Blaine Gabbert Year One

The latter paragraph of the Blaine Gabbert post from six months back proved to be anything but prophetic. At the time it seemed that Gabbert was entering a solid organization with stable ownership (team has since been sold), a long term coach (fired at the same time), an experienced, successful, offensive co-ordinator (feuded with H.C. during season, passed over as interim H.C., likely gone in off season).

On the field, incumbent quarterback David Garrard was cut loose on the eve of the regular season, due to a combination of poor training camp and ownership's desire to move in a new direction. The promising young bookend tackles Monroe and Britton, seldom played together, with Britton missing numerous games due to injury, and Monroe struggling alongside rookie guard Will Rackley. The receiving corps was horrendous, with the lone draftee Cecil Shorts contributing nothing, while incumbents Mike Thomas and Jason Hill performing poorly. To the point that Hill was cut loose as a parade of tryouts began, including former starter Mike Sims-Walker who was cut loose in the off season. Marcedes Lewis, who was supposed to be the bell weather, missed training camp while recovering from injury, signed a fat contract, and basically disappeared during the regular season. In a season with disappointments and failed expectations, Lewis stood out as the worst of them all. He is hanging on as a veteran leader and team spokesman, but his job is in peril for next season. Backup receiving tight end Zach Miller, a favorite target of Gabbert early on, was lost for the season due to injury.

After Garrard was cut loose, the team went briefly with backup Luke McCown, to give the kid more time to prepare, without having had a normal training camp to adjust to the league. McCown fell apart badly in the second game of the season and Gabbert came in much earlier than expected or hoped for. He had some moments early on, then the pressure and lack of support seemed to throw his game off during the midpoint stretch of the season. Sale of the team and turnovers in coaching staff followed on that. Blaine is keeping his head above water, but not much more, as the season winds down, and the injuries pile up. His stats to this point are about average for a rookie starter in the league, but he is getting a lot of extra pressure because other rookies drafted before and after him have performed well.

But you can see Blaine on the field make the throws that caught everyone's attention prior to the draft. The work ethic and leadership skills have been as advertised. Most impressively perhaps is the way he has handled himself amongst the chaos and breakdowns around him. With class, poise, and no public show of uncertainty. On the surface at least, he seems to be dealing with the difficulties well, adapting to the changing situations, and internalizing the lessons of adversity for future reference.