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| There are questions about whether Blaine Gabbert even cares about winning. (Getty) |
The Jags were so confident in the ability of the 10th overall pick that they cut last year's starter, David Garrard. Gabbert ascended to the starting position midway through a Week 2 blowout the Jets, but he hasn't ascended anywhere past that since. His 65.6 QB rating is dead last among the 32 qualifying quarterbacks. He's even worse the Indy's Curtis Painter (66.6).
He completes 50.6 percent of his passes, averages a measly 148 passing yards per game, has thrown just 11 touchdowns in 12 starts and has been sacked 36 times. The one bright spot is that he's still managed to throw more TDs than interceptions (10), but I'm really just trying to find a silver lining here.
The Jaguars clearly put all their kittens in the basket, Austen. He's only a rookie, but he doesn't seem to have shown the same potential that the other rookie QBs have shown (Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Christian Ponder, even Locker, when he got a shot). Is it too early to write him off? Can he still be the future in Jacksonville? Or, do you think the Jags should start looking elsewhere? What's the future of the Jags QB situation?
Austen: Gabbert has very similar passing stats to Tim Tebow, minus the rushing yards and without the winning record. That is a really bad sign.
I will start off talking about Gabbert by giving him a little benefit of the doubt. The Jags have not had a number one receiver possibly ever and their receiving corps might be the worst it has been ever. When punt returner Mike Thomas is your unquestioned number one receiver, and no one outside the state of Jacksonville can name your number two receiver, you know you are in for a long season.
Tight end Marcedes Lewis had a breakout year in 2010 with an impressive 10 touchdowns, finally living up to his expectations as a first round pick. However, he has been slowed by injuries all season and he has disappeared in the passing game almost entirely. I have not watched enough Jags' games to analyze their usage of their tight ends, but they must be using Lewis more as a blocker because of their awful offensive line in a failing attempt to protect Gabbert. This is a huge mistake because Lewis is clearly their most dangerous weapon in the passing game and he could be a huge asset to a young quarterback.
Maurice Jones-Drew is unbelievable and is carrying this entire offense on his back, as he has for years now. This should make life easier for Gabbert to help open up the passing game, but that has not worked at all. Gabbert relies on him heavily, but he still struggles despite having one of the most talented running backs in the NFL to lean on.
Overall, the Jags have to find better options for Gabbert to pass to or else they will never know how good he can be. They also need to improve their offensive line. Whether that's bringing in new players or developing the young guys they have in the locker room, they simply have to get better upfront.
Now let's get to Gabbert's actual performance on the field, which has been nothing but awful. So far this season, he has not shown me a single thing that gives me hope for the future. He looks confused by every defense he plays, makes costly mistakes for his team, and takes sacks like its his job. Most disturbing is that he seems afraid of taking a hit, which is not a good sign for a football player. I know the NFL has really scaled back the violence, but football is still one of the most physically tasking sports in the world. He's going to get hit, especially behind that offensive line, and he needs to get used to it fast.
The Jags should have been wary of a quarterback who started to fall fast in the draft when a lot of teams had claimed he was their top-rated quarterback on their draft board. Instead, they traded up with the Redskins to draft him before the Vikings could get to him.
I was very critical of Gabbert in the draft because at Missouri he ran a very simple offense in which he basically never threw the ball more than 5-10 yards downfield. He basically took a snap out of the shotgun, looked to quickly throw a pass, and, if there wasn't one open within the first 2-3 seconds of the play, he would use his quickness to run for a few yards. This is what he does with the Jags. He drops back, his untalented receivers are not open, and instead of being able to run against terrible Big-12 defenses, he tries to scramble and he gets sacked.
If Gabbert does not improve over the last two games of the season, I could very easily see the Jags taking one of the top quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL Draft. Robert Griffin could be a great addition to this team and he could use his mobility in order to escape the pressure he will see behind that offensive line. The Jags will have a top-5 pick and that could be the perfect landing spot for Griffin, who will rise because of Matt Barkley announcing he will stay at USC for his senior year.
