Blaine Gabbert Improves Even With Receiver Injuries
by Alfie Crow on Dec 12, 2011 1:01 PM EST
in Jacksonville Jaguars Post Game
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PrintJacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert had arguably his best day as pro in the 41-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gabbert ended the day going 19 of 33 with 217 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Early on, Gabbert struggled as the team went down 14-0 and it looked like another woeful day for the Jaguars offense. After a touchdown by the Jaguars special teams, the Jaguars offense showed some life. Gabbert hit on his first two passes of the drive, then hit tight end Marcedes Lewis deep down the field for a 62-yard gain. It was the type of play Jaguars fans have been yearning to see from Gabbert.
On the play, Gabbert stepped up into the pocket, set his feet, stepped into his throw and delivered a perfect strike to Lewis down the seam of the field. One play later, running back Maurice Jones-Drew punched the ball in to tie the game. Later on in the game, Gabbert hit wide receiver Jarett Dillard in the middle of the field for a big gain, where he threaded the needle.
Gabbert still had two poor interceptions, but unlike some of his past interceptions, the two were merely rookie mistakes. One was Gabbert rolling out and throwing across his body, which is always a bad idea. The second was Gabbert missing the linebacker drop into coverage, right to where Marcedes Lewis route was going. Gabbert had the right idea on the play, as Lewis would have been open, but just missed the zone drop by the linebacker. Those types of mistakes are correctable. He also showed more of a willingness to take a hit and step into his throws. He was clobbered a few times immediately as he let go of the football and was noticeably less skittish in the pocket.
It's worth noting, this was the first game after Dirk Koetter had been the quarterbacks coach for a full week. That might mean nothing, but it might mean everything.
Another thing that stuck out to me, was that when receivers Mike Thomas and Cecil Shorts III went out of the game with injuries, the offense didn't seem to miss them. In fact, it seemed like it flowed a bit better. Jarett Dillard continued to constantly get open, but he did drop a nice pass he should have caught. That's rare for Dillard, so I'm fine with it. Kassim Osgood finally got some reps at real wide receiver, and not just token blocker. He didn't look terrible and dropped a potential touchdown and nearly caught another deep pass down the field, but he still fought with the football to catch it. Chastin West was more involved too, and was able to get open and catch some passes on short routes and slants.
Not that Thomas and Shorts being out changed anything, but it was kind of odd that the offense seemed to flow just fine without them, and arguably looked a lot smoother. On a short week, it's unsure if either will play on Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons.
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Its amazing
How much much better Gabbert looks when receivers catch the ball and make plays.
I was thinking the reverse during the game...
The receivers look a lot better when Gabbert is throwing the ball well.
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by Brian Levenson on Dec 12, 2011 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
and Gabbert looks better when they hold on to the ball and finish their routes
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I agree with both of you...
But doesn’t it seem like the receivers on other teams are always making difficult catches (behind them, slightly high, slighty low) on the regular? It seems to me that our receivers need a perfectly thrown pass to hit them in the numbers, and even then it’s an adventure.
Is it just me that thinks that?
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you are correct
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It's perception
We watch the Jags so go crazy on every drop or bad pass. But all teams have guys drop passes and all QB’s misfire at times. I don’t know the actually rankings but I’m sure most Jags fans have a high opinion on the Falcons Roddy White as a WR, but Falcons fans think he drops more passes than anyone else in the league.
Same goes for Matt Ryan throwing the deep ball. I always thought they were really good at it but Roddy White commented the other day that they’re so bad at it, after Ryan missed 2 wide-open WR’s by 5-10 feet, that the Falcons should just remove the deep pass from the playbook.
There seems to be a perception that bad receivers = bad hands
But for me, I don’t think the Jaguars receivers have bad hands. I’d say their hands are about the league average.
