Why It's Not too Early to Label Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert a Bust

He may be only 22 years old, but Blaine Gabbert has lived a lifetime of inconsistency in the Jacksonville Jaguars offense this season alone.

While the Jaguars' running game has been a bright spot in the limited success of the team, there has been little positive to say about a passing offense that is last in the NFL with the most pedestrian of receivers in the league.

And everything, whether fair or not, falls on the shoulders of the rookie the Jaguars traded up to select in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Gabbert is judged by the progress, or lack thereof, that he has made in the past seven games. While other rookies have seemed to fit right into their team's offensive game plans, Gabbert seems to have regressed over the majority of the season.

Cam Newton set the world on fire coming out of the gate. Andy Dalton has been a steady force with the Cincinnati Bengals and has his team in playoff position.

Even Christian Ponder, in limited action the past few weeks, has shown promise and the ability to do the little things that help his team in brief moments during a game.

Gabbert has looked like a wounded duck at times, lost in an offense that he is uncomfortable with and needs to have his hand held.

It does not help that the offense seems to have been simplified for him once he was given the starting job after the 32-3 loss to the New York Jets after the second game of the season. Since then, it has been trial by fire for Gabbert, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and head coach Jack Del Rio.

And the wait still continues.

Gabbert can be deemed a bust right now because he should have made strides of improvement—however little in the offense that scores just under 13 points a contest. And this has not changed over the course of the season.

His passes are often thrown at a receiver's feet or behind them in pass routes. While former starter David Garrard held the ball longer than most and waited on the receiver, Gabbert has a quicker release and throws the ball to a spot long before the receiver expects it to be there. You would figure after seven weeks, there would be some better communication between the receivers, tight ends and Gabbert.

It hasn't happened, either.

So until Gabbert can continually make things happen and show he is not "lost" and has a better understanding of what professional football is, he will continue to be judged by his peers and rookie performers.

And as long as they are successful and Gabbert continues to falter, he will be seen as a failure.

While time will tell if he can make changes in his progress, it is up to him, the team and the game plan to make that work.