and it sets the tone for questions to follow. It’s a savvy, veteran move and Lock’s decision to embrace it shows that he sees the game differently than he did just months ago.

Lock’s response to a question about how he handled the unfortunate news further suggested that he’s grown as a leader.

“I was thinking about… do I come out and smile around here, be my normal self,” Lock asked. “Because, alright, then (the team is) going to think ‘Shoot, he doesn’t care about not having the starting job.’ No… I’m going to be myself every day I’m out here. I’m going to get better.”

Having the foresight to consider how his actions and demeanor could impact those around him, as well as his public perception, tells me Lock not the same player who mimicked Buzz Lightyear during touchdown celebrations.

Beyond the public-speaking tip, it appears Lock has begun to absorb some of the fundamental principles that Bridgewater has built his career upon.

“I think one of the special things that he does, that I’ve taken and I’m going to keep adding into my game, is the way he communicates,” Lock said. “The way he talks, how he operates after practice…it’s just something that I’ve really not necessarily been exposed to or seen.”

Vic Fangio, Pat Shurmur and others all sang Bridgewater’s praises when it came to commanding the huddle and communicating efficiently with his unit. Now Lock, who admitted he thought he was doing all of the right things before this offseason, has the blueprint to follow.

While being benched certainly makes his path to stardom more challenging, Lock’s career in the NFL is likely far from over. He is beyond talented enough to serve his new role as a backup, and career revivals are happening left and right in recent years.

He may now need a bit of luck, and the right opportunity. But given the things he has absorbed in just a short time around Bridgewater, there’s plenty of reason to believe Lock can rise to the occasion that the next time he’s called upon to do so.