3 things: Gastineau's mullet is spectacular. I have that Sack Exchange poster somewhere. Coles had as many tackles as Gholston this year.
I thought these were posts directed at him based on the thread title so... The second we drafted you, more than anything else, the one thing that reverberated in my ears from all the pre-draft talk was that you "took plays and games off." And thus far, based on your performance to date, you've been spot on with that criticism. You have the size and apparent ability so I hope you find the mental edge before you are stigmatized a bust. The money eventually gets spent - by you or your heirs. But the legacy of a bust lives forever.
So you're saying once a person has expressed an opinion or made an analysis, he's locked into that forever? How far sighted of you. In my world, I have no problem calling him a bust, because he is, because contrary to the grumblings of a lot of people, I think he was on the field, at least enough to have put up better numbers than he did for a 6 overall. Is there a chance I'm wrong, of course. My wife is always quick to point out just how wrong I can be. Would I love to eat crow. In this case, yes. I would dance a fucking jig if I'm wrong and he becomes a sack machine that makes Lawrence Taylor look like a fag. But please don't tell me that if I say he's a bust now, I can never come back and say oops, I was wrong, turns out he is great. I would love it if that happens, but my OPINION is that it wont. He sucks.
I agree with you on this, however, there are those on this website that will lock you into your opinion. It's wrong, but it happens all the time. There have been instances where someone is optimistic about a certain player or coach doing well. Other posters will say any player we have sucks and not even give them one chance to be good. Then a couple of years go by and the optimistic person changes their opinion of that player or coach based on actually seeing them play for a couple of years, and decides that the player really is a bust. The negative-Nancy poster who claims everyone on the team sucks every year, then comes and holds you hostage to what you predicted years ago for a player, and repeats it over and over. I'm of the opinion that a person's opinion can change, either for the good or bad. I wish others were so flexible.
Dear Vernon, Hopefully your agent made you aware that you should completely ignore all jet fans. Yes, you had a lackluster year and need to make significant improvements this offseason. But Jet fans root for their first rounders to be busts. Don't ask me why..perhaps it's a security blanket and a rationalization for 40 years of failure. But dont let that stop you from working hard this offseason.You have the physical tools to be a super star. Just look at guys like Lawrence Timmons, Shawne Merriman, Demarcus Ware and others who took awhile to get adjusted to nfl play and are now flourishing. But again...don't expect to ever be embraced by jets nation..b/c no matter what you do...you'll be a bust in their eyes.
I think everyone is in agreement that Gholston was a huge disappointment this year. However, it is up to the Coaching staff to put a player in the position to make an impact. Mangini, Sutton, and staff failed to do this. If we are still having this conversation this time next year, after Ryan/Pettine have had a chance to really coach Gholston, then I'll be on board with calling him a bust. For now, I choose to be optimistic.
I would have echoed your post word for word until you said Kyle Brady. Brady was at least productive, he saw the field off special teams. If gholston does not improve any, then he should be up there near the top if not the top bust in Franchise History. If the #6 overall pick plays for 3-4 years only as a special teamer before being tossed from the NFL, thats a pretty big bust. At least to my knowledge our big time busts, at least played on their respective units for a while. Yeah so far we have 2 memorable plays of Gholston's on defense. One was that rediculous arm tackle where he had the guy dead to rights, and almost whiffed. The other was the play he waddled after Cutler, allowing him to throw a bomb. Blair thomas played HB for a while, Johnny Lam jones, played WR for a while. DROB, played DT and NT for us his entire career, yeah he didnt live up to #4 overall, but he certainly did more for the franchise than Gholston would do if his development stands pat. You guys bitched D-rob was a bust, well Gholston (should he not develop beyond what he is now) will make D-robs bust appear as though it should be in Canton...
good point, I'll rephrase Football is the only bussiness I can think of where you can steal $20 + million from your employer, not only won't you go to jail, you will have your employer patting you on the back, giving you his condolonces for your bad play.
Are you F'n kidding me?!?!? He had various chances to make an impact , limited granted , but he looked way out of his depth , and yes a bust. How much motivation does a rookie need ? If he can't get motivated in his rookie year , then I don't think he will ever get it. I was never a fan of drafting him , but nonetheless , wasted money on buying a Gholston jersey , showing my support. 99.9 % sure I wasted my money. And Kurt. All those players you mention ACTUALLY showed some kind of spirit, motorvation and skill. Gholston is more like a sand bag than a sack machine. Even Schlegal showed more in his limited time.
Oh well. Like I've said, I'll be the happiest man in the world to be proven to be an idiot asshole who knows nothing about football while Gholston becomes a dominant LB. Right now, I don't see this happening. At all. Not even remotely. Only time will tell. We'll see.
Big Problem with your assessment. Demarcus Ware in his first preseason game had two turnovers. One was a sack of the QB and a Swipe of the Ball A LA Taylor, and the other was an interception. And guess what, he never played coverage while in coverage. I hope your right about Gholston, but I think either you have it or you don't.
OK so what kind of numbers will satisfy me next year for Gholston? Let's be reasonable considering that for the moment we are dealing with near zero. Sacks - 6+ even though he probably only has a lock on his own Tackles - 35+ Passes blocked - 5+ Forced fumbles - 2+ Fumble recoveries - 1+ Now, what numbers do some of the other posters think would be fair given where he is now - a floater in the bowl. I think I am being reasonable. My numbers will not get him in the probowl, but I would be content with them as showing good improvement. I will end this by saying, if he duplicates this past year, this coming season, throw him out the door.
