I love this idea... he apparently is not a stand up player, he needs his hand on the ground and one job... I think it could work, and all the pudits will say he's not big enough, yadda yadda... its worth a try, especially since Ellis is not getting any younger... If BT can play with his hand on the ground, The Ghost should be able to as well
Gholston is far from "about as smart as a brick". Judging from the few interviews with him I've seen, I'd guess he's one of the most intelligent guys on the team. It doesn't necessary translate to football though, if you don't put much effort into it.
Intelligence has nothing to do with football smarts. You going to tell me Ray Lewis is a genious or he just knows how to read football. Thats like saying Mike Tyson is smart because he knows how to box really well.
I think VGs intellegence is not the issue. Nor is it effort or desire. None of his coaches has complained about any of this. His problem is that in space he cannot process football information fast enough to use his natural abilites. When he knows what to do, he does it. In space he looks lost because he is trying to decide which way to move first. With the speed of the NFL game, any hesitation is deadly. If we let him do something he knows how to do, and eliminate the decision making, he will be a beast. And he can contain to the outside. I have seen him do it early last season. He is strong enough, and fast enough to be an outsatnding DE in either a 4-3 or a 3-4. In a traditional 2 gap 3-4, yes, DEs are block eaters. But in Rex's penetrating attacking 3-4, or 4-6, or 4-3, or whatever he is doing this play, these generalizations cannot be made with much authority. Look, he is already taking up a roster spot. He is not getting cut. Let's put him in a position to succeed.
PREDICTION: VG will not survive the final cut. We should stop lamenting the fact that he was picked too high for the results that he has produced. Nor that fact that he's made too much money for his meager contributions. The fact is "N.F.L. can also stand for Not For Long."
Yes this has been previously discussed, and yes he saw some time at DE in the Preseason. However, at this point, there's nothing to lose by pursuing this idea. Let him forget about the roles of OLB, and focus on one position -- DE. I think it's worth a shot because when he's in space, he looks like he's moving with cement feet. Might as well stick him in the trenches and try to teach him to battle there. Again, there's nothing left to lose.
VG has one move- he bull-rushes OTs that weigh 80 pounds more than he does. He is invariably swallowed up by the lineman. He has no shiftiness, no technique for getting around the edge. Just straight on dumb rushing.
Give him a shot at DE. We have nothing more to lose with VG. As it stands now he's a complete bust and can only get better.
I think he translates well. And actually he wouldn't need to put on more than 10 lbs to handle it in Rex's scheme. It's not a traditional 2 gap space eating 3-4...there's alot more penetrations and attacking the LOS involved. W/ Gholstons straight ahead power and strength, he may actually be good in that role. All i know is, we need to try something different w/ him and fast.
I completely agree with that first statement. He doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to read a play, and doesn't know how to react to it, so when on the field, he looks like a complete nub lost out there. However, I don't necessarily agree with the second. Even if he did know what to do, even if he knew every assignment, knew what to do and knew when to do it, i still don't think he'd be successful at OLB. At DE maybe, but not at OLB or in any kind of space because I don't believe he has the physical capabilities to play in space. Gholston had a good 40 time, somewhere around 4.66, but sadly this has not translated to the game, as his play on the field has looked no where close to this fast. This can't be attributed to the fact that he doesn't know what he's doing, because in this regard it's quite simple--you run 100% or you don't, and the way he runs out there, it looks like he's the type of player to run a 4.9 in the 40. In addition to this, his hips are stiff as hell, so even if he could read a play, his hips wouldn't allow him the freedom to change direction on a dime and make a play on the ball. In addition to this, he had poor numbers in the cone and shuttle drills, which are tests for agility. No agility + stiff hips = Vernon Gholston will not work playing as an OLB in space. His only hope is to play as a DE in 43 sets, and even then I don't see much hope.
I have no idea what the jets should do with this guy. i hope they can figure out something and can him to be at least mediocre and get playing time. I didn't like the pick when we got him, but i never thought he was going to be completely useless. try him anywhere if u ask me
I don't think our coaching staff knows that and if they do then there not very good coaches to keep him around.
