2009 Spartan Nation Football Profile: OLB Eric Gordon #43

2009 Spartan Nation Football Profile: OLB Eric Gordon #43 Height: 6’ Weight: 226 2009 Eligibility: Junior EXP: 2 Letters Status: Starting OLB Â

2009 Spartan Nation Football Profile:Â OLB Eric Gordon #43

Height: 6’

Weight: 226

2009 Eligibility:Â Junior

EXP:Â 2 Letters

Status:Â Starting OLB

 

Strengths: Gordon is learning to play the game without thinking. I know that sounds funny, but he is an intelligent young man and at times in his career you could see him thinking too much on the field rather than reacting. I addressed that in the May Spartan Nation Magazine in detail. 

 

He has plenty of speed and great technique in his tackling and control of his body. A great example was a play in the Capital One Bowl. With UG facing a 3rd and 5, Gordon used his speed and technique to avoid a much bigger OL and has nearly immediate pressure on Stafford and forced the soon to be number one NFL draft pick into a poor decision. That play was one early in his career he might not have made. He would have seen the opening and delayed in making a decision on how to attack the OL and it would have given him time to engage Gordon. It was a great play that kept UG from continuing a march for a TD. 

 

Another example was also in the Capital One Bowl when the Bulldogs had a 3rd and 1 at the Spartan 32 and he got a great sack on Stafford, again by using superior technique and his speed. You saw last season that Gordon had tremendous growth from the start to finish and I will reiterate what I said in the Magazine. There is a lot of talk about a Spartan LB (Greg Jones) but don’t be shocked when Gordon gets in that mix for some post season recognition in 2009.

 

Weakness: I already alluded to it. Gordon has all of the tools and the only thing that hurts him can be his head. When he over-thinks a situation, he tends to get in trouble. Gordon has great instincts, and unlike Jones, sometimes Eric doesn’t trust his instincts. He is a very talented player and when he allows the game to flow and plays it like a game and not a calculus class, Gordon excels.

 

Final Analysis: I think that 2009 will be a monster year for Gordon. He has had a great spring and off-season, and although I never have questioned his love of the game, I believe that he is learning to enjoy the game. Let me explain. Anyone that has watched Gordon, even back to high school, could tell that he loved the game of football. I think that was part of his “over thinking” problem. He wanted to do so well that at times he allowed the mental part to overlap that, let’s go out and get it on mentality. All spring you could see it, Gordon is growing into a man and that he had more enjoyment this spring than I have ever seen him have. Here is a link to an interview with him I did immediately after the spring to hear us get into more detail about it.

 

If Gordon continues that maturation process in 2009, it is going to be a bad sign for the Big Ten. He has the talent and the heart and when he adds the critical mental adjustment it will be lights out. Look for Gordon to be highly recognized at the end of 2009.