Jacksonville Jaguars' Del Rio Makes Right Call in Naming David Garrard Starter

There were 12 million reasons to make a change at quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. But in the interest of giving his team the best chance to win this season, head coach Jack Del Rio told reporters this week that incumbent starter David Garrard will remain in that capacity when the season starts on August 11.

When training camp opened following the NFL lockout, Garrard was assumed to be the starter and rookie Blaine Gabbert was the student learning how to run a pro offense.

Then as camp progressed and Garrard suffered a back injury, Gabbert stepped in and showed poise, enough for there to be questions around the league if the rookie would replace the East Carolina veteran.

Now, the questions have been laid to rest.

In a Florida Times-Union article by Tania Ganguli (here), Del Rio outlined why he made this decision.

"We need more efficiency offensively and certainly the trigger man plays a large role in that," he continued. "I think it all ties together. You know how I feel about it being a team game that we play and the timing of the routes with the receivers and the protection up front and the quarterback making good decisions delivering the ball. It all comes together and then you're able to do things offensively, where you're a beat off here or a beat off there and the play breaks down and when you have that timing it looks beautiful. So we're doing some things better and we've been in camp long enough.”

But Garrard’s performance in his only game of the preseason against Atlanta told Del Rio that there was room for improvement and that Garrard needed to “step his game up” and that another week under center would do that.

Garrard is expected to start Saturday against Buffalo.

The decision by Del Rio is the best one for the team on many levels, but most of all, it allows the team to bring Gabbert, the 10th pick in this year's draft, along slowly. If the team is not as successful in the future, then it is possible the team will make a change.

Jaguars brass spent the last two months adding pieces to a defense that was leaking like a broken water main. The offense got new parts on the line but did not make significant changes at receiver, where the team has components, but no true lead receiver.

Team general manager Gene Smith has stated numerous times he is happy with the receivers the team has and hopes that the running backs and Pro Bowl tight end Marcedes Lewis will be important parts of the passing offense.