SB Nation 2010 Draft Profiles -- Defensive Ends
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SB Nation's The Rivalry, Esq. and Buckeye Battle Cry break down Ohio State prospect Thaddeus Gibson
Hometown: Euclid, OH
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 240 lbs.
40 Time: 4.5/4.6
Strengths: Incredibly athletic, adjustable weight, big-game production, strength, speed
Weaknesses: Too small (is everyone too small?), no hype, overshadowed by teammates
Comparisons: Any undersized DE who was athletic enough to move to LB...Uhh...
Discussion:Gibson began the season at OLB, but moved to DE and broke out with some nice TFL's and four sacks. Overshadowed by his own teammates and the other DE's in the Big Ten; let's be honest, this was an absolute bumper crop of DE's, real live NFL DE's playing college ball. Graham, Kerrigan, Gibson, Clayborne, Binns, Kirlew, Middleton, Wootton, and my personal favorite, O'Brien Schofield.
Has added a solid 30-35 lbs to his frame since high school. This tells me he can keep adding weight if a team finds a need for DE. Everyone and their mother is claiming Gibby will be an OLB though - his combo of speed, size, and athleticism will be perfect for a 3-4 system. I always like seeing high school specs - 400 squat, 325 bench, vertical 35...and all on a 205 lb frame.
As Law Buck pointed out, everyone knew he was gone after this year, but we can only surmise why. Maybe a combination of OSU's success, his impending graduation in June, and the fact that outstanding athleticism will get you upped on draft boards quickly.
NFL Draft Probability: 4th round.
Brand new Mock has him in the fourth round .... CBS has him as the 7th-best LB. Everyone feels like his size and agility is NFL-ready, but he's not really got the name recognition of the LB's ahead of him. However, his status as a) an OSU linebacker who B) has no widely-known character or work ethic issues will help keep him in 4th - 5th round projections.
More On Thaddeus Gibson, Ohio State Defensive End
What the Pro Scouts Think: Gibson declared for the draft as a redshirt junior, and many scouts believe he could have used the extra year to continue his development.
Gibson could have used an extra year in college to improve his play recognition, particularly in terms of misdirection plays as well as reading routes when he drops back in coverage. These are both areas that mostly require experience and mental recognition, which is why an extra year could have helped his draft status significantly.
Why the Pro Scouts are Stupid: Despite these concerns, Gibson's physical attributes are outstanding and he is still projected as a third rounder. If he is able to put up impressive numbers at the combine he could easily see his draft status improve to the second round range or higher, especially if he can demonstrate an ability to learn complex systems in the NFL.
I agree that Gibson could have used an extra year in college to improve his play recognition against the run as well as in pass coverage. However, family concerns forced his hand and I wish him the best in the NFL. Given a year or two in the league, I expect Gibson to be an excellent addition to a any 3-4 system as an outside linebacker.
What Does it All Mean? I would say that if Gibson is drafted in the second round or higher he may be a bit over rated, especially if the NFL team or its fans are expecting an instant impact from him. However, if the team and its fans have a bit of patience and give Gibson time to learn and grow into the position, he has the physical ability to be a game changer.
Mar 28 12:32a by Matt O'Brien - 0 comments