Scouting Patrick Gamble
Earlier this month, the Jets announced that they had signed Georgia Tech defensive lineman Patrick Gamble to an undrafted free agent deal.
The 23-year old Gamble is 6'4" and 277 pounds and improved his production in each of his four seasons with the Yellow Jackets. He registered 7.5 of his 8.5 career sacks in his senior year.
Background
Gamble came to Georgia Tech as a defensive end, but they converted him to defensive tackle. However, over his last two seasons he also saw some reps at defensive end.
After red-shirting his first season, Gamble was a rotational reserve in 2013. He received the first four starts of his career in 2014, then became a full-time starter in 2015, recording his first sack.
2016 was easily his best year, as he started 13 games and posted career highs in tackles (54), sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (10.5) and forced fumbles (three) despite being banged-up.
Measurables
Gamble had surgery during the offseason, so he wasn't able to carry out any pro day workouts. However, he looks athletic and explosive on film at times.
He might need to bulk up if he's going to play inside at the NFL level and could perhaps be well served by adding some strength anyway.
Gamble has long arms and big hands and uses these effectively in the trenches.
Usage
As already noted, Gamble was primarily a defensive tackle at Georgia Tech, but did occasionally get reps on the outside. In pass rushing situations, Gamble will often line up inside the defensive end, but still shading the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle.
Motor
Gamble is used to a heavy workload. His snap count increased from 70% to 77% in his senior year. 73 snaps and a 95% snap count in a 2015 game was the highest of his career.
I didn't see any obvious signs of fatigue from Gamble and he would usually play to the whistle.
Run defense
Gamble (#91) has described his long arms as his greatest strength and he shows an ability to use them, extending his arms here to get off a block and stuff a run:
Gamble shows an ability to hold up at the point of attack and move laterally to bottle up runs. Here, he sheds a block to clog up a running lane:
Against double teams, or when a lineman blocks down on him, he can be driven off the line, as he was in this short yardage situation:
Tackling
As he plays inside, Gamble creates a lot of his production by bottling up runs and therefore doesn't have to tackle in space that often. That's perhaps one reason why he's only missed a handful of tackles over the past three years.
Here was a rare one, as he missed with a diving attempt in the backfield:
Generally, Gamble tends to wrap up ball carriers safely, making use of his long arms. Here, he shows aggression in finishing this play off strongly:
Gamble forced three fumbles in 2016 and another one in 2015.
Pass rush
Gamble didn't produce much as a pass rusher until his senior year, with 7.5 sacks and five quarterback hits after having had just one sack and no quarterback hits in the rest of his career.
In the past, he had showed an ability to create a surge in the pocket via a bull rush, although this often tended to be against weaker competition:
He shows some good explosiveness to close and finish on this play:
Gamble seemed to understand leverage and how to use his hands better in his final season and the constant improvement may suggest he's going to continue to get better at the next level.
Batting passes
With his long arms, Gamble is a threat to deflect passes at the line, something he did three times in 2014/2015 but not last year.
On this play, it's not just his length that enables him to bat down the pass, but also the fact that he kept his head up and timed his move into the passing lane:
Special teams
In a similar fashion, Gamble has contributed on kick block units. He had this huge block against FSU with the scores tied as time expired. This would eventually be returned for the game-winning touchdown by Lance Austin:
Instincts/Intelligence
Gamble is considered to have a good football IQ and plays like the pass batted down above exhibit this. He didn't seem to make any mental errors, although he is still developing his ability to find ways to beat his blocker as a pass rusher.
Injuries
Gamble's career year in 2016 came in spite of a torn hip labrum that required surgery after the season. Some sources have said that he had a shoulder injury, but that's probably just a misconception from the fact it was a labrum tear in his hip rather than his shoulder.
He also missed a couple of games in 2015 with a head injury.
Attitude/Demeanor
Gamble is regarded as a hard-working player and was a team captain at Georgia Tech so has good leadership qualities.
He shows good discipline because he had just one penalty in the last three years, although it was a personal foul at the conclusion of a play:
Scheme Fit
Gamble's ideal position is probably a five-technique (3-4 defensive end). However, he may need to bulk up to play that position at the NFL level. Until then, he might be able to contribute as a defensive end in run blocking situations and a pass rushing tackle, much like Leger Douzable's old role.
Conclusions
It's difficult to know whether to characterize Gamble as a one-year wonder who just hit his ceiling late or a player who has only just started to realize his potential.
It's not unusual to see the Jets interested in a player with good length and intangibles and Gamble fits that description.
Whereas, in the past, there's been a log jam on the defensive line, that's perhaps no longer the case as Sheldon Richardson (and, theoretically, Muhammad Wilkerson too) might not be on the team beyond this year.
Look for Gamble to compete with the likes of Lawrence Thomas and Claude Pelon to stick around as a developmental project, probably starting off on the practice squad.
UP NEXT: We take a look at Nicholls State offensive lineman Chris Bordelon.