Latest Hot US Issues :The Rams traded Will Witherspoon today to the Philadelphia Eagles for WR Brandon Gibson and a 5th round pick.More details to come.
UPDATE: I’m very confused about this whole thing. Will Witherspoon was one of the solid veterans for the Rams team. I didn’t feel like he was declining or in jeopardy of losing his starting spot to an up and coming LB.
David Vobora will be returning Week 8 against Detroit.Also linebacker K.C. Asiodu has been promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. LB Dominic Douglas has been cut to make room for Asiodu.UPDATE: Scouting reports for Gibson are after the fold, as this post is getting long.
Here’s the scouting report on Brandon Gibson from the 2009 NFL draft. 6′1, 200 pounds | Washington State | Wide receiver
Strengths: Known to have great work ethic. Continued to compete hard as a senior even as Washington State struggled and Gibson continually faced double teams or bracket coverage. Willing to go over the middle to make a play on the ball. Competes for the ball in the traffic very well. Does a good job adjusting to the ball in the air and making a play on poor passes. Catches the ball consistently at its highest point. Maintains good concentration when the ball is coming from over his shoulder and he knows a defender is bearing down on him. While Gibson is not the best blocker around, he gives a good effort. Strong enough to hold up a block for more than just a brief period of time.
Weaknesses: Only average hands. Had some struggles early during the 2008 season with dropped passes. Takes a while to get up to speed. Has a hard time breaking away in the open field. Could do a better job finding a hole in a zone and sitting in it. Below-average quickness and agility for a receiver. Not very slippery after the catch, Gibson won’t make many defenders miss on tackles. Has never gotten many yards after the catch. Benefited from playing Washington State’s spread, particularly his first three years with Alex Brink as his quarterback. Doesn’t have great agility or quick-twitch muscles. While Gibson has been mostly healthy his entire college career, he’s had some injuries linger on him.
Final word: Gibson opted to return for his senior season after considering the NFL following a productive junior season. Worked with Washington State’s younger receivers as a senior. Started more than 30 games during his career. Learned a more complex, no-huddle offense as a senior after playing his first three years in a standard spread. Production dipped greatly from his junior to senior season. Gibson finished his career as the Cougars’ all-time receiving yardage leader with 2,756 yards.
Round projection: 5
Positives: Legitimate NFL size. Good height and has the frame to handle NFL punishment. Has the quickness, bulk and strength to fight through the jam at the line of scrimmage. At least adequate straight-line speed to challenge defenders deep. Can track the ball over either shoulder. Can sink his hips, stick his foot in the ground and explode out his breaks, creating separation against even the best of cornerbacks. Soft hands and can snatch the ball out of the air. Good body control to contort his body and make the tough catch in traffic. Courageous over the middle. Effective red-zone target. Cognizant downfield blocker. Showed good toughness last year fighting through knee and heal injuries. Three-year kick returner.
Negatives: Possesses good, not great deep speed. Demonstrates good overall athleticism, but doesn’t consistently produce yards after the catch. Struggled with drops during Senior Bowl practices. Marginal elusiveness in the open field. Experienced kick returner, but not necessarily a candidate to do so at the next level. Plagued by a knee and heal injuries in 2007. Was not able to work out at Combine or Washington State’s first pro day due to a right hamstring injury.
With Gibson’s 5th round projection from the 2009 NFL draft, the Rams got essentially 2 5th round picks for one of the veteran leaders of their defense.
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