Jaguars news: Mike Mularkey sees growth in QB Blaine Gabbert

The Jacksonville Jaguars offense has been bad, which may be putting it lightly, but that doesn't mean there isn't growth in some regard. One area that has grown has been the play of quarterback Blaine Gabbert. While that sentence in a vacuum will make most people laugh, it's true. Gabbert has grown ten fold from where he was at this point in his rookie season, though he's not where you ideally want him to be just yet.

"I watch their body language, are they paying attention to their instructions, I am constantly paying attention to everything about them, not just what happens when the ball is snapped. There are things that are very positive going on with him," Mularkey told reporters on Wednesday when asked to explain how Gabbert's improved. "He’s a young quarterback still, and he has definitely room to grow. No question about that. Lots of room to grow, but he is definitely giving an attempt to be a leader that I can see when nobody else is watching."

Statistically, Gabbert has improved in nearly every area from his rookie season, but again it's not "good enough" yet. Gabbert definitely looks different, in terms of body language and such as Mularkey noted. He looks a bit more comfortable in the pocket compared to last year and seems to have command of the offense.

"I’ll tell you, I’ve been impressed with Blaine. I see a real attempt to grow at that position. I see guys following him and little more and more each game," Mularkey told reporters about Gabbert's leadership. "I see things on the field, in the huddle, on the practice field, walking off the field. I’m constantly evaluating players, constantly evaluating the situation, constantly looking for anything that can prevent us from winning or help us win. I think Blaine is making a serious attempt. I think it’s real, and that’s what I like about it."

The final seven games of the 2012 season will be a real litmus test for Gabbert going forward, as I mentioned before, it's highly likely that Gabbert is the quarterback entering 2013 barring a complete destruction of the Jaguars roster.