Del Rio not ready to name Jaguars’ starting QB

Published: September 19th, 2011 | Tags: Jack Del Rio, Blaine Gabbert, Bryon Leftwich, David Garrard, Luke McCown

Should Luke McCown‘s errors open the door for an early start to the Blaine Gabbert era?

That is a question facing Jack Del Rio, who had barely sat down for his Monday news conference when the queries about his uncertain QB situation began.

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McCown struggled mightily Sunday against the Jets, throwing nearly as many interceptions (four) as he had completions (six). Del Rio mercifully pulled McCown in favor of Gabbert in the fourth quarter, leading to speculation that McCown’s days as the starter are through.

“We decided yesterday to play Blaine, and that was a decision for yesterday,” Del Rio said. “The next question is, what are you now going to do? The only thing I’d like to say today is we are evaluating the tape and going through, and we have not begun turning our attention to the Panthers yet.”

Del Rio acknowledged McCown’s ineffectiveness against the Jets.

“Luke struggled, no sugar coating that,” Del Rio said. “We cannot turn the ball over in key moments.”

The Jaguars have nobody to blame but themselves for the mess they’re in now. When they surprisingly cut Byron Leftwich before the start of the 2007 season, they had a known commodity in David Garrard. When Garrard himself received the quick pink slip, the Jaguars didn’t have near the same security blanket. McCown’s performance Sunday represented a worst-case scenario for a franchise suddenly facing some steep challenges.

– Dan Hanzus

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