Beyond the Numbers: Why 49ers Signal-Caller Blaine Gabbert Is Failing at Quarterback
By Peter Panacy
Blaine Gabbert’s Mechanics
If there’s one thing predicating a Chip Kelly offense, it’s accuracy.
OK, so you might be thinking, “aren’t all NFL offenses predicated on quarterback accuracy?”
Not necessarily. Remember, Colin Kaepernick has never been a truly accurate QB. And yet he thrived in a system under former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh that maximized Kap’s strengths while not exposing his flaws.
Gabbert appears to have better poise in the pocket, which is probably a main reason he took over the starting job a year ago. But this doesn’t mean his mechanics are good.
Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat pointed out one crucial element to a quarterback’s game — throwing motion. Cohn wrote:
"Every one of Gabbert’s passes is an adventure. Sometimes he throws over the top, sometimes he throws with a three-quarters release and sometimes he throws sidearm. He almost never repeats a throwing motion, or finds a consistent “arm slot,” as quarterback coaches say. For all of Kaepernick’s faults, he throws with a consistent arm slot. He’s a former pitcher. If a pitcher can’t repeat his throwing motion, he’s not a pitcher. He’s a designated hitter."
Photo Evidence
Just take a look at the two photos below and see the difference:
The photo above looks more like a three-quarter release.
And yet the one to the right is much more over the top. Notice the difference in arm angle and how relatively straight Gabbert’s arm is?
Switch your thinking to baseball for a second. I used to pitch in semipro leagues into my late 20s. Arm angle and delivery were critical elements in ensuring accuracy and hitting my spots. When I lost my angle and release point, I had no clue where my pitch was going.
This backs up Cohn’s claim. Some pitchers are capable of dropping down to a three-quarter release and giving opposing batters a different look.
But that’s not the norm. Few pitchers do that effectively.
Similarly, few quarterbacks can have a varying throwing motion and replicate the same sort of throws with any sort of continued effectiveness.
Gabbert doesn’t fall into that category. And we can see the less-than-stellar results on film.