Every Gholston Play In Detail (WSH. GAME)

I wanted to give you guys a good idea of exactly how Gholston is doing on the field. This is all made possible to DVR which everyone should get. Also a nice HDTV makes this a lot more enjoyable. As you'll see I was a lot more detailed at first rather than towards the end. This was a little more tedious then I thought.

So here is every defensive snap Gholston is in:

1. 3 & 9 - Gholston is playing on the weakside (side without the TE) as a DE in a down position going up against the Skins starting LT (Probowler C. Samuels). A little late getting off the snap. Gets a decent push but overall gets stopped. His push turned out good enough to keep the pocket tight and allow the rest of the D-line to get some great pressure. Calvin Pace looked ferocious on this play tossing aside his man and getting in the QB's face.

2. 3 & 7 - Gholston is lined up 1 on 1 with Samuels again as a DE in a down position. Good break off the snap this time but gets completely handled by Samuels. He actually takes 2 steps backwards before going foward again. He was simply overpowered this time but let's not forget that Samuels is one of the best LTs in the league.

3. 3 & 10 - Same exact positioning as the last two plays. Turns out to be a draw play so Samuels more or less allows Gholston to get upfield a little bit but Gholston actually does a good job of recognizing the run and stops his momentum. He actually gets himself in perfect position as the runner comes his way but fails to disengage from Samuels block as the speedy RB gets by him. It seemed as if there was a pretty substantial holding here as Gholston was being grabbed by the jersey and was physically unable to turn around. I'd say this was a pretty good play for him regardless of the outcome.

4. 3 & Goal from the 12 - Gholston has been in the same exact matchup for his first four plays - all obvious passing downs. Gholston gets a good step off the line and gets pretty good push again but he is stopped with plenty of space between him and the QB. Nice try but a very good job by the LT.

As a side note, Gholston to this point hasn't used any moves besides the bull rush.

Gholston now enters as the 3-4 OLB with the 10 other defensive starters on the field. Mangini is giving him a chance here to show what he has learned.

5. 1 & 10 - He is lined up on the weakside on the inside shoulder of the slot receiver. It's a run play that required the slot receiver to attempt to block Gholston. The WR fakes like hes going to run a pattern and Gholston begins to cover him. The WR goes to make a block and at this point Gholston recognizes the run. He easily throws aside the blocker and attacks the ball carrier immediately on a solo tackle for only a gain of 2. VERY NICE PLAY.

6. 2 & 8 - Same positioning as last play. Receiver runs a route this time and it seems as if Gholston does his job here of sticking with him for about 10 yards and forcing him outside. The QB dumps it off to the full back in the flat on Gholston's side and he immediatley recognizes. He gets right to the ball carrier and pushes him out of bounds for a gain of only 2 yards. Another very nice play by Gholston.

7. 3 & 6 - Gholston lined up on the strongside on the outer shoulder of the TE. Follows the TE downfield for about 10 yards before disengaging coverage and the ball is thrown away from his area. Again it seems Gholston did his job well.

VERY good first series for Gholston. He showed great awareness and recognition. That said, he still seems a little bit tentative and isn't showing his speed.

2nd series as 3-4 OLB. This is the 2nd team defense now.

8. 1 & 10 - Gholston is on the strongside on the outside shoulder of the TE. Gholston allows the TE to run up the field. He sees the RB run up field and begins to cover. Ball is thrown deep (great coverage by Lowery). Gholston seems to have done his job.

9. 2 & 10 - Gholston is lined up as a DE in a down position on the right side. Its a run play and Gholston sees this. He doesnt get pushed back at all by the LT (no longer Samuels, 2nd stringer). and disengages from his block to make a gang tackle with 2 other jets. Pretty good job from Gholston, only thing he could have done better was to break off a little earlier. If there were no other tacklers he probably would still have made the play but probably a yard or 2 more down the field. ***Just realized there was a flag on the play for the Jets having too many men on the field...Got a great shot of Mangini on the sideline mouthing out "Take a f*cking time out!" You could read his lips perfectly.

10. 2 & 5 - Gholston is back at 3-4 OLB a few steps away from the TE's outside shoulder. He picks up the slot receiver in coverage and more or less gets beat to the outside by the WR. It was a poorly thrown ball and the receiver falls while making the catch. Gholston seemed a little awkward trying to change direction and whiffs at the WR as he got up quickly before being taken down by Elam. Not too great of a play by Gholston and he showed a little bit of uneasiness changing direction quickly.

11. 1 & 10 - Same positioning as last play. Gholston is in coverage on the slot receiever but its a run away from his side. No need for comment other than he looks huge compared to the wide out.

