DE/LB Thaddeus Gibson (official thread)

[Buckskin86]

Future comes quick for Thaddeus Gibson
Published: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
By John Kampf
[email protected]

To Thaddeus Gibson, it just doesn't seem possible.

Standing in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center at Ohio State University, the Euclid product looked toward the ceiling and thought to himself how long he has been playing football.

The answer ? not that long. In fact, he didn't even play the sport until his freshman year of high school.

And here he is, within days of being selected in the 2010 NFL draft ? a draft in which he will hear his name called to play alongside the most elite football players in the world.

"It's crazy," Gibson said. "It's all come so fast. All the years have gone by so fast, and now, this is finally here."

Gibson gave up his final year of eligibility for "this" ? a shot at earning a living in the NFL. He, along with his mother Gwen and his brother Raphael and a few close friends, will be sitting close to a television in Gibson's condominium in Columbus waiting for a call telling him he has been selected ? hopefully on Thursday night, when the first round will be held.

"I'm open ? whatever it is they want me to do, I'll do it," Gibson said prior to a recent workout in Columbus. "Punting the ball, kicking the ball, catching the ball ? I'll do it."

"If Thaddeus has one fault, it's that he has trouble saying no," O'Toole said. "He wants to make everyone happy. He was very, very torn between Tennessee and Ohio State."

After signing with the Buckeyes, Gibson went through a difficult transition period. Not only was he redshirted as a freshman ? something he looks back now on and says he would do again ? but he also played sparingly as a redshirt freshman and heavily considered transferring.

"I was real close," Gibson admitted. "I remember vividly calling Coach O'Toole and saying, 'I wanna get out of here,' " Gibson said. "I talked to a lot of people like Ted Ginn (Jr.), Gonzo (Anthony Gonzalez). They told me to hold out, that it would get better."

Future comes quick for Thaddeus Gibson - The News-Herald Sports : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

 

[Buckskin86]

NFL draft: Gibson wins over his mother
Ohio State defensive end shows he was right about football
Thursday, April 22, 2010
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

JEFF HINCKLEY | DISPATCH
Thaddeus Gibson, sacking Minnesota's Adam Weber last year, tried to keep his mom in the dark when he went out for his high school team as a freshman.

The secret has been out for a while. Thaddeus Gibson plays football.

He plays it so well, in fact, there is a chance the Ohio State defensive end could be taken in the first round of the NFL draft tonight. If not, he would seem to be a lock for round two or three on Friday.

But whenever the call comes, by his side in his Columbus home will be his mother, Gwendolyn, "cheering for my baby boy."

Her attitude is testament to what a difference eight years can make in one's perspective. As Gibson headed into his freshman year at Euclid High School, the last thing he wanted was for his mother to know he had gone out for the football team.

"I didn't know anything about it," Gwendolyn said. "He would come back and put his stuff in the basement and not say a word."

There was a good reason, Thaddeus said.

"She always thought it was too physical a game for me to play," he said. "She didn't find out until the first game of the year, because during two-a-days (practices) I told her I was at a basketball camp or up at open gym or things like that."

NFL draft: Gibson wins over his mother | BuckeyeXtra

 

[Buckskin86]

Thaddeus Gibson (and any other Buckeye) still waiting for that NFL call
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
April 23, 2010

Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer
Thaddeus Gibson is still waiting to get a phone call from an NFL team with four rounds remaining Saturday in this year's draft.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State defensive end Thaddeus Gibson, who was given a second-round grade by the NFL when he decided to turn pro with a year of eligibility remaining, went undrafted through the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.

The Buckeyes haven't waited this long to have a player drafted since 1998, when no Ohio State players were selected.

Gibson, safety Kurt Coleman and several other Buckeyes hope to be drafted in Saturday's draft finale, rounds four through seven. The Big Ten had 13 players drafted in the first three rounds, representing seven schools -- all but Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Northwestern.

Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward could have changed that if he had decided to turn pro, but he returned for his senior season and will star in Ohio State's spring game Saturday.

Gibson, a Euclid High grad, was the Buckeye given the best chance to go in the draft's first two days. He was ranked 14th among defensive ends graded on NFL.com, and 12 defensive ends have been taken so far. Defensive lineman Doug Worthington, kicker Aaron Pettrey and linebacker Austin Spitler are the other Buckeyes with the best chance to be picked.

