Why can't the Jaguars win with Blaine Gabbert?

Let’s take a vote! Gabbert or Garrard? Somebody set up a POLL!

I always backed up Garrard , even when my friends all this time have talked trash about him …….truth of the matter is that Garrard hasn’t stepped up ……..He hasn’t shown that killer instinct you need in your leader ……So if the ROOK beats him out , then so be it !!! It was only a matter of time before Garrard got replaced neways !!! Everybody around the league knows that the QB position in Jacksonville has been a joke for a long time now !!!

I’m Ready For Week 1

Let’s Go JAGS !

The argument from the other point of view assumed that there was no way Gabbert could outperform a healthy Garrard. So, for Gabbert to start, Garrard would have to be injured. Gabbert starting would be seen as a bad thing. That is a pretty big assumption.

“that Jacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert has a legitimate chance to overtake veteran quarterback David Garrard for the starting position”

I read where Tania mentioned that it’s a competition, but that’s a far cry from having a legitimate chance to overtake…

That’s why we’ll take the division this year… Forget what ya heard on ESPN those guys are just fanboys anyway.

I’m happy that Gabbert is looking great in camp, however Garrard is our PROVEN starter no matter how you cut the mustard. Looking great in practice doesn’t equate him being better when the game is on the line.

People may dislike Garrard for whatever reason but he’s our QB for a reason… Protect him and you’ll see what’s what…

is that if David Garrard had gone 9-16 for 85 yards and no TD’s in the first half. Nobody would be anointing him the starter.

And I don’t want to hear about him being a veteran and Gabbert being a rookie. If Gabbert is going to be BETTER he can’t be “Better for a rookie”.

I think you guys give Alfie a hard time (sounding like Blaine concerning DG). Nevertheless, the decision for Jack Del Rio is not the same at 2007. At that time, David Garrard was the best quarterback for the team. He saw that Leftwich was a bust and wasn’t going to be an impact player for the team so he moved on. This is a totally different scenario. DG has shown, given the proper line play and defense, he can take this team to the playoffs. After training camp, Blaine Gabbert has shown he is just as talented, if not more talented than DG. I’m gonna take a Vic perspective and watch. These next two preseason games will tell whether Blaine is actually better than David in game situations. I’m looking forward to just watching and trusting the leadership. The arrow is pointing UP gentlemen! What a difference a year makes. We all were hoping for 8 – 8 and now we have real AFC South championship aspirations.

Since none of us here are any kind of Jaguars administration or staff and have no say in the matter of who starts, we let what happens happen and go from there. Just a suggestion…

The reason I do is why put off the inevitable. We are in year 3 of the rebuilding phase. Let Gabbert get the experience. Get whatever we can for Garrard.

Is he worth?

and if grandma had balls she’d be grandpa. if gabbert wins the starting job, he’ll be the starter. no kidding. and if gabbert grows a super cool horn out of his fore head he’ll be a unicorn. hell, he didnt even look as good as ryan mallett last week so i think i’ll hold my judgement on pretty much the whole team until i see them play for real in a real game. except jdr. he’s definitely killing us

So I ended up making a fan post instead here: http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2011/8/18/2371126/why-i-believe-gabbert-is-the-better-choice-to-start

However here is my post in it’s entirety of why I believe Gabbert gives us a better chance to win.

The way I see it. I listed what I see as the pros and cons of each player, and then finally why I believe that Gabbert is the logical choice to be the starter this year.

Problems with Garrard:
1. He checks down way too often, he doesn’t do well reading the field. Many of us assume he already knows where he wishes to throw it BEFORE he throws it.
2. He rarely throws the ball more than 15 yards down field, and rarely throws it accurately when he does. I know I’m not the only one who starts reciting a hail mary when ever he launches the ball more than 10 yards.
3. He can be inconsistent
4. He is horrible at leading the receivers, he waits to make sure they are open before he throws it. Throwing it where they are more than where they are going to be. Remember the year we had like 2 yards of YAC avg?