Also, because of the new CBA the NFL and the players signed, Gabbert did not get a huge contract like he would have in years past. The Jags would only have to give him about $7 million to cut him loose, so it is definitely a possibility. Gabbert needs to get better fast in order to keep his job.
Stally: Two things before I talk about Gabbert's skill. First, let's not overlook Jimmy Smith when we talk about the history of the Jaguars' wide receivers. Second off, if you haven't seen the Jags play as much as you'd like, turn on ESPN on Monday nights, and you'll see them play plenty more than you'd like, as they always seem to be on!
I think the problem with Gabbert was that, as you said, he didn't play in a pro-style offense in college and he didn't have any time to learn it coming into the season. The lockout didn't do any wonders and cutting Garrard made Blaine pretty much the guy in northern Florida. At least Ponder in Minnesota and Locker in Tennessee have had some time to season under veteran free agent signings. Gabbert hasn't had the opportunity.
That said, as you mentioned Austen, he just doesn't show any potential. Heart isn't something you learn over time, you either have it or you don't. It's not like hair, that you can gain (or maybe get rid of, hint, hint), it's either there or it never will be. Gabbert hasn't shown much skill, and while that could come along, he just doesn't look like he has the heart to lead a team in the NFL. That's a bad thing!
I think it could be franchise killing to spend two top-10 picks in a row on a quarterback, so I'd recommend the Jags remain open to any possible picks, as they have plenty of weaknesses. However, it's worth noting that the Panthers spent two top-two round picks on QBs in back-to-back years and it was the one they took second (Newton) that seems to be leading the franchise in the right direction. Basically I'm saying, the Jags can't lock in on a QB, but if it's the best value for the pick, they should scoop up another QB.
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Austen: Now to that other quarterback we have all forgotten about in Indianapolis. Peyton Manning signed a huge contact with the Colts during the offseason, but has yet to play under that new contract thanks to his back injury. With the Colts having no worse than the third pick in the NFL draft, what do you think are the odds of them taking Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the draft?
If they have the first overall pick, it looks as if they will take Luck, but would they trade up from the second or third pick to take him if the Rams or Vikings have the pick, who seem invested in their young quarterbacks? If they draft Luck, do they keep Manning and groom Luck, and if so do how long can they keep Manning around before handing the reins to Luck? Could the Colts trade Manning, and where do you think Manning could end up?
This is a lot of speculation, since we are not even sure if Manning will even play again since he has kept his injury progress under wraps. Either way, it is sure fun to think about.
Is Manning or Luck the future in Indianapolis?
Stally: Define future.
Peyton Manning is 35 and, with a March 24th birthday, he'll be 36 by next season. His long-term future is heading to the Hall of Fame and making public speaking appearances. He'll also probably end up as a coach or on-air analyst of some sort. That's his future.
But, in the short term? Assuming Peyton is healthy enough to play next year, his future is in Indianapolis. Let's look no farther than the Blaine Gabbert we just talked about to get a beat on the risks of forcing a rookie into action. If this year's Colts' euthanasia has proved anything, it's that the team isn't ready to be led by a QB other than Peyton.
In the long-term does it make sense to draft Luck? Yes, at this point, I've come around on the idea. I still believe that this year's team proved there are a lot of holes on the team aside from QB. However, the idea of having Andrew Luck, one of the best signal-calling prospects we've seen in years, learn from Peyton Manning, one of the best signal-callers ever, is an intriguing one.
Right now, Aaron Rodgers is playing as one of, if not the, best quarterbacks in the league. Unlike a lot of these short-lived flames, he had the chance to sit behind a legend in Brett Favre and really take grasp of how the pro football offense works works. I also think that the wait fueled some sort of internal fire to prove himself better than his predecessor, which I think he's done.
I do think Manning and Luck can co-exist and I think with Manning's aging, which has happened rapidly this season, that Luck makes a lot of sense for the Colts' future. The one thing I think is ridiculous is the idea of trading Peyton.
