Blaine Gabbert’s Arizona Cardinals audition has arrived

TEMPE, Ariz. — When the Cardinals signed Blaine Gabbert in May, the move was always with next season, and perhaps the seasons after that in mind.

Despite his meaningless preseason performances, which revved up the fan base, Gabbert needed time to adjust to his eighth head coach, seventh offensive coordinator and third team in seven NFL seasons.

The Cardinals haven’t officially announced a starter for this week’s game at the Houston Texans, but with Carson Palmer on injured reserve with a broken bone in his left arm, and backup Drew Stanton nursing a sprained knee, Arizona Sports’ Mike Jurecki reported that Gabbert will make his first Cardinals start on Sunday at NRG Stadium.

UPDATE: Arians announced on Friday that Gabbert would start.

Stanton is not under contract next season. While Palmer is for one more season, there is no guarantee he will return, so Gabbert is in full audition mode as he tries to deliver on the promise that made him the Jaguars’ first-round pick (No. 10) in the 2011 NFL Draft.

“I don’t really think about that,” Gabbert said Wednesday. “You’re so close-minded in the season. It’s such a one-week-at-a-time mentality — really one day, one meeting at a time if you break it down like that — so we’re just focused on each and every day throughout this week, and getting better.”

Gabbert admits it took time to achieve that sage perspective as he flamed out in Jacksonville and San Francisco.

“I think so, yeah,” he said. “It takes some ups and downs in a career to start getting a perspective like that. When you’re young, you really don’t understand things. It’s such a week-to-week league. You have to focus on each and every day. You can’t look past anybody. You can’t look past a Wednesday practice or a Thursday practice just because these reps are so valuable.

“Every past experience that I’ve had I’ve tried to learn from. I played with some great people along the way and met some wonderful friends throughout my time, but what we have here in this quarterback room is special. Having Carson and Drew… just being able to lean on Carson and ask him questions throughout the time I’ve been here. Seeing how true veterans, being 11 and 15-year vets, how they prepare week in and week out, how they manage their bodies, how they manage external factors, just everything. It’s a great group to be a part of.”

Arians said Gabbert’s ability to pick the offense so quickly has impressed him. He thought Gabbert was ready to compete after the third preseason game, and it has been a steady climb since.

“He makes throws against our defense and scout team that make you go, ‘wow,’ every day,” Arians said. “Within our offense, he’s not making blatant mistakes. The ball is going where it’s supposed to go so he’s got a chance to be successful.”

Arians believes Gabbert’s six years of previous experience give him an advantage on other third-string quarterbacks.

“He started — he’s played in so many offenses so it’s not like you’re throwing a rookie out there or a guy that’s never played before,” Arians said. “I can honesty say this is the best feeling I’ve ever had about playing a third quarterback.”

Gabbert didn’t have much success in his two prior stops, posting a 9-31 record while completing 686 of 1,226 passes for 7,351 yards, 38 touchdowns and 37 interceptions for a passer rating of 71.5. He carried the bust label into free agency last summer, but Arians, in his indelicate way, summarized the problem.

“He was on really [expletive] teams,” Arians said. “He’s had seven head coaches, eight coordinators. That ain’t a recipe for success and he was in Chip [Kelly]’s offense which he really didn’t fit.”

Arians said Gabbert took the majority of snaps on Wednesday and has made more progress than he expected. The Cardinals still need to draft a quarterback as they look to their long-term future, but Gabbert would like to be their the short-term and intermediate solution.

“Any time you can go out on the football field and play in the regular season, it’s something that we hold dear as an athlete,” he said. “The opportunities don’t come very often. You’ve just got to make the most of them.”

 

Blaine Gabbert’s NFL coachesJacksonville (2011-2013) Jack Del Rio (HC) Mel Tucker (HC) Mike Mularkey (HC) Gus Bradley (HC) Dirk Koetter (OC) Bob Bratkowski (OC) Jedd Fisch (OC)San Francisco (2014-2016) Jim Harbaugh (HC) Jim Tomsula (HC) Chip Kelly (HC) Greg Roman (OC) Geep Chryst (OC) Curtis Modkins (OC)Arizona (2017) Bruce Arians (HC) Harold Goodwin (OC)

 

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