Jaguars Give Hints at Rookie Quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s Role Early

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a pretty shocking move in the 2011 NFL Draft when they traded up to take Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert showed in his junior season that he has the tools to be a fine NFL quarterback, perhaps even a pretty darn good one someday, but the Jaguars are not going to throw him to the wolves.

According to offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, Gabbert will receive about one third of the reps in training camp and the pre-season, but right now, David Garrard is still the starter (and probably rightfully so).

“It’s like 42, 33 and 20 something,” Koetter said. “What it does is create a situation where Blaine will be learning the offense as if he’s the (No.) 2. Luke will technically be the three, but competing to be as high as he can go. It forces Blaine to come along without putting pressure on him to come in and be the starter.”

The Jags don’t have to rush Gabbert along. Despite the fact that Garrard is getting up there in age, he’s still a pretty efficient quarterback and he has been in big games before. Gabbert needs to come along slowly, but the Jaguars don’t plan on him simply sitting on the sidelines. You learn this game best by doing, and without mini-camps, his reps may need to be increased.

“Now, Blaine may play up or down from that number (of repetitions)” Koetter added. “We’ll see how it goes from there. Same with David. Same with Luke. . . . Coach has structured the reps as such that Blaine’s not going to be sitting there, just sitting on his helmet.”

Unless the Jags are really struggling this year, I don’t expect Gabbert to see a ton of action. However, as soon as the team starts losing there will be a definite pressure to put him in, and Jack Del Rio’s job could be in some kind of jeopardy this season.