Gabbert does job, but more is needed
Blaine Gabbert didn’t have to do much Monday night, but he certainly could have done more.
In a season-opening 28-0 win over the Rams, the 49ers’ quarterback opened by bouncing his first pass, a routine screen to wide receiver Torrey Smith, and it foreshadowed some of the off-target attempts to come.
Later in the first quarter, Gabbert overthrew all-alone wideout Jeremy Kerley deep over the middle, missing a possible 46-yard touchdown. Gabbert knew he should have put more loft on the throw and leaped in frustration with the ball still in flight.
On 4th-and-1 in the second quarter, it was Smith’s turn to look frustrated after he went to his knees to corral Gabbert’s screen. Smith flipped the ball in the air after he was tapped down for a 2-yard loss.
Gabbert was free of major mistakes, but just barely. He had three passes hit defenders in the hands, although one, dropped by cornerback LaMarcus Joyner, would have been
wiped out because of a roughing-the-passer penalty.
It wasn’t all bad. Gabbert had 43 rushing yards and finished with a serviceable stat line (22-for-35, 170 yards, TD). Three of his passes were dropped.
Still, his buttoned-up performance didn’t get pulses racing.
In the first half, not long after he completed a 1-yard pass to well-covered wide receiver Quinton Patton on 3rd-and-2, ESPN analyst Steve Young said Gabbert’s coaches would like to see more daring.
“One of the things that they said about Blaine Gabbert is that he does see the field well, but he doesn’t let it go,” Young said. “And so he’s not aggressive enough.”
Head coach Chip Kelly was complimentary of Gabbert’s performance, but he wasn’t in danger of gushing.
“I thought Blaine did a nice job,” Kelly said. “There’s probably a couple of throws, like always, you want back. But I thought he was very efficient with the ball. He did not turn the ball over, did not put the ball in harm’s way. I think he kept drives alive with his feet.”
A “nice job” was able to get the job done against the punchless Rams, but more will be required from Gabbert on Sunday when the 49ers visit the Panthers, the defending NFC champions who had more wins last season (15) than the 49ers have managed since 2013 (14).
Can Gabbert get the field-stretching Smith involved after the team’s top wideout had two catches for 13 yards on Monday? Can Gabbert cut loose when a dart into a tight window is required?
He has yet to offer definitive answers to such questions in his career, but he will carry some momentum into Charlotte. On Monday, Gabbert helped put away the game by directing back-toback fourth-quarter touchdown drives in which he completed 6 of 9 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
On the first scoring drive, with the 49ers facing 3rd-and-goal at the 8, Young noted that throwing windows were tight near the goal line and Gabbert needed to have more “artistry” in the red zone. On cue, Gabbert uncorked a rocket to tight end Vance McDonald for a touchdown.
On the next series, Gabbert had his best pass of the evening: a 15-yard fastball to tight end Garrett Celek that split Joyner and linebacker Alec Ogletree.
It was a throw that required confidence and an above-average arm. Young applauded.
“He can make all the throws,” Young said. “Those are the type of throws that can kind of push him forward to take more chances. And I think their offense would be helped if he would be a little more aggressive.”
On Monday, Kelly was asked about the throw to Celek: Is that the type of pass Gabbert can and should make more often?
“Yeah, he did make it and should make it,” Kelly said. “We have all the confidence in the world in him.”
Kelly is in the minority, but he’ll have more company if Gabbert can affirmatively answer this question: Can he play four quarters Sunday like he did the fourth quarter Monday?