He's old for one, and the injuries raise questions for any suitor. Not to mention, he's an institution in Indianapolis. I very much fear the day that Tom Brady retires for the Patriots, who knows, maybe someone other than New England might have a shot at the AFC East. However, I couldn't fathom the Pats trading him to another team. That's like taking your favorite dog outside and shooting him because he's getting slow and has lost vision in one eye. Peyton deserves better from the Colts than to be dragged out behind the woodshed like that. He deserves to retire as a Colt, and I think Indy will show him that respect.
Austen: I really think Peyton hangs around for one more season and then they find a sucker who will give up a first round pick to get their hands on a 36 year old Peyton Manning. I do not know who it will be but I am sure it will not turn out well.
I am really concerned about Peyton's health and I still think there is a good shot at him not being able to play at the start of next season either. No matter what, I think Luck ends up on the Colts in 2012.
Austen: Gabbert has very similar passing stats to Tim Tebow, minus the rushing yards and without the winning record. That is a really bad sign.
I will start off talking about Gabbert by giving him a little benefit of the doubt. The Jags have not had a number one receiver possibly ever and their receiving corps might be the worst it has been ever. When punt returner Mike Thomas is your unquestioned number one receiver, and no one outside the state of Jacksonville can name your number two receiver, you know you are in for a long season.
Tight end Marcedes Lewis had a breakout year in 2010 with an impressive 10 touchdowns, finally living up to his expectations as a first round pick. However, he has been slowed by injuries all season and he has disappeared in the passing game almost entirely. I have not watched enough Jags' games to analyze their usage of their tight ends, but they must be using Lewis more as a blocker because of their awful offensive line in a failing attempt to protect Gabbert. This is a huge mistake because Lewis is clearly their most dangerous weapon in the passing game and he could be a huge asset to a young quarterback.
Maurice Jones-Drew is unbelievable and is carrying this entire offense on his back, as he has for years now. This should make life easier for Gabbert to help open up the passing game, but that has not worked at all. Gabbert relies on him heavily, but he still struggles despite having one of the most talented running backs in the NFL to lean on.
Overall, the Jags have to find better options for Gabbert to pass to or else they will never know how good he can be. They also need to improve their offensive line. Whether that's bringing in new players or developing the young guys they have in the locker room, they simply have to get better upfront.
Now let's get to Gabbert's actual performance on the field, which has been nothing but awful. So far this season, he has not shown me a single thing that gives me hope for the future. He looks confused by every defense he plays, makes costly mistakes for his team, and takes sacks like its his job. Most disturbing is that he seems afraid of taking a hit, which is not a good sign for a football player. I know the NFL has really scaled back the violence, but football is still one of the most physically tasking sports in the world. He's going to get hit, especially behind that offensive line, and he needs to get used to it fast.
The Jags should have been wary of a quarterback who started to fall fast in the draft when a lot of teams had claimed he was their top-rated quarterback on their draft board. Instead, they traded up with the Redskins to draft him before the Vikings could get to him.
I was very critical of Gabbert in the draft because at Missouri he ran a very simple offense in which he basically never threw the ball more than 5-10 yards downfield. He basically took a snap out of the shotgun, looked to quickly throw a pass, and, if there wasn't one open within the first 2-3 seconds of the play, he would use his quickness to run for a few yards. This is what he does with the Jags. He drops back, his untalented receivers are not open, and instead of being able to run against terrible Big-12 defenses, he tries to scramble and he gets sacked.
If Gabbert does not improve over the last two games of the season, I could very easily see the Jags taking one of the top quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL Draft. Robert Griffin could be a great addition to this team and he could use his mobility in order to escape the pressure he will see behind that offensive line. The Jags will have a top-5 pick and that could be the perfect landing spot for Griffin, who will rise because of Matt Barkley announcing he will stay at USC for his senior year.
Also, because of the new CBA the NFL and the players signed, Gabbert did not get a huge contract like he would have in years past. The Jags would only have to give him about $7 million to cut him loose, so it is definitely a possibility. Gabbert needs to get better fast in order to keep his job.
Stally: Two things before I talk about Gabbert's skill. First, let's not overlook Jimmy Smith when we talk about the history of the Jaguars' wide receivers. Second off, if you haven't seen the Jags play as much as you'd like, turn on ESPN on Monday nights, and you'll see them play plenty more than you'd like, as they always seem to be on!