Since 1998, the first Buckeye had been chosen no later than pick No. 58, when Mike Doss went in the second round in 2003. Prior to the 1998, the longest wait for Ohio State was in 1990, when guard Jeff Davidson went to Denver in the fifth round as pick No. 111.

Thaddeus Gibson (and any other Buckeye) still waiting for that NFL call | cleveland.com

Draft dish: Top 20 prospects available on Day 3
Russ Lande
Saturday, Apr. 24, 2010

A quick look at the top prospects still on the board after the first three rounds of the 2010 NFL draft:

1. Thaddeus Gibson, OLB, Ohio State. Gibson is a dominant edge rusher from a two- or three-point stance. He is an exceptional athlete with a great burst. He beats pass blockers consistently with speed, quickness, flexibility and agility.

Draft dish: Top 20 prospects available on Day 3 - Russ Lande - NFL - Sporting News

 

[starBUCKS]

Steelers at 116 in 4th round.

 

[buckeyes_rock]

Steelers at 116 in 4th round.

Looks like a good spot for Thad and his skills will fit in nicely in Pittsburgh. Good luck to him!

 

[Jaxbuck]

Nice to have a Buckeye to root for when watching the Steelers.

Good luck Thad.

 

[elliemae]

Sweet! I heard this on the radio,made my day!

 

[Buckskin86]

Steelers wrap up draft with Ohio State DE
By Scott Brown
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Steelers have taken Ohio State outside linebacker Thaddeus Gibson with their fourth-round pick in today's NFL draft.

With the first of their four picks in the fifth round, the Steelers have taken Tennessee offensive lineman Chris Scott. The team used its two compensatory picks at the bottom of the fifth round on Clemson cornerback Crezdon Butler and Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester.

The Steelers used the first of their two sixth-round picks on Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer and with the second selected Central Michigan wide receiver/return specialist Antonio Brown.

The Steelers used their seventh-round pick ? their 10th and final ? on Ohio State defensive end Doug Worthington.

The 6-2, 243-pound Gibson played defensive end at Ohio State but projects as an outside linebacker in the Steelers' 3-4 defense. The Steelers took a similar player yesterday when they selected Virginia Tech's Jason Worilds with their second-round pick.

"Any time you can get a good player you take him," Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler said.

Gibson had 45 tackles, four sacks and 13 tackles for losses in 2009. He is the first Ohio State played to taken in this year's draft.

Like Worilds, Gibson will have to contribute on special teams early in his career as Pro Bowlers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley are entrenched as the starters at outside linebacker.

Gibson said he didn't play much special teams last season but added it is something he did early in his career at Ohio State.

Butler said one thing that impressed him about Gibson is how much he improved during his senior season. Gibson, a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2009, could have returned for a fifth season in Columbus but he opted to leave since he is graduating this quarter.

"I felt it was something I was ready for," Gibson said of moving on to the NFL, "and I got the coaches' blessings for it."

Steelers wrap up draft with Ohio State DE - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

 

[buxfan4life]

Steelers wrap up draft with Ohio State DE - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Butler said one thing that impressed him about Gibson is how much he improved during his senior season.

What ever happened to researching and editing for news articles?

EDIT: OK, I see the writer is using his academic eligibility, not playing. You know, since that's how all sports fans look at such things.

 

[Buckskin86]

Wait pays off for Gibson and others
Steelers? call makes OSU player?s day
Sunday, April 25, 2010
By Tim May and Ken Gordon

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
After two long nights of anxiety, Thaddeus Gibson finally got the call he'd been expecting yesterday, and it came from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Ohio State defensive end, who opted to forgo his senior season in favor of entering the NFL draft, was taken with the 18th pick in the fourth round by the Steelers. It was far from what once had been projected for Gibson - late first round but probable second or third round was the consensus - but at least he finally got the call.

"It was pretty tough," Gibson said of watching the draft's early rounds without hearing his name. "But everything happens for a reason, and I feel good about the way things turned out."

Gibson had the same feeling about the Steelers, winners of two of the past five Super Bowls, who are known for their creative, aggressive defensive play under coordinator Dick LeBeau.

"I'm going to a great organization," Gibson said. "They play great defense, and I am looking forward to being a part of that. They talked to me about making an impact on special teams and learning their (defensive) system. I have ended up in a good place."

