Blaine Gabbert shows promise in first start for Cardinals
Despite throwing two late picks, quarterback Blaine Gabbert took advantage of his first start and looked excellent in his debut for the Arizona Cardinals.
As head coach Bruce Arians so eloquently put, “I thought Blaine [Gabbert] played his ass off.” After making his initial start as a Cardinal, Gabbert made a case for his potential future with the franchise.
Working behind an offensive line unable to open up the run game, Gabbert threw the ball 34 times, completing 22 passes (64.7%). The completion percentage certainly would have been higher had his receivers held on to some very catch-able passes — most notably JJ Nelson and John Brown.
The inept play from pass catchers not named Larry Fitzgerald or Ricky Seals-Jones prompted a stern statement from head coach Bruce Arians during his post-game presser. Not pleased, Arians said they will “be looking at some different receivers next week.”
As for the reason behind the epidemic of dropped passes? “You’d have to ask them,” the coach said, “because the balls hit them right in the face, and then they drop them.”
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Dealing with an unreliable supporting cast, Gabbert was able to show his ability of being a starting NFL quarterback under the right system. He finished the game with 257 passing yards, 3 touchdowns (a career high), 2 interceptions and a 92.4 rating, according to Pro-Football-Reference. Not a bad day at the office for a third-stringer who hasn’t taken a regular season snap in almost a year.
With his productive day, Gabbert was awarded a second consecutive start this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars — the team that drafted him in the first-round in the 2011 draft.
An opportunity to show his former — and current — team he belongs in the league.
With Drew Stanton still out, he will have a chance to show that his first start was no fluke. The Cardinals’ season is all but over, and it’s time they look towards 2018 and beyond. Gabbert is just 28, so if he can continue to show progress, take command of this offense, there’s no doubt he can be a franchise quarterback this club so desperately needs.
Act II will be this Sunday. Will we see what could be the future, or will Gabbert show what the pundits have they been saying all along — a bust?