I didn’t have Faulk as a comp for him (and still don’t, at least not stylistically), but when he was drafted I said his usage would be a lot like Rams Faulk, and I still think that’s the case. A true RB/WR combo.
Their measurables are similar but Gibbs is a leaner, longer type while Faulk had the junk in the trunk. Gibbs is a strider while Faulk is a stepper. Watching the two of them, you wouldn’t think they were very similar. But what they can do on a football field is very similar, and they’re roughly the same height/weight/speed, even if it’s proportioned a little differently.
They’re both do-it-all guys - run, catch (and not only out of the backfield), and passpro. Faulk was better than Gibbs is now at maneuvering in tight spaces. Gibbs has better top-end speed. Faulk was seen as a very cerebral player. I dunno how Gibbs is regarded in re football IQ. Both have/had very good vision and great acceleration, which is the key.
Gibbs’ prowess as a receiver is getting more attention coming out of college than Faulk got, but that’s probably a function of how the NFL game as evolved and the ‘controversy’ over Gibbs’ high selection.
In Faulk’s final season in college he caught 47 passes for 640 yards. That’s more catches and more yards than Gibbs or Bijan Robinson ever had in a season. Its also 2 more catches and 5 less yards than Christian McAffrey had in his best season at Stanford.
Gibbs had 44 receptions (most on the team). Faulk had 30 less catches than the #1 WR on that team. I was stationed in San Diego then and watched him a couple of times. You could tell he was an NFL caliber playing against much lower level of competition.
I disagree. Gibbs is a leggy runner. Maybe it’s as simple as him having a higher waist and longer legs on a similarly sized frame, but watching the two run they look very different.
Quite possibly. Tough for RBs to get hof because of longevity, these days. If he could be healthy for 8-10 years, behind the OLs Holmes puts together, he would have a chance.