That said, I think this is a terrible, terrible receiving corps because there’s no separation. That’s the key. If guys get open they make everything easier for the quarterback. Seriously think about how many times you’ve seen a Jaguars receiver run a sharp route, beat a CB and get open. It just doesn’t happen. That’s why they’re bad and that’s why they’re making Blaine’s life difficult.
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I agree about the separation issue
but when you watch the very top passing offenses, several times a game the pass only gets completed because WR made an incredible play on the ball – either a circus catch or taking it away from a defender.
And you also see several times a game the QB throw the ball behind a receiver who’s completely blanketed and because the QB/WR are on the same page, the WR knows that coverage is going to result in a back-shoulder pass and he stops and makes the catch.
Not all routes are made to continue across the field so without knowing the play we can’t be certain if the WR quit on the route or the QB threw the ball too far in front of him… but hopefully the more they’re able to work together, the better chemistry they’ll develop and you’ll see more guys appearing to be open.
Good point on the QB/WR same page stuff...
I like seeing when they throw it short and the rd I’d er stops, let’s the DB go by, and catches it. I hope we get that kind of chemistry going here.
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I think people overrate separation
Separation in the NFL is often a half step
You seem to think that other teams have receivers running open all over the place
What you see more often is precision passing creating separation
That is what this team lacks right now, and as Gabbert improves in that area, the receivers will look better
It’s actually pretty obvious. I cover another team regularly, and there really isn’t all that much difference in separation. Guys get thrown open
You don’t need to be well past a guy to be open, and it doesn’t happen like that often in this league, I see Jags receivers with proper position on dbs with relative frequency, only to be missed by the quarterback
It happened multiple times yesterday too
So, as Gabbert gets better – as he did yesterday – you will see more of this mysterious separation phenomenon
To be clear I am not saying the team doesn’t have a serious receiver need, but the idea that this is somehow the worst receiving corps in league history is sort of reactionary and short sighted – and yes, I have read that on this site
by smy on Dec 12, 2011 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I realize guys aren't running wide open all over the league, but guys do get open...
just one example was Miles Austin on the last play of the Cowboys final drive (an incomplete, true), where he had at least 2 steps on the Giant DB – which is WIDE OPEN in the NFL. Marcedes did that yesterday, and it was great. I just would like to see it from a Jaguar reciever more often. Maybe it’s the offensive schemes themselves. Would different plays create more space for receivers to come open or create defensive breakdowns?
I don’t think that these are the worst receivers in history, but they are closer to the bottom than they are to the top.
Fidelis Ad Mortem
Those types of plays where
players are getting that wide open are often a result of a breakdown, or a lack pass rush letting WR’s find open spots in zones.
Some consider this chicken or the Egg... but the truth is...
A quarterback makes a wide out look good. Think about it, who has the best reciever groups in the NFL? Green Bay.. Saints… Lions… Giants… Cowboys… all have quarterbacks that play at a high level… there isn’t a single recieving group in the NFL that is playing well or considered great that has bad quarterback play!!!
Take away those quarterbacks and we aren’t even having a conversation about those reciever groups because they aren’t getting the football.
Even deeper than that is.. what if a quarterback like say… Matt Moore played lightsout?.. Now would we be thinking Brandon Marshell and Davone Best are the best one two punch in the NFL?.. i mean if you have a quarterback to deliever the football too them all of a sudden you could have a case they they are the best reciever set (if they had someone playing at a high level as a passer)
Tom Brady has played with big name recievers and no name recievers and it hasn’t really impacted him… who is david Givens?… Deion Branch could not even make a impact with the Seahawks… is it him or is it the delievery system? Do you think if West Walker was on say the Rams he would be a impact player?
Too me it comes down too “does your quarterback give your recievers a chance?”.. do you so throws that provide you chances to make plays… Because no one can totally cover anyones recievers all of the time.. there should be atleast a opportunities down field. Does the quarterback gave the recievers a chance … that has to be evaluated first in my opinion…. if your eating sacks and the ball never coming out or not even close then the issues start there… even getting really great recievers will not solve that issue…. See Matt Ryan(i think he is very average)
You are overthinking it.