Benefits of Garrard
1. 10 years in the league
2. He knows the teams we play inside and out especially in the division.
3. Effective Game Manager

Problems with Gabbert
1. He’s a rookie.
2. He will probably be confused by some schemes
3. We don’t know what happens when he gets hit by an NFL LB trying to take off his head.
4. His mechanics need some work.

Benefits of Gabbert
1. He can throw the ball more than 5 yards with a great deal of accuracy.(Rookie excitedness not withstanding)
2. He has the same kind of mobility Garrard has
3. He appears super intelligent. I believe his ability to process information will translate into the field, he will learn quickly and be more effective the more he sees things from behind center.
4. Once he gets the timing down he is the kind of QB who throws it based upon the “feel” of the position of the defender vs the position of the receiver in their route. In other words he can read whether the receiver once he makes his break will be in a good position or a bad position.
5. Lightning quick release with a cannon of an arm.

Why the Jaguars WILL be better with Gabbert under center.

Primarily the Jaguars are a running team. MJD, Jennings, Karim, Greg Jones, Bolen, Lewis(as a blocker). To be effective you cannot have 8 men in the box the whole game. But what risk does a team have if your guy rarely if ever attempts to launch one more than 10 yards? Just keep them close and you shut down both the running and the passing game.

I believe Gabbert to be a better downfield passer. I think he has a very quick release and is generally very accurate, even when throwing more than 10 yards downfield. If he converts 3-4 long passes over 15 yards each game that will force the defense to play him honest. And that gives him a very distinct edge over Garrard. Of course if pass blocking doesn’t improve it really won’t matter who is getting clobbered behind center.

If he’s not as good at Garrard in every facet of the game yet he gives us those 4-8 downfield attempts that will keep the 8th man out of the box then all facets of the game open up for us and thus makes him the wiser choice behind center. The running becomes more effective, the passing should be more effective and you keep the defense honest and guessing. With Garrard they know what they are getting, either a run, or a short PA pass.

At this point the only tangible that Garrard brings over Gabbert is a ton more experience and some durability(questionable this year?).

By the way I am a Garrard fan. I own two Garrard jerseys, and have always rooted for the man. But after watching games like the Eagles last year it’s pretty clear what we have. After being to a bunch of the practices and looking over Gabbert I’m excited to find out what we have.

Just my opinion.

Marcos

guys play really well the rest of the preseason and if Gabbert wins the Job, it’s because he’s special and he’s ready now and not because Garrard is having a poor camp.

Personally, I think if the WR’s have improved the way we hope they will, and the loss of Eben Britton doesn’t open up a flood gate, both QB’s should be able to perform well.

Can’t we all just get along?

If Gabbert is clearly a better player, he should be the starter.

Gabbert did not make a single throw against the Pats that would indicate he is a better player. He has been good in camp, but Garrard was better against Atlanta.

I don’t know why people think Garrard is inaccurate downfield; he just doesn’t throw downfield very often. Maybe he isn’t accurate on bombs, but I have only seen him attempt a few truly deep passes in his career. That has a lot to do with his line and instant pressure; doubt that, and as another contributor said, “I’ll begin to doubt your football IQ”.

Both players have very good physical tools, but Gabbert does seem more decisive early. Then again, he really hasn’t played much. I think Garrard is an above-average QB, and every major statistical rating system seems to agree with that.

Put it this way: he has played with one good team, one mediocre team, and two very shaky teams in the past four seasons. In two seasons with a modicum of offensive support he has posted pretty good numbers. There are some evaluators that have a pretty high opinion of him. The team’s mediocrity leads us to judge him too harshly.

Blaine Gabbert is almost certainly going to be a better player, but I do not buy the argument that he has shown he is a better player. I am worried the coaching staff will rush to put the kid in the game in an effort to drum up fan interest. I don’t think he is ready, and more importantly, I don’t think the team is ready to give him the support he needs. I think David is a tough guy and a good leader. I think the young team needs that.

I think Gabbert will be starting this season. I don’t know if that will be best for the team. I hope I am wrong.