Slightly more than a year from the time that Blaine Gabbert entered the ranks of professional football, and he has already had a large dose of the pitfalls of the occupation. Blaine came in handicapped by the NFL labor strife situation, and the subsequent loss of normal training camp and pre season preparation time. Under the original vision the team had for their top draft pick that might not have been a huge issue, as he was expected to sit and learn behind capable vets David Garrard and Luke McCown for a season or two. But Garrard did not react well to the drafting of his successor and never got going in the abbreviated training camp. Faced with the possibility of paying an $8 million bonus to a backup quarterback, the team wisely decided to part ways with the 10 year vet.
In light of Gabbert's lack of proper pep time, Jack Del Rio turned to backup Luke McCown to start the season. McCown got through the first game and even came out a winner, but in game two the wheels fell off. Again it was a case of a presumably reliable veteran crumbling under pressure, and by the third week of the season a still 21 year old Blaine Gabbert was named the starter. His performance under the circumstances was predictably wobbly, showing flashes of mastery mixed with longer periods of confusion and ineptitude. Before he really had a chance to become comfortable in the system, the bubbling discontent in the coaching staff came to a head while secret negotiations for the sale of the team by long time owner Wayne Weaver gathered momentum. Hobbled by the uncertainty from the very top of the organization to the bottom, G.M. Gene Smith had to ignore or apply band aid solutions to personal problems, in particular a lack of depth at the wide receiver position. The talent problem was exacerbated by a severe string of serious injuries to players on both sides of the ball.
Everything came to a head in late November when the team was sold and head coach Del Rio fired, simultaneous with some changes in the assistant coaching hierarchy. Chaos ruled, as the club tried to adjust mid season to overwhelming change. That pretty much put a stake through the heart of any hopes the club had for a playoff run and a successful season. Gabbert was caught squarely in the spotlight, as one of the few players who didn't miss a start after he gained his position. Other starters came and went, along with various temporary fill ins. Despite playing much of the season with a broken toe, Gabbert never missed a snap, except when Del Rio pulled him breifly at the end of a game just before he was fired.
Post season, the team hired Mike Mularkey, a long time offensive co-ordinator at various spots, to lead the team on the field. Mel Tucker returned to his defensive co-ordinator duties, with another veteran position coach Bob Bratkowski hired to co-ordinate the offense. Mularkey and Bratkowski added Greg Olson as the quarterback coach, and the very well regarded Jerry Williams as receiver's coach. New owner Shad Khan quickly won over the public with the intensity of his commitment, and several veteran free agents were brought in to shore up the team, led by Laurent Robinson, a 26 year old receiver coming off a breakout season in Dallas. Three year starting quarterback Chad Henne, another 26 year old, was signed from Miami where he lost his spot to Matt Moore after a season ending injury. Another veteran receiver, Lee Evans, was added to the roster, along with well regarded cornerback Aaron Ross. Perhaps even more significantly the Jags were able to retain the veteran free agents on their own team who had an impact last season.
The draft brought a couple of blue chip prospects, Justin Blackmon, a possession receiver from Oklahoma State who won the Biletnikoff Trophy as the best in college football the past two seasons addressed one area of need, while rangy pass rushing defensive end Andre Branch addressed the other glaring weakness. Significant contributions are expected from both of these newcomers.
For Gabbert, it means that he has at least three new receivers to throw to who weren't available last season. Robinson, Evans, and Blackmon. Also he will have a full pre season to adjust to holdovers Mike Thomas, Marcedes Lewis and Zach Miller. Miller and pass catching back Rashad Jennings both missed the vast majority of 2011 due to injury and took away Blaine's safety net. Lewis and Thomas both signed big contracts and let down noticably afterwards. Eben Britton was never right physically and eventually went on IR, affecting the cohesion of the entire line. So far at least the line appears healthy and strong from tackle to tackle. On the surface at least, most of the situations that hindered the offensive performance in 2011 have been addressed. The main change will likely come from the particular offensive system designed for the talent available, in particular quarterback Gabbert.
A common theme from within the organization from the change of ownership onwards has been strong faith in Blaine's future. Everyone from the owner, through the coaching staff, to the players on the field seems to believe that he has a good future and will be the person to lead the team for the forseeable future. That is a great start, and the fact that Gabbert came through the wars of 2011 still standing is a testament to his character and intelligence. There is no way to go but up and optimism abounds in Jacksonville as spring turns into summer.
