NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- We did it with Steve McNair. We did it with Vince Young. We’re doing it with Jake Locker.

As with most mobile quarterbacks, we tend to ask if a guy should have run it on some of his throws and if he should have thrown it on some of his runs.

Locker has worked to stay in the pocket so far this season, and the Titans clearly want him to develop as more of a pocket passer.

But when he stands in, or moves a bit and throws and the throw is poor, it’s somewhat natural to wonder if he should have run if he had space.

He threw high and behind Nate Washington on one early third down against Dallas, and after the pass fell incomplete, CBS analyst Troy Aikman pointed out how much room he had to gain a first down running if he had taken off.

What’s the gauge for deciding when to run it and when not to?

“I guess just feeling,” Locker said. “When you’re stepping up in the pocket and you feel like you’ve got a lane and you see some grass, you’ve got to take advantage of it. But there is a fine line between that and learning to stay in the pocket, trust the pocket and let things downfield develop a little bit.”

Locker’s backup, Charlie Whitehurst, said coaches may have had conversations with Locker about running. But in the quarterback meeting room, they have not really spoken about it.

“I do think it’s a feel thing, I do think you’re trying to sit in the pocket as long as you can and it is a last resort [to take off],” Whitehurst said. “There are some coverages where you may be thinking, ‘Shoot, if the first couple reads aren’t here, I’m taking off maybe a little earlier.’ I really believe you’re trying to complete the ball and running is a last resort.”

“The way we talk is all about throwing the ball, and protecting the ball, too.”

Coach Ken Whisenhunt doesn’t want Locker doing too much thinking with regard to when to run.

“I think if you try to get him too bogged down, to think about criteria when something is happening, that’s going to be detrimental to him,” Whisenhunt said. “We’ll talk about certain situations. But he’s got to have a feel for it. He’s a good player, he’s got a good feel for it.

“Every situation is different and you’ve got to play it based on what you feel and the way you see it.”