End of the Road for Gabbert?

Added on Nov 21, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

Blaine Gabbert’s 2012 season is over and his days in Jacksonville may be numbered as well. The Jaguars shipped their 2011 first-round pick to injured reserve due to a bad forearm and persistent shoulder pain. Backup Chad Henne will be the starter going forward following his 354-yard, four touchdown performance in relief of Gabbert on Sunday. The lingering question hanging over the franchise is whether Gabbert is still the answer under center.

The overtime 43-37 loss to the Texans was one of those games that spiraled into a shootout, so it’s not an accurate assessment of how the Jags offense will operate with Henne at the controls. However, his decisiveness and ability to deliver the ball down the field was significantly more impressive than anything Gabbert has done in a season and a half.

Look no further than rookie wideout Justin Blackmon’s stats on Sunday to see the difference. In nine games with Gabbert, Blackmon posted 26 receptions for 250 yards and one touchdown. In roughly three quarters with Henne, he caught six balls for 221 yards and a score.

This doesn’t mean Henne to Blackmon is suddenly going to rival Stafford to Johnson, but unlike Gabbert, Henne made a point to force the ball in Blackmon’s direction. Too many times during his 24 career starts, Gabbert has held the ball too long and been unwilling to throw into tight spots. His accuracy is spotty at best and his pocket presence is atrocious.

At 1-9, Jacksonville is closing in the potential number one overall pick in next April’s draft. At the very least, they will be selecting in the top five, meaning the opportunity to land one of the elite quarterback prospects must be considered.

Despite the dreadful season, head coach Mike Mularkey isn’t going anywhere. He is clearly frustrated with Gabbert’s ineffectiveness, especially since Maurice Jones-Drew went down with a foot injury. However, investing in another potential franchise quarterback so soon is risky.

If Henne performs well down the stretch, Mularkey could roll with him in 2013 and use their first round pick to shore up a porous defense. Both Geno Smith and Matt Barkley aren’t graded as “can’t miss” talents. Whatever happens between now and next summer, it’s becoming clearer that Gabbert won’t be part of the equation.