Sure the precision passing is important, that is what separates the NFL from the college game but as any analyst will tell you, watching the Jaguars WRs…..they just don’t separate. I mean you would think everyone is being covered by the greatest corners of all time. They are literally taken out of the game. The group we saw this past week did the small things you want your WRs to do: run good routes and catch the damn ball.
If those two are out then
who does that leave besides dillard, wet, and osgood? Everyone else is on IR if im correct.
by JagSoldier on Dec 12, 2011 1:09 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Taylor Price
See what he can do. Cant be any worse.
by OneSweetWorld on Dec 12, 2011 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
+10000000000000000000...........0000000000000000000000 lol
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Hell, Bolen had a nice play too
Yesterday was the definition of total team effort. Yes, you must take into account the opponent, but you can’t take anything away from Jax. A lot of those TOs would have resulted in field goals.
And as Alfie stated:
“It’s worth noting, this was the first game after Dirk Koetter had been the quarterbacks coach for a full week. That might mean nothing, but it might mean everything.”
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Well it obviously means nothing
Haven’t you been reading the comments, Koetter can’t coach his way out of a paper bag.
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by duuuvaaalll on Dec 12, 2011 1:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
By all the comments made about him
you would think that Koetter punts babies in his off time.
People can think whatever they want about him I say, there isn’t one person that posts who has any idea what coaching is about at that level.
Speak for yourself...
When I was teaching in NYC, I coached my girls 7th and 8th grade basketball team to an undefeated season and the Catholic Girls City Championship – Grammar School Varsity Division!!! My only assistant was a team mother. That’s big time coaching pressure, man!!!
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by JPQ! on Dec 12, 2011 2:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Thats pretty funny
because I’ve done the same thing with 6th grade boys. Coaching pressure baby.
Joe, I have been super critical of Bolen
but I must admit, he made a huge play on that forced fumble. Also, I tried to look for his mistakes in the game to complain about, but he seemed to play well.
He still ain’t no Dallas Clark.
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Dallas Clark ain't no Dallas Clark without Manning
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it's a backlash effect I believe
Similar to McCown in preseason 2010. His supporters see things through tinted glasses and prop him up more than he deserves at that time and when he gets in, he does not do much so folks turn on him. When Bolen was getting 7 yards a pop in preseason in ’10 against second stringers everyone wanted him to replace Greg Jones. He does not have the skill set that Jones developed and may never have it. The beauty of football is there is no one set way to play a position.
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Bolen didn't make that play
Owens did
Rewatch it
There were two fumbles on PRs
One forced by Bolen, the other by Owens. The one forced by Owens was the TD.
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I was talking about a run he had
the 2 Special Teams plays were Owens hands down
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I like the fact that
the defense got turnover thirsty. Everyone seemed to be going after the ball. That’s something this team has been missing under JDR’s tenure.
the team surprised me
Even those Jax residents who don’t like the Jags have to respect the effort and refusal to quit that the team showed yesterday.
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MJD in passing game
One thing I noticed is that Blaine has been using MJD in the passing game more over the last few weeks and it has helped tremendously. But then again anytime you get the ball to your best offensive player its gonna help.
we've only had 1 safety net all season
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How ironic is it that we go from a QB who checked down too often, to one who doesn’t do it nearly enough?
I'd say about 7.something on a scale of 10
Section 442, RIP
"You think you know, but you don't know."
Gabbert's been checking down quite a bit the last couple of games
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People complained about Garrard throwing check downs because he couldn’t throw the deep ball.
We want more check downs from Gabbert because he can hardly throw the check downs…
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by Brian Levenson on Dec 13, 2011 7:52 AM EST up reply actions
Saying he “can hardly throw them” is misleading. He choses to look down the field rather than check down.
