FanPost

Will the Real Jaguars Fans Please Stand Up

Although quite humorous, no jokes, no sarcasm, herein.

Images_medium

via t1.gstatic.com

It's no secret that the quarterback position is the most important in football. A position for the Jaguars which has been under the microscope since the departure of Mark Brunell. Most people will not disagree with the fact that, since then, the closest thing the Jaguars have had to a franchise QB is David Garrard. Although slightly vertically challenged relative to a prototypical QB, he was a really good player - a FB under center who could throw and run quite well. He had some great games as a Jaguar, and a really good 2007 season.

Garrard did have his ups, and downs. He seemed to lack confidence in himself, and his receivers (can't blame him there). In 2010, he was really good one week, and a dud the next. The difference between good and great is how often you can do the right things? How often can you get in, and stay in, the "zone"?

Why is it that Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, etc. always seem to have a productive passing attack? Are they just lucky to always have decent receivers? No. It's not that. They work with what they have. They are the epitome of a franchise quarterback. Something the Jaguars and many other teams are always searching for.

When assessing last season, you cannot compare Gabbert to Garrard as far as the receivers go. The latter was a veteran and Gabbert was a rookie on a team falling apart at the seams (the team was sold). He had no real mentor as Del Rio and his staff were on their way out (and they knew it). Gabbert was tossed into a smoldering bonfire that Del Rio created and was asked to put it out with little help, no preparation and no experience.

Would the Jaguars have had a better record last year with Garrard at the helm? Absolutely. Would the Jaguars have faced the Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium? Absolutely not, and everyone knows it. It was time for a change. It was not the fans who drafted Gabbert and subsequently axed Garrard. A real fan, however, has no choice but to get behind and embrace it. (Denny Green in 2003 would have been tough to embrace.).

Is it "pissing in the wind" to continue to get upset with the media (and some fans) who continue to bash the Jaguars, and Gabbert? Yes. But it's so pathetically shallow to continue to write him off as a bust when even the professionals (the entire organization by all reports) believe there's a slight chance that he may be the answer. This is the season to start judging him. Give it a chance. Like it or not, he's the starter. If he sucks out, it's gonna really suck. Then Henne will come in and we'll stand behind him, but where will the Jags go if he's not playing "lights out"? Back to the old drawing board, again.

Last season was no barometer. Gabbert has flaws - we all have flaws. Some are reporting he looks better. Some are reporting that he looks no different. We can all start judging next Friday night. Until then, like it or not, embrace Gabbert if you really love the Jaguars. Let the whole QB thing go. As it turns out, Tebow would not have been the answer. Garrard had his chance. Now, let Gabbert have his. We all want the Jags to regain a sorely missed passing attack the was Mark Brunell and Jimmy Smith. Anyone who can accomplish that will be loved by all.

At this point, if you're not for Gabbert, you're against the Jaguars. Period. For now, Gabbert is the Jaguars.

Go Gabbert!

Images_medium

via t3.gstatic.com

FanPosts do not necessarily reflect the views of the authors of Big Cat Country or SB Nation.