Jags QB coach: Gabbert would be best QB in this draft

[Cave Johnson]

I see the coach is from the Tamba Hali school of fluffing your existing QB.

New Jacksonville Jaguars quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo recently made a statement that would have been heresy in 2012, but actually makes a bit of sense in 2013 -- and shows just how questionable the 2013 quarterback draft class really is. 23-year old Jags quarterback Blaine Gabbert is going into his third NFL season, but would have been in this rookie class had he redshirted and stayed for his senior year at Missouri. And according to Scelfo, Gabbert would have been the best quarterback in the 2013 draft order.

“If you graded him out right now, this is his draft class. If he were coming out and the quarterback draft class the way it is, would he be the top guy taken? I think the answer is yes," Scelfo told Jacksonville.com. “Ask the scouting departments and the general managers around the league and I think you would end up with a yes on that. Basically at his age, 23, the number-one pick in the draft with two years of experience already under his belt. That’s pretty good.’’

Such an argument would have been ridiculous in a draft featuring Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson, Ryan Tannehill and a host of other potential NFL starters, but the fact that you have to stop and think whether Gabbert would pace the 2013 group is quite the indictment of a group of signal-callers with some pretty serious issues.

Yes, a guy who has completed 53.8 percent of his NFL passes and threw just 21 touchdown passes in 25 professional games might actually be a better long-term option than Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, and their fellow NFL prospects. Smith and Barkley, who each turned down invitations to play at the Senior Bowl, will throw at next week's scouting combine. The six QBs who did show up in Mobile, Ala. to display their talents were underwhelming for the most part. Gabbert, who threw 40 touchdowns and 18 picks in two years as Missouri's starter, showed enough to be thought of as a definite first-round prospect in his draft class. From a talent perspective as opposed to team need, few 2013 quarterbacks can say the same.

Gabbert suffered an elbow injury in November that eventually ended his 2012 season, and veteran Chad Henne performed pretty admirably in Gabbert's stead. Still, the Jags seem committed to Gabbert as their man. New head coach Gus Bradley is trying to reinforce the positive by putting together a reel of Gabbert's best plays, as opposed to the blooper reel one might see if one were to review, say, the team's 41-3 loss to the Chicago Bears in October, when Gabbert completed 17 of 33 passes for 142 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Gabbert's "best" game, at least from a quarterback rating perspective, came the nest week against the Oakland Raiders, when he completed just eight of 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.

With all the questions, Bradley said that Gabbert will get every chance to succeed in the team's new administration. Former general manager Gene Smith, who selected Gabbert 10th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, was replaced by Dave Caldwell, and Bradley replaced Mike Mularkey as head coach after Mularkey led the Jags to a 2-14 record in 2012.

“That was his second year," Caldwell recently told Jacksonville.com about his quarterback's prospects. "What were they saying about other quarterbacks after their second year? We’re looking for improvement [in his third year]. We need to build around him. We’ll upgrade whenever we can upgrade.’’

The problem for Caldwell is that the NFL is now a league in which it doesn't pay to be patient at the quarterback position, especially a year after seven different rookies started for their teams in 2012, and many did surprisingly well. The other problem for Caldwell and his team is that the follow-up draft to the one that planted so many great young quarterbacks in the league presents no such easy answers.

More and more, teams with iffy quarterback situations might be tempted to stick with what they have, and try to work through it.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...3622--nfl.html

[milkman]

Through most of the 2011 college season, Matt Barkley was the clear cut #2 QB going into the 2012 draft.

Andrew Luck is one of the rare instances that a QB didn't hhurt his stock with the decision to stay.

[MahiMike]

awesome! who needs #1 pick anyways?

[BigChiefFan]

Trade bait or setting up their fanbase for going another direction.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by milkman

Through most of the 2011 college season, Matt Barkley was the clear cut #2 QB going into the 2012 draft.

Andrew Luck is one of the rare instances that a QB didn't hhurt his stock with the decision to stay.

Senior year hurts your draft stock but helps your pro career...

[unnecessary drama]

These threads are so gay...post one when it says "Jags coach thinks Gabbert has 2nd day talent in this draft..."

Everything else? Coach speak. Motivation tools.

Gabbert sucks mentally and if you suck mentally you can't play QB in the NFL.

[frazod]

I still can't believe this douche went in the first round and Daniel went undrafted.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Trade bait or setting up their fanbase for going another direction.

They want Geno and know the Chiefs will take him. They're trying to trick the Chiefs into trading down...

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by rageeumr

I hoped that NFL-level coaching would benefit him, but it's pretty tough to teach poise.

And he hasn't really had NFL-level coaching just yet either.

It's getting close to time to cut bait on him, but I don't think we are there yet. He has loads of potential but he has bad habit on bad habit and you're right, he stares at the rush.

I'd be curious to see what a legit QB 'expert' could make of him in a year or two, though.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

They want Geno and know the Chiefs will take him. They're trying to trick the Chiefs into trading down...

I'm sure this is a joke but I don't doubt it for a minute.

Everyone is talking about how far these QB's will fall and it'll be just like the last two years where teams were scrambling to trade up and grab 2nd round talent in the top 15...

[PGM]

Yes, a guy who has completed 53.8 percent of his NFL passes and threw just 21 touchdown passes in 25 professional games might actually be a better long-term option than Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, and their fellow NFL prospects

What is this? I don't even...

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by frazod

I still can't believe this douche went in the first round and Daniel went undrafted.

Really why either one of these turds would play in the league is astounding

[PGM]

Buttmon just fapped.

[rageeumr]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Really why either one of these turds would play in the league is astounding

I have been secretly hoping for a couple years that Brees would tweak a knee or something and miss a few games. I'd love to see what Daniel can do against NFL competition. He's pretty much the antithesis of Gabbert. Doesn't have prototypical size or skillset, but found a way to get it done.

[KCDC]

This is a ploy by the Jags to try and get KC to pass on Geno so that they can snatch him for themselves.

[frazod]

Originally Posted by rageeumr

I have been secretly hoping for a couple years that Brees would tweak a knee or something and miss a few games. I'd love to see what Daniel can do against NFL competition. He's pretty much the antithesis of Gabbert. Doesn't have prototypical size or skillset, but found a way to get it done.

This. He always looks great running the Saints first team offense during preseason.