"We didn't view Gibbs as a runner," Campbell said. "He was a weapon. A little bit like (Jameson Williams) Jamo, we didn't necessarily view Jamo as a true receiver, we saw weaponry. A lot of versatility in things you can do.
"We felt like Gibbs, man, this guy is going to explode. Yes, he's a runner. He can run all schemes – inside, outside, pin and pull, all the perimeters. But he also can be lethal out of the backfield."
That's certainly come to fruition over the last three seasons. And now with David Montgomery being traded to Houston this offseason, Gibbs is the unquestioned No. 1 in Detroit's backfield with veterans Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki and others in reserve.
The Lions think Gibbs is just starting to hit his prime as a runner and still see room for continued growth as a pass catcher and receiver. That's a pretty scary proposition for the 31 defensive coordinators around the NFL that must figure out a way to contain him along with the plethora of other offensive skill weapons in Detroit.