"Blaine Gabbert downplayed his increased repetitions with the first-team offense, but that is just his style.

The reality is, the Jaguars have a very real quarterback competition.

David Garrard is still in the lead and will start Friday against the Atlanta Falcons. He made a beautiful throw tonight against the Falcons, hitting Cecil Shorts on a fade route in the corner of the end zone. But Garrard's grip on the starting job is not as definite as it was heading into camp.

It's become apparent from talking to people in the building and by watching Gabbert throughout camp that he has the ability to be an NFL quarterback -- and soon.

The Jaguars said all along they were going to host a competition at quarterback during training camp. They just didn't think it was likely Gabbert would be a legitimate threat this year. The lockout wiped out not just offseason activities, but also contact between Gabbert and Jaguars coaches between the draft and the end of the lockout.

"If Blaine is capable of coming in and getting past Dave in Year One, it looks to me like the Jaguars win," offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter told Jaguars.com in July. "We're all winners. But I think the likelihood of that, the longer this goes, is tough, and we don't have to have it happen."

Gabbert impressed people immediately. After five days of practice, Jack Del Rio had this to say about him:

"He can run, he's fast, he's got a good arm. He's got a great skill set in terms of arm and size and speed, those things. We think he's got a bright upside. He's got a lot of work to do. He's doing some things now off natural ability, being able to throw the ball that will only get better. He got in the first night and saw things and got rid of the ball. He's fairly quick getting the ball out. The ball gets there on time and accurate and those are good qualities to have."