NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- From early on in his first offseason working with Tennessee Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff, Jake Locker said he felt empowered.

There were, and still are, questions about the Titans' quarterback.

But rather than breathing life into those doubts, Whisenhunt wasted little time showing confidence in the quarterback. It seems to me that has been a key in Locker's progress. And while we tend to make too much of preseason developments, Locker's been good.

He's got more freedom and more responsibility than ever, says John Glennon of The Tennessean.

"I feel really comfortable and I really feel like I understand what we're doing offensively and I have ownership of it," Locker said. "So I thank (this coaching staff) for challenging me early. At this point, I really feel like I understand what's going on in this offense better than I have in the past."

Where, precisely, can we see an example of that?

Left tackle Michael Roos provided Glennon with an excellent one. Locker's actually allowed a blitzer a lane knowing he would find a beneficial throw out of it.

"There are times at practice when he's made himself the hot guy on purpose because he knows a receiver on that side is going to break off his route and it will be a good play," Roos said. "So there's that kind of stuff. It might not look right to us, but if he wants to do it and he knows what he's doing, then obviously it's going to work out."

That example is a solid development for Locker, and the Titans.