Huard: How UW QB Jake Browning can progress physically in 2017

Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning started his third spring practice session in Montlake this week, but there’s a difference this time around compared to his previous springs – and it’s not just that he’s more comfortable as he prepares for his junior season.

Brock Huard explained on the Blue 42 segment of “Brock and Salk” Tuesday that this is Browning’s first year at UW in which the can’t expect his body to continue to progress physically. And that means any physical improvements the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder will make will be up to him.

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“His physical progression is simply his quickness and his movement. The same things that Tom Brady works on at 40 years of age, I think Jake Browning can at 20,” Huard said. “That is some of those subtle, athletic, agile movements in and around the pocket. I would say that the most pleasant surprise of watching Jake Browning the last two years is his creativity, is his movement.”

What Huard was referencing in particular is Browning’s ability to move inside and outside of the pocket, which wasn’t what made him such a highly-touted recruit out of high school and isn’t usually the thing that jumps out when watching a Husky game. But it’s there, and it still has room for improvement.

“His touchdown run against Oregon, his scrambles for first downs on third down in medium-to-long passing situations … he has some of that in him, and by no means is that a finished product,” Huard said. “You’re not gonna see him all of the sudden get broad shoulders, you’re not gonna see him all of the sudden get ripped, you’re not all of the sudden gonna see him at 225 pounds – that’s unrealistic. But athletically, getting a little quicker, a little faster, a little more explosive movements in the pocket, that is certainly doable.”

You can hear the whole Blue 42 segment embedded above.

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