I think the problem with Gabbert was that, as you said, he didn't play in a pro-style offense in college and he didn't have any time to learn it coming into the season. The lockout didn't do any wonders and cutting Garrard made Blaine pretty much the guy in northern Florida. At least Ponder in Minnesota and Locker in Tennessee have had some time to season under veteran free agent signings. Gabbert hasn't had the opportunity.
That said, as you mentioned Austen, he just doesn't show any potential. Heart isn't something you learn over time, you either have it or you don't. It's not like hair, that you can gain (or maybe get rid of, hint, hint), it's either there or it never will be. Gabbert hasn't shown much skill, and while that could come along, he just doesn't look like he has the heart to lead a team in the NFL. That's a bad thing!
I think it could be franchise killing to spend two top-10 picks in a row on a quarterback, so I'd recommend the Jags remain open to any possible picks, as they have plenty of weaknesses. However, it's worth noting that the Panthers spent two top-two round picks on QBs in back-to-back years and it was the one they took second (Newton) that seems to be leading the franchise in the right direction. Basically I'm saying, the Jags can't lock in on a QB, but if it's the best value for the pick, they should scoop up another QB.
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| With questions surrounding Peyton's health, how much longer until the Colts look toward the future. (AP) |
If they have the first overall pick, it looks as if they will take Luck, but would they trade up from the second or third pick to take him if the Rams or Vikings have the pick, who seem invested in their young quarterbacks? If they draft Luck, do they keep Manning and groom Luck, and if so do how long can they keep Manning around before handing the reins to Luck? Could the Colts trade Manning, and where do you think Manning could end up?
This is a lot of speculation, since we are not even sure if Manning will even play again since he has kept his injury progress under wraps. Either way, it is sure fun to think about.
Is Manning or Luck the future in Indianapolis?
Stally: Define future.
Peyton Manning is 35 and, with a March 24th birthday, he'll be 36 by next season. His long-term future is heading to the Hall of Fame and making public speaking appearances. He'll also probably end up as a coach or on-air analyst of some sort. That's his future.
But, in the short term? Assuming Peyton is healthy enough to play next year, his future is in Indianapolis. Let's look no farther than the Blaine Gabbert we just talked about to get a beat on the risks of forcing a rookie into action. If this year's Colts' euthanasia has proved anything, it's that the team isn't ready to be led by a QB other than Peyton.
In the long-term does it make sense to draft Luck? Yes, at this point, I've come around on the idea. I still believe that this year's team proved there are a lot of holes on the team aside from QB. However, the idea of having Andrew Luck, one of the best signal-calling prospects we've seen in years, learn from Peyton Manning, one of the best signal-callers ever, is an intriguing one.
Right now, Aaron Rodgers is playing as one of, if not the, best quarterbacks in the league. Unlike a lot of these short-lived flames, he had the chance to sit behind a legend in Brett Favre and really take grasp of how the pro football offense works works. I also think that the wait fueled some sort of internal fire to prove himself better than his predecessor, which I think he's done.
I do think Manning and Luck can co-exist and I think with Manning's aging, which has happened rapidly this season, that Luck makes a lot of sense for the Colts' future. The one thing I think is ridiculous is the idea of trading Peyton.
He's old for one, and the injuries raise questions for any suitor. Not to mention, he's an institution in Indianapolis. I very much fear the day that Tom Brady retires for the Patriots, who knows, maybe someone other than New England might have a shot at the AFC East. However, I couldn't fathom the Pats trading him to another team. That's like taking your favorite dog outside and shooting him because he's getting slow and has lost vision in one eye. Peyton deserves better from the Colts than to be dragged out behind the woodshed like that. He deserves to retire as a Colt, and I think Indy will show him that respect.
Austen: I really think Peyton hangs around for one more season and then they find a sucker who will give up a first round pick to get their hands on a 36 year old Peyton Manning. I do not know who it will be but I am sure it will not turn out well.
I am really concerned about Peyton's health and I still think there is a good shot at him not being able to play at the start of next season either. No matter what, I think Luck ends up on the Colts in 2012.
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