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When the Jacksonville Jaguars head north this weekend to take on the Minnesota Vikings, pre-draft workout buddies Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder will both be facing off as second-year quarterbacks looking for big improvement. Gabbert and Ponder were both quarterbacks on the Jaguars radar and worked out at the same pre-draft facility, quickly bonding and becoming friends.
Sunday however, both will be on the field trying once again the best the other. Both had struggles their rookie year with their respective teams and both showed some improvement during the 2012 preseason. The big difference between the two seem to be their offensive lines heading into the matchup. Gabbert was sacked just twice in the preseason while Ponder was sacked seven times, and has a rookie left tackle protecting his blindside.
Gabbert also threw for more yards, more touchdowns, had a higher rating, and less interceptions than Ponder, but as we all know that's preseason and nothing really matters until 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.