Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
Gabbert has as high a ceiling as any QB in the draft and probably higher.
He has a cannon for an arm and ideal NFL size. He's very athletic and extremely mobile for someone his size. Further, despite being injured last year, I think he'll prove extremely durable due to his size/athleticism. Look at the hit that Suh laid on him - lesser QBs are out for the season on that hit and Gabbert didn't miss a drive. His strength and flexibility are the only things that kept his leg from breaking or bursting on that hit.
He does have his warts, though. Yes, he was better in the 2nd half of last week's game, but his weakness both in the first half and most of last season was pocket awareness. He does get skittish in the pocket and there's just no dancing around it. He's also not as decisive back there as I'd like to see. Daniel knew what he wanted to do and had no qualms acting as the triggerman. Gabbert doesn't have that kind of confidence in himself. Finally, he is a pure spread QB. I thought Bradford was a great pick because he was in a hybrid spread and possessed uncanny accuracy. Gabbert isn't in a hybrid and his accuracy isn't to Bradford's level. As such, I think Gabbert will have a very steep learning curve ahead of him.
But I'd still take him in a heartbeat. If he's coached up well, he has the potential to be a truly elite, franchise level QB. He has a skill-set unrivaled among the current crop of QBs. Will he be able to translate it to the NFL? Hard to say, but damn I'd like to find out.
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We're simply not going to find common ground about Gabbert's pocket awareness. This aside, I also don't agree with the notion that he's a "pure spread QB." Coming out of high school, he was the #1 pro-style QB in the country.
Yeah, yeah, I realize HS was a long time ago. But, ****, apparently it's a viable benchmark at 1 Arrowhead.
Like almost all n00bs, I think Gabbert would profit greatly from spending at least 1/2 of a season learning behind a competent veteran, but I think he'll make the transition well.