Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
I’m going to try this again. BTW I’ve got no issue with disagreement, but the chipping on this board is getting anoying. If you don’t like my position lay out yours, please. Debate is healthy.
Gabbert is in a near, no-win situation. If he throws quickly, those throws are short and he gets criticized for only throwing short passes. If he tries to hold the ball he gets criticized for taking sacks. This part of the Gabbert evaluation is strictly on the O-line. It’s as bad as I’ve ever seen. 8 sacks to a medium quality pass rush is absurd. Backs unable to pickup blitzes are compounding the issue. Then add in a sad running game and almost any QB would look bad, since play-action fakes are ignored by the pass rush.
I think you have to also look at play selection. The Cards finally started throwing short to RBs, but not nearly often enough. Where’s the screen pass? At least Gabbert is remembering he has TEs. I’d still like to see a QB draw. Maybe a little 2-man QB rollout with Seals-Jones. If they can’t block the rush they’ve got to slow it.
All that said, I’m now convinced Gabbert is not the QB the Cards need to contend. He has good athleticism, but he lacks the touch to throw to spots. He’s decent throwing on a line but if he has to loft the ball in between defenders or so a WR can run under it, it’s a bridge too far. I also don’t see any ability to know when. To make back shoulder throws. It’s just too much to learn. I’m okay with the Cards signing him as a backup. He’s very marginal as a bridge to a new QB.
Here, however, is the rub. Even my idea of the best potential QB under the circumstances (Mayfield) would not benefit from being sacked 8 or more times, game after game. QBs like Allen, Jackson or Rosen might well get destroyed like Bridgewater. Darnold or Rudolph could like take the beating better, but how would they benefit from it. Too many beat up QBs get happy feet. Some get permanently hurt or are never the same. You’d have to keep 3 QBs and hope injuries didn’t put the new guy on the field. You likely wouldn’t even dare to get them game time in decided games if you Dipoto fix the line first. Vet QBs can protect themselves to a point, but rookies can’t. They can learn sitting on the bench, but you learn faster if you can use what you’re being taught in real but limited action.
I still think I fix the O-line first. I think a Humphries is okay. It’s will be tough to get a RT in free agency. Plus if I’m wrong about Humphries the time frame for a new QB just gets worse. I still like McGlinchey, OT ND. The Cards might still be able to move up and take Mayfield or Jackson even if they take an OT first. There’s a good chance to get a guard in Round 3 or free agency.
WRs can definitely be had in free agency.
Finally while the 2019 QB pool at this point is not as good as 2018, I think any of the better ones would play better behind a decent line. There will be winners. Success still builds best from the trenches.
Gabbert is in a near, no-win situation. If he throws quickly, those throws are short and he gets criticized for only throwing short passes. If he tries to hold the ball he gets criticized for taking sacks. This part of the Gabbert evaluation is strictly on the O-line. It’s as bad as I’ve ever seen. 8 sacks to a medium quality pass rush is absurd. Backs unable to pickup blitzes are compounding the issue. Then add in a sad running game and almost any QB would look bad, since play-action fakes are ignored by the pass rush.
I think you have to also look at play selection. The Cards finally started throwing short to RBs, but not nearly often enough. Where’s the screen pass? At least Gabbert is remembering he has TEs. I’d still like to see a QB draw. Maybe a little 2-man QB rollout with Seals-Jones. If they can’t block the rush they’ve got to slow it.
All that said, I’m now convinced Gabbert is not the QB the Cards need to contend. He has good athleticism, but he lacks the touch to throw to spots. He’s decent throwing on a line but if he has to loft the ball in between defenders or so a WR can run under it, it’s a bridge too far. I also don’t see any ability to know when. To make back shoulder throws. It’s just too much to learn. I’m okay with the Cards signing him as a backup. He’s very marginal as a bridge to a new QB.
Here, however, is the rub. Even my idea of the best potential QB under the circumstances (Mayfield) would not benefit from being sacked 8 or more times, game after game. QBs like Allen, Jackson or Rosen might well get destroyed like Bridgewater. Darnold or Rudolph could like take the beating better, but how would they benefit from it. Too many beat up QBs get happy feet. Some get permanently hurt or are never the same. You’d have to keep 3 QBs and hope injuries didn’t put the new guy on the field. You likely wouldn’t even dare to get them game time in decided games if you Dipoto fix the line first. Vet QBs can protect themselves to a point, but rookies can’t. They can learn sitting on the bench, but you learn faster if you can use what you’re being taught in real but limited action.
I still think I fix the O-line first. I think a Humphries is okay. It’s will be tough to get a RT in free agency. Plus if I’m wrong about Humphries the time frame for a new QB just gets worse. I still like McGlinchey, OT ND. The Cards might still be able to move up and take Mayfield or Jackson even if they take an OT first. There’s a good chance to get a guard in Round 3 or free agency.
WRs can definitely be had in free agency.
Finally while the 2019 QB pool at this point is not as good as 2018, I think any of the better ones would play better behind a decent line. There will be winners. Success still builds best from the trenches.
