he would help gholston grow a pair. if gholston can't shred tackles or chase a QB how can he crouch, jump then spin with his leg hitting an opponent?
What I find disturbing about him is that he has great linear speed but he can't shift. He's fast, not quick. The great defensive front players are quick. This guy can't start, shed a block, and then pick it up to get to the ball. He gets hit by a blocker, sheds him, and then can't get there. Every play I've watched, I notice the same problem. He's generally in the right spot, but he is a step or 2 behind making the actual play every time.
Restarts! That's what I've been trying to put my finger on with this guy! Thank you, Naich. As soon as his initial momentum is stalled, he's basically out of the play from a pass-rushing standpoint.
Basically what this means is that he's not thinking tactically on the field, just using his physical assets to try to beat the opponent. That would explain a lot. Bruce Smith did a wonderful job about 15 years ago of explaining his process (his word) as a pass rusher and all of it evolved around the first contact and what to expect out of the opponent immediately afterward. If he was pass rushing against a big tackle he'd try to keep his shoulder high enough that he couldn't be forced down into the ground quickly and when the opponent tried to pancake him he was ready to lower his shoulder (then, in reaction to the opponent's move) and use it as a lever to get around the end. When he went against a shorter quicker tackle he'd go in with his shoulder down and then raise it as he went forcing his block backwards and trying to put him off balance and beat him that way. That's the kind of thought process you need to have in the NFL. You need to know going into the play what you're doing and what your opponent is likely to do and what you're going to do in response to that to finish the play. Sounds like Gholston is stuck on step 2.
that would mean a complete lack of football instincts. I'm convinced no one ever truly taught him this game and he never truly learned the nuances because he just ran people over throughout his short Highschool career and then all of college. Sad. Someone so strong and athletic and nothing really sunk in. the same thing for most workout warriors. Bad instincts but the ability to run over everyone in college. In the NFL, everyone is fast and huge. Everyone is on an equal plane. Its the technictians, like Bruce, who are able to be vastly more talented than the other professionals, because the perfect the craft. craft is the key word. Its not a game at this level, its a craft and a career.
Exactly. He is clearly a player who was physically dominant on the HS and college level. In the NFL he is not that much more physically gifted than his opponents. He can't get by just be being stronger and faster, he has to learn fundamentals of leverage. Gholston has never learned to roll the hips at the point of attack. He's too stiff, and never gets the leverage he needs.
yeah alot of good points made in the thread as far as his lack of instincts and technique. if he can actually absorb a good teaching hed be dominant. the strength and speed for his size is immense its obvious on the field, but as stated earlier he lacks the ability to shed blocks and if he does its usually too late. too me sometimes he appears to be thinking TOO MUCH. i dont know if its a lack of field vision or what but even at full speed he seems to be trying to read where the ball is and gets stalemated often upon contact. (as earlier this would be a lack of instinct.but he might also be someone who needs more snaps to learn since he spent only a few years playing, not to mention hes a LB'er now and previously im sure the most complicated technique he ever dealt with at OSU was a inside stunt) the part that doesnt make sense is, he rarely tries a good rip or swim or use his hands to shed early and make a pursuit even if it fails. point in case there appears to be alot of hesitation on his part. maybe i sound like im making it up but thats what i see. that and the lack of a use of technique to separate. anyone his size and strength can bullrush the best NCAA OL but technique is what seperates the strong ones from the consistent ones. and to be clear Im still holding out hope for him. i believe someone making the transition let alone someone like him who only played organized football a few years.....basically i need 3 years of mediocrity to call this guy a bust. thats just my take on his scenario. i think he was better suited as a 4-3 DE. im hoping rex just tells him to simply rush the QB, that plan went out the window when pace got suspended though. i expect more hesitation the first 4 weeks and once pace comes back he can first try succeeding in the one dimmension he was drafted for. Sacks.
If I were coaching this guy I would send him a mixtape of premier passrushers. Guys like Smith, LT, current players like Harrison and Freeney when he was dominating. There's alot to learn from simple observation. Maybe this guy is bad student.
VG: I don't care if its already been posted somewhere else... I just need to say, once and for all, that Vernon Gholston is NOT a football player. He's not even close. In fact, he is damn near the worst player I have ever seen on an NFL field, period. Cut him loose now. He's done.
and, i would like to add, that anyone still making excuses for the guy is either blind or straight-up crazy. westerman, trusnik, murrell... all of these guys have at least shown flashes. they've all made some plays, shown some spirit and toughness, and displayed "football instinct", whereas gholston has never shown us anything. never!
Thank You Gholston is lucky he wasn't a 6th round pick or sumthing or else he would have been gone a long time ago
you're welcome! hey...denver is pretty desperate for help at LB, and their front office is pretty dumb... maybe we can ship them gholston and a pick in exchange for marshall and be done with it. sheesh, wouldn't that be nice? honestly, i would trade gholston for a reliable punter at this point.
Hell, Danny Woodhead, all of 5' 7" of him played better than Gholston...I'm officially done with him. I paid specific attention to #50 everytime he touched the field...and what I saw was thoroughly uninspired play...period. The Mezz
