Gabbert Behind the Scenes

[mav1234]

There is a very good chance if we took a QB this year they would sit unless they won the job in camp.

[MHS831]

This + Veteran = next season

I am with you on this point. There are about 4 or 5, 35 year old QBs (Hasselbeck, Volek, McNabb, Bruner, etc) and any would be great to start the season--and possibly go through it.

The long term is solid. Gabbert, Clausen, Pike in a competition.

[koolkatluke]

I am with you on this point. There are about 4 or 5, 35 year old QBs (Hasselbeck, Volek, McNabb, Bruner, etc) and any would be great to start the season--and possibly go through it.

The long term is solid. Gabbert, Clausen, Pike in a competition.

I agree with this minus Pike. Vet Gabbert and Clausen in a competition. Maybe even add Moore and have a Four way for the Job.

[Woodie]

Well, I guess this is as good a place as any to put this. Here's Scouts Inc.'s evaluation of Gabbert. Since very few on here have actually seen him play a game, this may help provide a more specific guide to what he brings to the table rather than the general sound bites you usually hear from the talking heads.

Overall Football Traits

Production 2 2008: (5/0)5 of 13 (38.5 pct.), 43 yards. 2009: (13/13) 262 of 445 (58.8), 3,593 yards, 24 TD, 9 INT. Career: 109 carries, 226 yards (2.1 avg.), 3 TD.

Height-Weight-Speed 2 Is tall with a solid build and above-average top end speed.

Durability 2 Played in only 5 games as a senior in high school due to ankle

and shoulder injuries. Suffered a sprained ankle during the

Nebraska contest in 2009 but played through injury and did not

miss a snap. Started in all 13 games in his first season as a

fulltime starter in 2009.

Intangibles 1 Takes care of his business both on and off-the-field. Excellent

student in the class room; was named a 1st team Academic All-

Big 12 selection this past fall. Vocal leader and challenges

teammates. Was 18-8 as the fulltime starter his last two

seasons (2009-'10).

1 = Exceptional 2 = Above average 3 = Average 4 = Below average 5 = Marginal

Quarterback Specific Traits

Toughness/Leadership 2 Is confident. Appears to have good on the field leadership qualities. Overall poise is adequate but not elite. Only

knock here is he gets a bit anxious and unsettled when

opposing pass rush is starting to get to him. It's not an

issue of toughness. He's clearly willing to hang in pocket

and take a hit. A tough competitor that will play through

injury. Played the majority of the 2009 Nebraska game

with a severely sprained ankle.

Intelligence/Decision Making 2 Comes from spread system and has limited experience

working from under center. But has the football intelligence

and instincts to make necessary adjustments. Displays a

thorough understanding of coverages and does a nice job

of getting pre and post-snap reads on safeties. Confident

in his reads and displays ability to anticipate throws into

tight windows. Generally a good manager of the game. Still

will take some unnecessary risks and throw into coverage

on occasion, but made strides in that area in 2010.

Accuracy 1 Far more accurate than statistics indicate. Is consistently

dealing with pass rush pressure and too many drops.

Throws with balance and feet underneath him. Precise with

short accuracy and touch. Continues to improve

consistency with footwork/mechanics. Makes difficult

throws look easy. Can make accurate throws when forced

to throw off-balance or to change release point. Also can

quick stride and get the ball out when pocket collapsing.

Touch on intermediate crossing routes improved in 2010.

Not as comfortable throwing the deep ball due to limited

reps. Puts good air on over-the-shoulder and fade routes,

but struggles with trajectory on true deep ball at times and

will need some work with consistency.

Release/Arm Strength 2 Quick and compact delivery. Can dip down to ¾ release

point at times (not just when necessary due to passing

window), but tipped passes have not been a significant

issue. Ball jumps off of hands with good velocity. Arm

strength is a notch below elite but is still very good. Will

have no trouble making all the necessary throws in the

NFL. Gets good zip on deep out route and can drive the

ball vertically with low trajectory when needed.

Pocket 2 Possesses good foot quickness and above-average agility Mobility for size. Shows urgency in his drops and gets good depth.

Does a nice job of sliding to find passing lanes. Will keep

eyes downfield when rush avoiding. However, needs to do

a better job of stepping up in the pocket when feeling edge

pressure. Can be tough to bring down for sack and shows

ability to ward off defenders and keep play alive. Does a

nice job of extending play when breaking contain and

throws accurately on the run to both sides.

http://http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27028/blaine-gabbert

[Ricky Spanish]

the more and more i think about it, the more and more comfortable i would be if we took gabbert. rivera doesn't want a young QB to start, his ass can ride the pine pony while some old dude gets his shit rocked. sitting and learning the intricacies of the game could do wonders for him.

[Woodie]

For the record, I think Rivera is setting things up for next year and beyond, and that anything positive this season, like a playoff run, will just be icing on the cake. Which is why I believe he is looking hard at the QB's. He has said that he does not think Rookie QB's should start, that they need at least a year on the bench to learn and develop. Therefore, I think his plan is to get a QB to sit and learn this year so he'll be ready to take over next season. That's another reason why I believe we'll bring in a vet. He'll just want a bridge to get us through this year, who would then take his place on the bench behind the young gun.

And based on everything I know and see, I believe that Gabbert is a better fit for the organization as a whole (scheme, FO, JR, desire for clean face of the franchise, etc.) than Cam who is clearly a more risky option (despite what you think his upside may be). While the coaches may or may not get enamored with Cam's flash and potential, I do think Hurney's and JR's conservative natures will win out and sway the pick to the safer guy.

[jtnc]

But, would Aaron Rodgers the the QB he is now if he didn't sit for his first few years behind Faverah?

I think so, he was overshadowed by Farve anyway.

[koolkatluke]

But, would Aaron Rodgers the the QB he is now if he didn't sit for his first few years behind Faverah?

I didn't think he needed too sit as long as he did.