As we all know, the quarterback position is the biggest question mark for the 49ers heading in to the 2011 season. That being said, the 2011 NFL Draft class isn't exactly the strongest we've seen over recent years.
In searching for the quarterback of the future for the 49ers, all options are being weighed and evaluated. Ones that we as outsiders may not even have considered. But the chances of landing a rookie quarterback this offseason seem inevitable. I'd say that even if there were a free agency and things were as normal as could be, the 49ers would still be looking at their options for that position in this rookie class.
There is a slight possibility that the Niners may not find their guy in this years draft and may be looking toward the 2012 draft. If the players and owners wise up, and there winds up being free agency, then there is less than a handful of options to look for there. Building though the draft seems to be what smart GM's and head coaches have done over the history of the NFL.
The number one rated quarterback in this years draft has got mixed reviews. Blaine Gabbert is going to most likely be the number one quarterback taken overall. His ceiling is tremendous and his bust potential is equally high. But the risk would potentially be worth it considering the fact that the 49ers front office has hired a head coach who is considered to be a quarterback guru. He has a terrific supporting cast and the full load of things would not be put on his shoulders as it was in St. Louis last year with the Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford.
It's at least worth the consideration.
After the jump, let's take a look at Missouri's former quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
Blain Gabbert is a quarterback that early on before taking a deeper look at was critical of. Yes, he plays in a spread offense, and yes, he is coming out early as a junior. I have seen some comparisons on Niners Nation to that of Alex Smith. In all fairness, they are two completely different quarterback with two completely different set of tangibles. Where there is separation is the intangibles. Alex Smith was very much a product of an Urban Meyer system as to where Gabbert was just more of his own quarterback. The biggest separation of the two quarterbacks comes in the decision making. Alex Smith has a tendency to over-think his reads which in turn usually winds up being a costly error opposed to Blaine Gabbert making quick, smart, instinctive decisions. Gabbert's largest knock is that he will have to learn how to take a majority of snaps from under center. However, recent reports and video have Gabbert making real progress in that area. If a guy is making progress, it's quite conceivable that he could be ready to go day one.
For a lot more on Gabbert, you can follow these links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZWc8ZnW0Lw
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-first-draft/09000d5d81ea6130/First-draft-Blaine-Gabbert
http://search.nfl.com/videos/search-results?quickSearch=blaine+gabbert
Must see analysis by Charley Casserly
Here are Gabbert's career stats:
Stats Overview
Passing
YEAR
CMP
ATT
YDS
CMP%
YPA
LNG
TD
INT
SACK
RAT
2008
5
13
43
38.5
3.31
14
0
0
1
66.25
2009
262
445
3593
58.9
8.07
84
24
9
19
140.45
2010
301
475
3186
63.4
6.71
68
16
9
23
127.03
2010 Regular Season Game Log
Passing
Rushing
DATE
OPP
RESULT
CMP
ATT
YDS
CMP%
LNG
TD
INT
RAT
ATT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
9/4
Illinois
W 23-13
34
48
281
70.8
26
2
0
133.76
5
-10
-2.0
4
0
9/11
McNeese State
W 50-6
26
31
220
83.9
29
1
0
154.13
2
-11
-5.5
0
0
9/18
San Diego State
W 27-24
28
51
351
54.9
68
1
2
111.34
7
-9
-1.3
11
1
9/25
Miami (OH)
W 51-13
15
21
187
71.4
33
1
1
152.42
9
20
2.2
6
1
10/9
Colorado
W 26-0
17
29
191
58.6
30
2
0
136.70
6
6
1.0
4
0
10/16
@Texas A&M
W 30-9
31
47
361
66.0
45
3
0
151.54
4
-22
-5.5
0
0
10/23
Oklahoma
W 36-27
30
42
308
71.4
38
1
0
140.88
8
26
3.3
12
0
10/30
@Nebraska
L 31-17
18
42
199
42.9
29
1
1
85.75
22
74
3.4
29
0
11/6
@Texas Tech
L 24-17
12
30
95
40.0
14
0
0
66.60
5
8
1.6
7
0
11/13
Kansas State
W 38-28
17
25
208
68.0
51
2
1
156.29
14
89
6.4
32
1
11/20
@Iowa State
W 14-0
16
26
172
61.5
26
1
0
129.80
6
37
6.2
16
0
11/27
Kansas
W 35-7
16
26
179
61.5
37
0
2
103.99
11
31
2.8
19
1
2010 Postseason Game Log
Passing
Rushing
BOWL
OPP
RESULT
CMP
ATT
YDS
CMP%
LNG
TD
INT
RAT
ATT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
INSIGHT BOWL
@Iowa
L 27-24
41
57
434
71.9
32
1
2
134.66
13
-7
-0.5
10
1
Summary: I fully believe that if Blaine Gabbert winds up falling to the seventh overall pick that the 49ers would not hesitate to pull the trigger; particularly, if a guy like Patrick Peterson from LSU is already off the board. Although there are conflicting feelings on whether Gabbert would be a smart choice for the Niners or not, it ultimately lays in the hands of Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh. If the 49ers were to go there, I feel confident in knowing that there is enough there with Gabbert for the coaching staff to mold in to one of the leagues elite.
In just two actual years of playing time, Gabbert was able to throw close to 7000 yards, 40 touchdowns, 18 interceptions, with an average of 60+ percent in completion rate.
PREDICTION: 1st Round.