Perhaps things would have turned out differently in Jacksonville if then-coach Jack Del Rio didn’t throw Blaine Gabbert on the field as a rookie in 2011.
The Jaguars released David Garrard and Luke McCown wasn’t capable of carrying the team.
Forced to play, Gabbert, who was selected with the 10th overall pick after leaving Missouri after his junior season, was in over his head.
The speed of the game overwhelmed Gabbert, who was sacked 40 times. He became the latest poster child, like David Carr, for a prospect who took too much of a beating early in his career.
FootballOutsiders.com calculated that Gabbert’s rookie season was “the fifth worst season we’ve ever measured” in aggregate value.
He had a 5-22 record over three seasons. Gabbert completed 414-of-777 passes (53.3 percent) for 4,357 yards. He threw 22 touchdown passes to 24 interceptions.
Gabbert averaged 5.6 yards gained per attempt and had a 66.4 passer rating.
Overall, he was sacked 74 times while with the Jaguars. Gabbert’s sack percentage was 8.7 snaps. He had just one fourth-quarter comeback and one game-winning drive.
He’s hoping to resurrect his once promising career against the Falcons.
“You notice, No. 1, the arm strength,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “Then the mobility. That’s there, too. He has the full complement of stuff.”
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