Getting rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert up to speed will be one of the most important and challenging issues for the Jaguars when the lockout ends.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio will try not to develop Gabbert at starter David Garrard’s expense. In an article for Jaguars.com, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter says Del Rio has practice snaps for camp mapped out.
Garrard will get roughly 42% of the snaps, with Gabbert getting 33%, and Luke McCown getting 20%. (The remaining 5% will go to Johnny Camparm.)
“What it does is create a situation where Blaine will be learning the offense as if he’s the (No.) 2. Luke will technically be the three, but competing to be as high as he can go,” Koetter told John Oesher. “It forces Blaine to come along without putting pressure on him to come in and be the starter.”
Koetter says Gabbert can earn more reps with his play, but it will be tough for the rookie to catch up the longer the lockout lasts.
“If Blaine is capable of coming in and getting past Dave in Year One, it looks to me like the Jaguars win. We’re all winners. But I think the likelihood of that, the longer this goes, is tough, and we don’t have to have it happen.”