Minnesota Vikings 2018 NFL Draft

Breaking Down Colby Gossett

By wludford@wludford Apr 29, 2018, 10:53pm CDT

NCAA Football: Senior Bowl-South Practice

The Vikings spent a sixth-round pick in hope of bolstering their offensive line on Day 3 of the draft, landing G/T Colby Gossett from Appalachian State. Gossett has three and a half years as a starter at App State, most at right guard, although he played right tackle as well, and ended his career there with 46 consecutive starts.

PFF on Colby Gossett:

• Four strong years of grading, though 2017 represented the lowest grade of his four-year career.

• Can turn defenders when on the move on front side of zone runs.

• Loses on first contact too often in the run game.

• Experience in a zone-heavy scheme and can make all of the necessary blocks in an outside-zone heavy system.

• Late to recognize blitzing linebackers.

• Looks for work when uncovered in pass protection.

• Has solid tape at right tackle, playing 172 snaps there in 2016 and 433 snaps in 2015.

• Experienced. Has played 3,162 career snaps.

• Allowed only 36 pressures on 1,313 career snaps in pass protection.

Gossett had an excellent career at Appalachian State, capping it off with a solid week at the Senior Bowl. His experience in a zone-blocking scheme should translate well at the next level, and his size, length and experience at right tackle give him some versatility. Gossett makes difficult run blocks look easy, but he must improve his consistency on the “easy” stuff in order to maximize his value. He’s worth a look in the middle of the draft.

Analyzing Colby Gossett’s Play

Gossett has played mostly right guard, although he has the measurables to play right tackle- 6’5”, 311lbs., with nearly 34” arms- and has played there as well. He was solid in the games against tougher competition, and showed well during Senior Bowl week. He’s got big hands, and benched 32 reps at the Combine. In general, his other Combine measures were comparable to the top prospects at guard and tackle in this draft class.

Gossett is also a good scheme fit for the Vikings, having played in a zone blocking system- which the Vikings use.

But Gossett isn’t a perfect prospect - as you would expect being drafted on Day 3. From a technique standpoint, he reportedly struggles with heavy feet and balance issues at times, and needs work timing and executing his punch. As a run blocker, he reportedly can struggle sometimes with smaller, more penetrating defensive tackles.

Still, he’s a very solid run blocker from the video I’ve seen on him- looking at the 2016 Miami game for example- he doesn’t have a problem making his blocks on the second level. And there are a couple plays where Gossett makes the key block to spring his RB for a long run.

Gossett did well in pass protection in this game as well, and I didn’t notice any particular issues with heavy feet or balance issues- but this is only one game. He did well to pick up a well-timed blitz one play as well.

I haven’t been able to find any video of him at right tackle, but for what it’s worth in 2015 he had the most snaps at right tackle (433) and also had his highest run, pass and overall season grade from PFF that year.

We’ll have to see how Gossett takes to coaching after he starts off-season workouts with the Vikings, but he looks like he’s got the potential to upgrade the right-tackle spot, or compete at right guard, but he really seems better built for right tackle. He looks to be pretty solid as a run blocker, but the key will be how well he stands up in pass protection.

Here’s some other video on Gossett: