INDIANAPOLIS — Colts GM Chris Ballard had something specific in mind for the defensive end position in this draft.
A quality that came in short supply, even though the defensive end class at large was deep and teeming with prospects who had starting potential.
Indianapolis passed up a handful of those players in the second, third and fourth rounds, ticking off other needs even though the Colts clearly need a starting defensive end because Ballard believes coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense needed an injection of speed.
Ballard finally found it in Florida defensive end George Gumbs Jr., the edge rusher the Colts finally plucked in the fifth round.
“I’m definitely one of the most explosive players off the edge,” Gumbs said. “I’m fast and violent off the edge.”
Gumbs has the athleticism.
The Chicago native was a wide receiver when he first arrived at Northern Illinois, then shifted to tight end for two seasons. When it became clear that he wasn’t going to be a good fit at tight end, the Huskies coaching staff came to Gumbs with a chance.
Northern Illinois wanted Gumbs to move to the defensive side of the ball, rush the passer instead of trying to catch the ball.
“It was an opportunity to put me in there to compete for a starting position,” Gumbs said. “I eventually got there at the end of the season, was slightly productive, and then I got some looks from Florida and other big schools.”
Gumbs caught Florida’s eye because of his athleticism off the edge. The same athleticism that convinced the Colts to take a flyer on Gumbs. While he measured 6-4 3/8, 245 pounds at the NFL scouting combine, Gumbs ran the 40-yard dash in 4.66 seconds, a time faster than a lot of linebackers.
He also has plenty of length, deploying 33 5/8-inch arms that allow him to create a lot of space.
But Gumbs is still learning to use all of those tools. Gumbs had five sacks during his first season at Florida, but he had only 2.5 sacks in his final year with the Gators. In baseball terms, Gumbs is a fastball without a whole lot of command.
Gumbs has worked hard, adding pass rush moves with Florida assistant coach Mike Peterson, but he doesn’t always know how to piece those moves together.
“Getting fluent with my counters,” Gumbs said. “That’s something I could definitely take to the next level.”
Indianapolis is hoping the defensive line coach can help Gumbs realize his immense physical gifts.
The trouble is that process likely won’t happen right away. A raw player like Gumbs, who has only been playing defensive end for two seasons, has a steeper learning curve than any other rookie edge rusher, and it’s common in the NFL to say that a team cannot truly evaluate a pass rusher until after his third season. Drafting Gumbs did not fix the gaping hole in the Indianapolis starting lineup and pass rush.
But if the Colts were going to bet on a player to find a way, it’s not a bad idea to go with a player who nearly saw his college career come to an end on offense, only to find his way to the NFL by switching to defense.
“I feel like something I learned about myself, I’m real resilient,” Gumbs said. “I had a lot of obstacles I had to go around to get to where I am today.”
More obstacles are waiting for him in the NFL.
Gumbs has to figure out how his traits can help him overcome those obstacles.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: George Gumbs gives Colts fastball they wanted at edge … eventually
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
