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.