It was evident in training camp. Garrard would constantly dump off while Gabbert would take the shots downfield.
I think the entire offensive unit.....
looked much better. On the other hand, I have had my fill of some guys not running the complete route. Really pisses me off!
Dillard
Dillard has looked to us like the most reliable receiver on the field all season. Keep getting him in the game!
Two things: receivers first, Gabbert second
A few things about the receivers actually.
One, Dillard is probably our best receiver right now. He made a few nice catches on slightly off target passes and could manage a few yards after the catch. I’d like to see more of him.
Two, crazy what happens when the QB throws the ball better, all of a sudden guys like Kassim Osgood (who is definitely not a talented wideout) all of a sudden look competent. This is why I consider WR a replaceable position, because really, it’s all about who’s throwing the ball. The guy catching usually doesn’t mean much of anything.
On Gabbert: I was encouraged by what I saw, but let’s not go pretending this was a great game from him. He threw two interceptions, one was on a bad decision throwing across his body and the second was a pass he should’ve known not to throw. He also fumbled twice: once on a sack and once taking a snap. That shouldn’t happen, and his passer rating was only 72.4
It’s good to be excited, but know that he still needs to improve a lot.
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I'm willing to drink the Kool-ade, but I'm hungry for the truth.
I don't think anyone is saying Gabbert is a finished product.
Yesterday was the first noticeable step in the right direction by him.
While it wasn’t a great game by him, it was by far his best game of the season.
Yeah you’re right, Dillard is the man.
In regards to paragraph 2
It was a solid game. He battled and faced adversity and overcame it.
Mental toughness – check
The defense played some very inspired football as did the special teams. TOs converted to touchdowns instead of field goals. Yes we had short fields, but since when was there a rule in which a quarterback had to drive his team a minimum number of yards.
taking advantage of opportunities presented – check
Look, on this, I agree with you, and I don’t think you’ll find anyone who says he played a perfect game. He did not. But at this stage of his very early career, it’s all about baby steps and victories. Will he take steps backwards? Without a doubt. Perhaps even this Thursday. But, let’s give him this one for all of his struggles this season.
You know that guy who was quarterbacking the Bucs? Last year he was all world.
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another point
I don’t know that I’ve seen the receivers catch the ball in stride in quite a while.
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There haven't been many opportunities for them to do that though
Not getting hit in stride very often
by smy on Dec 12, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I don't have a secret agenda...
I’m very open with my thoughts on Gabbert.
Some fans (non-Jaguars) would actually think I’m fairly kind to Gabbert.
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by Brian Levenson on Dec 13, 2011 7:54 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks. I had thought this was his ceiling. Good to know he can do better.
by Alfie Crow on Dec 12, 2011 3:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs
It's not about "he can do better"
It’s about “he needs to do better.”
Gabbert has performed like the worst starting QB on an NFL team. Even if we went just by the last game, he had a rating under 80 which means even with what was likely his best game of the season, it wouldn’t quite register as an “average” performance on the most commonly used scale.
There’s nothing to be gained by my saying it, but we should acknowledge that long-term, Gabbert’s play even last week, wasn’t to the level it should be at for him as a starting QB.
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by Brian Levenson on Dec 13, 2011 7:59 AM EST up reply actions
I thought
Gabbert played well yesterday despite the numbers. And he would have had much better numbers if it wasn’t for the drops. And Osgood is physically talented, he just can’t catch. He was getting separation for sure. He got cushion and when he didn’t he would outrun his coverage.
I just like to imagine
Osgood being Alshon Jeffery and getting that kind of separation, but actually catching the ball. lol
I can only imagine how much that could help Gabbert.
i take back one of my Osgood comments yesterday
while certainly not polished, he had three catches and it was good to see him contribute in the passing game
Section 442, RIP
"You think you know, but you don't know."