Even if he did have to wait longer than expected, he said he wasn't second-guessing his decision to turn pro.

"I wouldn't change my mind; there's no turning back," Gibson said. "I felt I was ready to make this move, and I still feel good about it."

NFL draft: Wait pays off for Gibson and others | The Columbus Dispatch

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icaUlcW2SCQ]YouTube - Thaddeus Gibson Drafted By Pittsburgh Steelers[/ame]

 

[Buckeyecty4]

How stupid is Charles Davis? This is a guy who covers the B10 conference, and he's yapping about how Gibson was only a one year starter and situational player vs Texas in 2008.

Thad has started for two seasons now and seen playing time in three.

 

[Buckskin86]

Steelers daily digest: Ohio State's Thaddeus Gibson is a player
April 30
Pittsburgh Sports Examiner
Matt Pawlikowski

PITTSBURGH, PA. - If there is one thing the Steelers are known for, its turning good collegiate defensive lineman into great outside linebackers.

LaMarr Woodley a Pro Bowler, just one to come to mind.

Could Ohio State product Thaddeus Gibson be the next in that mix? The Steelers might think so, as they took Gibson, who played on the defensive line for the Buckeyes with the 116th overall pick of the 2010 draft and plan on switching him to the outside linebacker slot.

"He will be playing at outside linebacker for us," Linebackers coach Keith Butler said. "He played some defensive end like a lot of the guys we take at outside linebacker. He stood up some for Ohio State. They do some similar things to what we do. It?s not like we?re seeing him at the position for the first time. This guy, Gibson, stood up in their package and so he?s done some of the things we?re going to ask him to do."

At Ohio State, although he played on the line, it was in the Leo defensive end slot, where he rushed the passer and dropped into coverage which is very similar to the Steelers 3-4 scheme.

Gibson was a key player in the fact the Buckeyes were once again contenders for the national championship in 2009 as Ohio State improved from their 18th-place ranking vs. the run in 2008 (110.23 ypg.) to seventh last season (90.77 ypg). showing an ability to excel in both run and pass situations.

He started 23-of-35 games at Ohio State ? 13 at left defensive end and 10 on the right side and finished his career with 82 tackles (49 solos), 10 sacks for minus 55 yards and 25.0 stops for losses totaling 86 yards.

Gibson led Ohio State with 13.0 TFL last season and 4.0 sacks. He recorded 3.0 sacks against Minnesota last season, one shy of the school record.

"I?ve always liked the Steelers. The defensive coordinator is from Ohio State I met him a couple years ago, he?s just a great guy and I?m happy to be playing for him" Gibson said. "This is a blessing, and they?re coached by a great linebacker that played professional football for awhile and there are obviously great linebackers that play there now. I?m just excited for the opportunity and ready to go."

Butler said one of the things the Steelers liked about Gibson is how much he grew over the 2009 season from start to finish. Asked about it, Gibson attributed it to his coaching at Ohio State.

"It was easy to do at a place like Ohio State because that?s something that we work for, week-in and week-out," Gibson said. "Being coached up by (Linebacker Coach) Luke Fickell and Coach (Def. Coord.) Jim Heacock and the rest of the defensive coaching staff was something that everybody did. I?m excited [and] keep pushing for greatness."

Steelers daily digest: Ohio State's Thaddeus Gibson is a player

 

[Buckskin86]

Fourth-round pick Thaddeus Gibson played second team LOLB behind LaMarr Woodley.

Scout.com: Tomlin wastes no time at QB

 

[Buckskin86]

?It?s great to have these resources,? said linebacker Thaddeus Gibson, who was taken in the fourth round. ?We just have to utilize them. It?s great to ask questions we were thinking about on the way up here. Things like what to expect during the season when things are going good and when things are going bad and how to keep moving forward. For these guys to come back and do it is an honor and blessing.?

Getting some good advice

 

[Buckskin86]

Outside linebacker Thaddeus Gibson is expected to miss most of the remainder of the Steelers' offseason practices because of a league rule that prohibits undergraduates from taking part in voluntary drills while still in class. Gibson, a fourth-round draft pick, is working toward his degree at Ohio State and is expected to graduate next month.

Steelers OLB Woodley not planning holdout - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review