Tweet
Brandon Gibson stands out in first test
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/16/2009
Never figuring that he'd have to wait 2½ months to have an opportunity to make a splash in the NFL, rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson acknowledged that he was a bit frazzled Sunday.
"I was actually kind of nervous the whole game, just because it was my first real action, and with Keenan (Burton) going down, your number's called quite a bit," Gibson said. "I just wanted to go out there and make plays and help this team."
Burton, the Rams' No. 2 wide receiver, suffered what apparently is a season-ending knee injury about midway through the first quarter. That moved Gibson alongside Donnie Avery as the team's top two wideouts the rest of the way against the unbeaten New Orleans Saints.
"Brandon came in and stepped up," Avery said. "He's a great receiver, very detailed in his routes. We need him now."
All Gibson did was gather in seven catches for 93 yards — both team highs among the wide receivers this year — in a wrenching 28-23 defeat that wasn't cemented until the final snap.
Asked if he felt that Gibson was capable of putting up such numbers, quarterback Marc Bulger chuckled and replied, "Eventually."
"For him to come in after Keenan got hurt and play as well as he did is impressive, rookie or no rookie," Bulger added. "I think we found a really good receiver there."
The 6-foot, 210-pound Gibson, Washington State's career receiving leader, also never figured that his unveiling would come with the Rams. Not after Philadelphia drafted him in the sixth round (No. 194 overall) in April.
But the Eagles were loaded with wideouts, and when the Rams dangled linebacker Will Witherspoon in trade talks, Gibson became expendable after getting into just one game the first six weeks. The Rams also landed a fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft in the deal, consummated Oct. 20.
"That is pretty weird, as a rookie getting traded. I don't think that happens too often," Gibson said. "I don't think that I needed to prove myself, because St. Louis knows what I'm capable of. They almost drafted me, actually, so I feel that it's my time.
"They made the trade for a reason, and I have to go out there and help this team win."
General manager Billy Devaney acknowledged that the Rams had been interested in Gibson and kept a close eye on him in the preseason, when he paced the Eagles with 12 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Gibson, 22, was inactive Oct. 25 vs. Indianapolis as he tried to nail down the Rams' offensive scheme, similar to but not exactly the same as Philly's. He suited up Nov. 1 in Detroit but was in for only a few plays, with just one pass thrown his way. It was incomplete.
His first reception as a pro came on Sunday's first possession, an 8-yard grab. Gibson had gotten fairly extensive first-team work in practice this past week, so it wasn't a surprise to see him involved early.
Wide receivers coach Charlie Baggett "prepared me very well," Gibson said. "He told me that I was going to get some action. When I got my chance, I just wanted to do well."
Gibson's biggest catch came on a fourth-and-4 play during the game's final drive, with the Rams going for a highly improbable win. Bulger threw low, but Gibson latched onto the ball for a 9-yard pickup.
"That was a big-time catch," running back Steven Jackson said. "That should definitely do a lot for him and his confidence."
Because the play occurred in the final two minutes, it prompted a booth review. Gibson insisted that he wasn't worried about the outcome. "I knew I caught it. I got my hands underneath it," he said.
That was Gibson's last catch, the game ending five snaps later when Bulger's desperation pass from the 32-yard line into the deep right corner of the end zone was broken up.
"I feel like I did all right, but I've got more in me," Gibson said. "I know what I'm capable of, and I'm my biggest critic."
On this day, however, there wasn't much to criticize.
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/16/2009
Never figuring that he'd have to wait 2½ months to have an opportunity to make a splash in the NFL, rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson acknowledged that he was a bit frazzled Sunday.
"I was actually kind of nervous the whole game, just because it was my first real action, and with Keenan (Burton) going down, your number's called quite a bit," Gibson said. "I just wanted to go out there and make plays and help this team."
Burton, the Rams' No. 2 wide receiver, suffered what apparently is a season-ending knee injury about midway through the first quarter. That moved Gibson alongside Donnie Avery as the team's top two wideouts the rest of the way against the unbeaten New Orleans Saints.
"Brandon came in and stepped up," Avery said. "He's a great receiver, very detailed in his routes. We need him now."
All Gibson did was gather in seven catches for 93 yards — both team highs among the wide receivers this year — in a wrenching 28-23 defeat that wasn't cemented until the final snap.
Asked if he felt that Gibson was capable of putting up such numbers, quarterback Marc Bulger chuckled and replied, "Eventually."
"For him to come in after Keenan got hurt and play as well as he did is impressive, rookie or no rookie," Bulger added. "I think we found a really good receiver there."
The 6-foot, 210-pound Gibson, Washington State's career receiving leader, also never figured that his unveiling would come with the Rams. Not after Philadelphia drafted him in the sixth round (No. 194 overall) in April.
But the Eagles were loaded with wideouts, and when the Rams dangled linebacker Will Witherspoon in trade talks, Gibson became expendable after getting into just one game the first six weeks. The Rams also landed a fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft in the deal, consummated Oct. 20.
"That is pretty weird, as a rookie getting traded. I don't think that happens too often," Gibson said. "I don't think that I needed to prove myself, because St. Louis knows what I'm capable of. They almost drafted me, actually, so I feel that it's my time.
"They made the trade for a reason, and I have to go out there and help this team win."
General manager Billy Devaney acknowledged that the Rams had been interested in Gibson and kept a close eye on him in the preseason, when he paced the Eagles with 12 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Gibson, 22, was inactive Oct. 25 vs. Indianapolis as he tried to nail down the Rams' offensive scheme, similar to but not exactly the same as Philly's. He suited up Nov. 1 in Detroit but was in for only a few plays, with just one pass thrown his way. It was incomplete.
His first reception as a pro came on Sunday's first possession, an 8-yard grab. Gibson had gotten fairly extensive first-team work in practice this past week, so it wasn't a surprise to see him involved early.
Wide receivers coach Charlie Baggett "prepared me very well," Gibson said. "He told me that I was going to get some action. When I got my chance, I just wanted to do well."
Gibson's biggest catch came on a fourth-and-4 play during the game's final drive, with the Rams going for a highly improbable win. Bulger threw low, but Gibson latched onto the ball for a 9-yard pickup.
"That was a big-time catch," running back Steven Jackson said. "That should definitely do a lot for him and his confidence."
Because the play occurred in the final two minutes, it prompted a booth review. Gibson insisted that he wasn't worried about the outcome. "I knew I caught it. I got my hands underneath it," he said.
That was Gibson's last catch, the game ending five snaps later when Bulger's desperation pass from the 32-yard line into the deep right corner of the end zone was broken up.
"I feel like I did all right, but I've got more in me," Gibson said. "I know what I'm capable of, and I'm my biggest critic."
On this day, however, there wasn't much to criticize.
Comment