Blaine Gabbert will make his fifth career start on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens tonight, and it is a huge opportunity for the rookie to show what he’s really got.
The Jaguars showed a lot of faith in the 22-year-old by trading up six spots to select him with the 10th overall pick during April’s draft, and they turned the franchise over to him full-time in Week 3.�
Jacksonville has yet to win with Gabbert under center, and the team’s passing attack ranks dead last in the league, averaging just 137.7 yards per game. Meanwhile, the Ravens defense that Gabbert will be facing is as tough as always this season.
Baltimore currently ranks third in the NFL in total defense, as the team is allowing just 286 yards per game. The Ravens also rank eighth in pass defense�209.6 yards per game�and third in run defense�76.6 yards per game.�
It will be an extremely difficult challenge for the Jaguars’ young quarterback tonight, since he will be facing such an experienced, intimidating defense. What Gabbert needs to focus on is protecting the football and not trying to force the ball into tight spaces, since those are the two things the Ravens will be counting on him doing.�
In five appearances this season, Gabbert has completed 60 of 123 passes�48.8 percent�for 717 yards, with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He has a quarterback rating of 71.1 so far.
If somehow the Jaguars can manage to keep their franchise signal-caller upright and give him a little bit of time, he has the opportunity to really show what he can do. We all know that the Missouri product’s measureables are off the charts, and he has the arm to make all the throws. In tonight’s contest he needs to show poise and confidence against incredible odds.
If Gabbert shows that he can hang with a vicious, attacking defense staring him down, he’ll take a huge step forward in his maturation as a quarterback.
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