Marcus Gilbert NFL Draft Scouting Report

Marcus Gilbert
6'6, 330 pounds | Offensive tackle/ guard | Florida

Agility: There is a lot of stiffness to Gilbert's game.  He struggles to quickly change direction which makes him susceptible to counter moves.  His stiffness impacts his ability to bend and keep his pad level low.  He lacks the explosiveness to consistently move defenders off the football.

Movement: While Gilbert lacks fluid movements he possesses good balance.  His balance allows him to use angles in order to gain proper position.  Gilbert is also able to absorb contact and remain on his feet.

Pass blocking: Gilbert does not possess the quick feet necessary to reach the edge against speed rushers.  He is slow out of his stance which exacerbates his struggles to reach the edge.  However, he knows how to use proper angles and uses them to overcome his lack of explosiveness.  His use of angles is enhanced by this balance which allows him to absorb contact when he beats the rush to a spot.  Gilbert's heavy hands make it a nightmare for defenders looking to disengage.  He does a good job keeping his hands out in front avoiding wasted motions and protecting himself from bull rush attempts.  Change of direction is an issue for Gilbert which allows the rusher to be effective with counter moves.  The ability to quick identify the immediate threat is also a problem area for Gilbert.  Overall, Gilbert is going to struggle holding up in space and at either tackle position.

Quickness: Lacking ideal quickness limits Gilbert's versatility.  He just doesn't have the explosiveness to move defenders off the ball and reach the edge in pass protection.  Gilbert struggles to reach his target when asked to climb to the 2nd level.

Run blocking: Gilbert is able to fire off low and deliver a strong punch.  This allows him to jar back the defender and get good positioning.  Gilbert's ability to run block relies heavily on his balance and technique.  After his initial punch, he gets his hands inside helping push defenders off the line.  He possesses heavy hands which makes it difficult for the defender to disengage and purse the ball carrier.  As the play progresses, Gilbert's pad level raises which impacts his leverage and stalls his push.  Overall, Gilbert has the strength and heavy hands to Velcro and control the defender.  However, his lack of athleticism limits his ability to reach defenders away from his frame.

Strength: Natural strength is present in Gilbert's game but his lack of explosiveness limits his overall effectiveness.  Gilbert's heavy hands allow him to Velcro to defenders making it tough to disengage.  He possess the lower body strength necessary to move defenders off the line of scrimmage.

Technique: Gilbert does an excellent job using his hands to his advantage.  He consistently has his hands out in front and gets them inside the defender.  Gilbert takes short and coordinated steps that keep him balanced with his movements.  The biggest concern with Gilbert's technique is the fact that he plays with a high pad level.

Final word: Gilbert's lack of explosiveness may mean that he is destined to play guard in the NFL.  He possess the strength and heavy hands to effectively control defensive lineman.  Gilbert has a strong enough base to absorb initial contact and remain balanced.  A move to guard may help mask Gilbert's limitations in space.  However, at 6'6 he will need to work on keeping his pad level to be effective at guard.