The pass to Lewis
This was definitely the confidence boost for Gabbert. From that point on I really thought his body language changed
Take stock in your lives, but leave your livestock alone
I believe someone compared Gabbert to Eli Manning as a rookie
And I do remember that until this year Manning was a very streaky QB. Gabbert could, and seems to be very similar. When he gets in his rythmn he shows the reason why he was picked 10th overall.
Manning was afforded the opportunity to sit and learn from Kurt Warner for about half a season.
We didn’t have anything remotely close to Warner
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point taken...but
Warner wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire with the Giants
by JohnnyBiceps on Dec 12, 2011 2:29 PM EST up reply actions
They were 5 and 4 when Manning took over and started the season 5-2
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He was still awful
I seem to remember him being responsible for, like 6 turnovers in one game before he was benched that year. I remember thinking he was way done…one of the reasons I think his career was so amazing.
by JohnnyBiceps on Dec 12, 2011 3:06 PM EST up reply actions
Warner
played a lot like people THOUGHT Farve did,
very gunslinger, often careless.. Without his Superbowl run in Arizona, he would be mostly a footnote
But dude is one of my favorite all-time QB’s.
His story is one for the ages, and I have met him a couple times.
"...I'm not trying to act giddy but the guy is a stud.'' - Terry McDonough, Director of Player Personnel, Jacksonville Jaguars
one thing I've always admired about him
which ironically is the biggest criticism of BG, was his ability to deliver a pass right before getting drilled. That’s why I thought his career was over after he was benched in NY. Dude would release the ball right before getting absolutely crushed over and over again. Fearless
by JohnnyBiceps on Dec 12, 2011 4:09 PM EST up reply actions
Blaine, Osgood, and the game
Blaine’s fundamentals looked much better yesterday. I think that’s what several people are saying. His stats weren’t the best, but he stood tall in the pocket and did his best. Even when the ball wasn’t always accurately thrown, he didn’t look like… well how I’d probably look if I were trying to play quarterback in the NFL… scared. He played confidently, and he got better with each pass. I think the comparisons with Eli Manning are pretty close. I didn’t think of that, but it seems pretty accurate. When Blaine gets shaken up and constantly pressured, he seems to melt. He get worse. When he makes a few plays and gets his confidence up, he’s “hard to stop.” Or at least I see him developing into that.
I don’t think it can be downplayed that Koetter has been working with him. Everyone on here seems to think Koetter is horrible, but in fact I think he’s one of the better OCs in the league. Disagree if you want but that’s my opinion. I think Blaine will keep getting better if he’s afforded the opportunity which I believe he will.
Osgood, on the other hand, showed to me why he shouldn’t be playing. He did a GREAT job getting open and allowing himself to have some opportunities to make great plays on the football. He just can’t catch. The poor guy just can’t haul in a pass, and it pains me, because I know how badly he wants to be a receiver. I just don’t see it working. You have to make the most of your opportunities, and he dropped at least three balls yesterday that would have been amazing plays if he had done otherwise.
Dillard’s been great. I give him a pass on the one drop. It had started to rain and the ball was slick. I didn’t see anybody else make mention of that, so I thought I’d throw it out there. Slick footballs are tough to catch.
One last note: I have DVR and NFL Sunday Ticket. I didn’t record the game, because I figured it’d be just another game that I would be too embarrassed to watch over again. Man, I sure am kicking myself now. Highlight of our season, hands down.
Cant blame drops on the rain.
Have you ever worn wr gloves? The wetter it is the tackier the gloves are. The ball sticks to your hand.
by JagSoldier on Dec 12, 2011 4:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
They are awesome.
I used them for flag football. I caught everything, they make a huge difference
by JagSoldier on Dec 12, 2011 5:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I've worn those gloves
and it depends. If it’s just starting to rain it’s hard to catch. Because the tackiness is very inconsistent. And frankly, across the league you see more drops when it’s wet vs when it’s dry. I do have to agree than when it’s too dry it sometimes can be hard to catch barehanded.
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