I know not another Gholston article. But this one has a video too: (Cimini only added one thing I hadn't heard, "Reckless.") [YOUTUBE]-2hUJLFmq48[/YOUTUBE] http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5239387 Some might call it a Hail Mary, a last-ditch, desperation move to hold off an embarrassing defeat. Vernon Gholston calls it the right opportunity at the right time. The New York Jets' former first-round pick is learning to play defensive end after two washout seasons at outside linebacker. No one in the organization can say with certainty if the position change will transform Gholston into the player he was supposed to be, but it seems to have made a positive impact on his attitude. Always known for his laid-back demeanor, which some teammates perceived as disinterest, Gholston finally is showing some bravado. He's still not in the Rex Ryan category -- is anybody? -- but at least he's revealing a fiery side. OK, maybe not fiery, but there's something smoldering inside him. "Personally, I'm going to take more ownership and play more reckless," Gholston said during a break at the Jets' offseason practices. "My first two years, at 'backer, I was worried about doing the right thing. This year, it's going to be about making plays. I'll play within the defense, but I want to be a playmaker. "They brought me in here to be a playmaker ... and that's what I need to do." To be a playmaker, Gholston has to start by making a play -- a single play. In 29 career games, he has yet to record a sack, a rather indicting statistic for someone who was drafted sixth overall to sack the quarterback. He received a big chance last season, starting the first four games when Calvin Pace was serving a four-game suspension, but he was eventually phased out of the defensive rotation after Pace's return. Instead of cutting Gholston and paying off the remainder of his guaranteed money (his five-year contract includes $21 million in guarantees), ensuring his place among the franchise's biggest draft busts, Ryan decided to move him to defensive end. When the Jets signed free-agent outside linebacker Jason Taylor in April, it clinched the deal: Gholston to end. Dead end? "It's almost like another start for me," said Gholston, who, to this point in his career, has replaced former Philadelphia Eagles bust Mike Mamula as the poster boy for overdrafted workout wonders. "Once I get solid at the position and know what I'm doing, I can play fast and reckless. I want to make things happen." From all indications, Gholston is adapting well in the noncontact practices, working as Shaun Ellis' backup at right end. There will be a transition period because, even though Gholston played end at Ohio State, this is a different kind of defensive end. In Ohio State's 4-3 scheme, Gholston played outside the tackle, a pass-rushing position that required speed. In the Jets' hybrid 3-4, he no longer will be an edge player; he'll be inside, slugging it out in the trenches against bigger offensive linemen. Even if he adds 10 pounds to his sculpted, 260-pound frame, his goal by training camp, Gholston will be undersized in a land filled with XXLs. Ryan believes Gholston will compensate with his speed and quickness. ("Right up my alley," Gholston said.) Funny, but his top attribute, according to his teammates, is his strength, not speed and quickness. "He's very strong," said left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who blocks Gholston in practice. "That's something you feel in the trenches, and now you're seeing him down after down. I think he'll be a good fit at end." At outside linebacker, a complex position in Ryan's system, Gholston never mastered the various responsibilities. Now he'll get to bang heads with the big boys as part of the defensive-line rotation, but don't expect big numbers. In Ryan's system, the linemen set the table for the linebackers. In four years as the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator and one as the Jets' head coach, he's had only one lineman reach double-digit sacks (Trevor Pryce, 13, 2006). Unlike a year ago, when Ryan overhyped Gholston, the Jets aren't expecting big things. At this point, they'd settle for something. Anything. "I'm not going to say anything because last year I kept saying, 'You guys just wait, he's going to prove it to you,'" Ryan said. "I'm not going to say anything to you about Vernon because I don't want to [jinx] him. "But he's really doing well."
From all indications, he might be turning things around. However, I am very pessimistic about Vernon and will consider him a dud until he proves it on the field during an actual game.
yeah, but if he plays like he has been, he won't be for long. He needs to play, and he needs to play well. All I want to see is him get his chances. I know we run a mainly a 3-4, but hopefully Rex and Co. get the packages in where ghost can be used. I'd hate to see all this go for nothing, because he is only on the field for 5 snaps a game..
How amazing would it be if he actually started playing like he should've from the start? It'd be like adding another first round draft pick to the roster without adding extra salary.
I keep saying it, watch for Gholston this year. He's going to be big for this defense. Just don't expect it to show on the stat sheet.
i really think this is the year where we get some contribution from him, i never thought he was gonna flurish at OLB. Now with a change to his natural position i see him really doing SOME good things this year. I also think his attitude and work ethic this off season seems to be in a better direction than the last 2. I cant wait to see him get his first sack i think it will open up from there!
At this point we can't really get any less out of him so if we get anything out of him it's a good thing. The thing that strikes me is that reading his quotes he understands what's at stake and he doesn't want to go down as a huge bust. Hopefully that motivates him to play at high level. I'm not expecting a PB out of him but getting 3 or 4 sacks in the 1st 8 or 9 games would be a good indicator he is on the right track. He destroyed Jake Long in that Michigan game so you know the potential is there, I think we need to get his head there.
No. Because that's not the job of the end in this scheme. His job will be to take up blockers so the linebackers can get to the QB. The measure of Gholston's impact will be the number of sacks/pressures/hurries by the guy lined up behind him.
I liked the part when Golic said, "Gholston has the speed to get to the QB..." to which I replied, "...until he steps up in the pocket."
I completely agree with you. Could care less about the numbers and more about how he plays and contributes to the team. BUT... for his sake, I really hope he gets a sack in the first quarter of the first game this season. He needs it, that zero in the sack column is going to haunt him until he does.
If he gets a sack in the first quarter of the Monday night game, it's going to be like a shark smelling blood. That said, I doubt it happens. I figure around mid-season he'll finally get himself wrapped around a QB, and end his drought.
don't ahve time to look up the article, but tanny re-worked his contract (more money this year to make it possible to cut him next year). so the question is, how MUCH better does he have to play to justify keeping him on the team. playing 'ok' would be a huge improvement, but probably not enough for tanny to keep him and his salary. he probably needs close to a pro-bowl season to stay in green and white.
I guarantee you, he'll have 5 impact plays this year. That's 5 more than he had last year. Every QB pressure is an impact pressure.
That's actually a good thought because 5 QB pressures mean 5 extra passes Revis, Cro and Wilson could pick off and bring to the house.
