Blaine Gabbert: Future Is Now for Jaguars' Rookie Quarterback

Blaine Gabbert is ready to step in and lead the Jacksonville Jaguars into the future.

The theory with rookie quarterbacks used to be that you draft them and put them on the bench for a few years behind a veteran.

Let them learn the playbook, let them get used to the NFL, then one day when you feel they are ready you unleash them onto the field to hopefully lead you to a Super Bowl.

It’s certainly a conservative and “old school” school of thought, but you can’t argue that it hasn’t produced results.

Look no further than Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers for proof. Rodgers spent three years underneath Brett Favre before the Packers decided to make the change of direction, and look how that worked out for them.

Favre’s career sputtered and eventually failed, while Rodgers went on to lead the Packers to the Super Bowl.

While that’s certainly a success story for the old “sit em” school of thought, we have seen NFL teams shy away from that more and more as of late, and it seems to be working.

Granted he went to a great team, but Mark Sanchez has leaded the Jets since his rookie season. Josh Freeman of the Buccaneers is another example of a young quarterback helping his team right away.

Finally there is the 2011 rookie class, where we already have two rookie quarterbacks as starters.

Andy Dalton has struggle so far with the Bengals, though he has shown great potential, and Cam Newton has electrified the league in his first two starts in the NFL.

2011 is essentially the year of the rookie quarterback, so naturally it’s time for the Jaguars to hop on board with their prolific rookie.

The Associated Press via ESPN writes about the Jaguars latest change at quarterback:

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The Jacksonville Jaguars are turning to rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Coach Jack Del Rio named Gabbert the starter Wednesday, switching quarterbacks three days after Luke McCown threw four interceptions against the New York Jets.

Del Rio met with Gabbert and McCown Wednesday morning, then told other players about the switch at a team meeting. Gabbert will start Sunday at Carolina.

The transition was inevitable since the Jaguars selected Gabbert with the 10th pick in April's draft. Del Rio had hoped to take it slow with the former Missouri standout, even planning to give him a year to watch and learn behind David Garrard. But Garrard had his worst preseason as a starter and was outplayed by McCown, a career backup.

Del Rio named McCown the starter five days before the season opener. But his ninth career start was a debacle. He was picked off four times, and could have thrown a couple more, and was sacked for a safety—in just three quarters.

Gabbert replaced McCown to start the fourth, and completed 5 of 6 passes for 52 yards in relief.

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It may seem like the Jaguars have made a knee jerk reaction, but Gabbert is undoubtedly the guy for the job.

He was one of the best quarterbacks in the country during his time at Missouri. He completed 568 of 933 passes for 6,822 total yards and 40 touchdowns compared to 18 inceptions. He was 18-8 as a starter.

Simply put, this guy knows how to play. He’s a great leader and knows how to win.

The Jaguars picked him because they believed they could mold him into their quarterback of the future, but the future is now.

It’s obvious after last week’s horrendous performance that Luke McCown is not the guy for the job, so why not go with Gabbert?

We know he can play, but now it’s time to teach him how to play in the NFL.

He’s going to have a huge test in Carolina when he squares off with fellow rookie Newton, but I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off his first NFL start.

The future is now for Gabbert and the Jaguars.

Now all we can do is wait and see how he reacts.