12. 2 & 8 - Gholston lined up right across from the TE. Run play away from his side. Stays at home because the QB rolled out to his side after handing it off pretending it was a fake hand off. No comment.

13. 3 & 5 - In a down position as a DE on the right side. It's a pass play. Gholston has a great burst off the line and almost entirely blows by the LT. The LT does a nice job recovering though and gives him a good shove right before he could get to the QB. Almost a sack and some good speed shown by Gholston. Its the fastest I've seen him move yet.

 

This series Joe Namath is on the phone. I honestly cannot stand listening to the man. He quite possibly has the most annoying voice in the world and also quite possibly is completely wasted for this interview. Either way he's the man.

14. 1 & 10 - Gholston lined up as an OLB on the left side a yard or two away from the RT. Drops into coverage defending the slot receiver. It's a run play and the WR attempts to block Gholston but is easily tossed aside. Immediatley attacks the ball carrier and a few jets make a nice gang tackle. What stuck out on this play though is that Gholston had the ball carrier completely wrapped up and was pretty relentless bringing him hard to the ground. Nice to see some aggressiveness. Although it was a gain of 6 it was a nice play by Gholston and he did what the best he could do in that position.

15. 2 & 4 - Gholston lined up on the left side again and attempts to rush the passer but the ball is handed off. He looks a little awkward moving through traffic and doesn't quite get to the ball carrier quick enough before he breaks through the line for a 50 yard run. If Gholston was a little quicker he might have been able to stop the big play. Despite my green shades, I don't think many OLBs are making this play though.

16. 1 & 10 - Gholston lined up strong side outside of two TEs. Jams the inside TE and doesn't attempt to rush the passer. I'm not sure what his job was here but the ball was thrown away from him. No comment really.

17. 1 & 20 - Ghoslton lined up on the left side outside the TEs shoulder. Run to the opposite side of the field. Gholston stood up his blocker for a moment before throwing him aside. The blocker did his job however because he only needed to get in his way for just a second.

18. 2 & 17 - Gholston is a DE on the left side. Pretty poor pass rush as his initial swim move fails he kind of just stands there and jumps around attempting to deflect the pass.

19. 3 & 17 - Same positioning. Attempts to stunt inside but it is a quick pass so his move took too long. Not Gholston's fault as it seems it is what the defensive call was.

Next series.

20. 1 & 10 - Same positioning. Running play away from Gholston. Although the TE does his job keeping Gholston out of the play, he holds his ground. Not really good but not bad either. I'd like to see Gholston handle the TEs a little better and disengage more quickly.

21. 2 & 6 - Same positioning. False start.

22. 2 & 11 - Same positioning. Drops his pass rush to cover the RB trying to get open in the flat. Nice recognition. Ball thrown to the other side.

23. 1 & 10 - Same pos. No real attempt of a pass rush he just stayed at home. Ball thrown away. Don't really know what was supposed to happen there.

24. 2 & 2 - Same pos. Nice burst off the snap but gets shoved past the QB. Decent attempt.

25. - Same pos. Not a very nic attempted pass rush. Doesn't get great burst or make any kind of move.

26. 2 & 10 - Sam pos. Very quick pass. No comment.

27. 1 & 10 - Back in 3-4 OLB position on the weakside. Goes to rush the passer then seems to realize he was suppsoed to cover the slot receiver. Maybe a mental error here but the ball was thrown to the opposite side. Or it could have been a fake pass rush then dropping to zone coverage. Can't really tell.

28. 1 & 10 - OLB on the strong side on the TEs outside shoulder. Run play up the middle. Gholston neutralizes the TEs block but the play is away from him. Good job holding up the blocker either way.

29. 2 & 6 - Same positioning. Rushes the passer very tentatively and the QB makes a quick throw. If he flew in there he might have gotten a sack because he was untouched.

30. 1 & 10 - Same pos. Run play outside the Tackle. Gholston may overpursue a little bit but recovers and puts some pressure on the ball carrier to make a move. Turns out he makes a great move and makes an amazing cut to evade Gholston's tackle. Not such a bad play by Gholston but not great either.

31. 1 & 10 - Same pos. Possible mental error here as Gholston lets a back get by him in coverage. The ball is thrown right over his head into the back's hands. Lowery is there to make the stop however.

32. 2 & 7 - Gholston on the weakside. Run up the middle. Stands his ground against a block.

33. 3 & 6 - Gholston is a DE on the weakside. Great burst off the snap and beats the RT. If it wasn't a screen play to the opposite side he would have had a sack. And no, he didn't only beat the RT because it was a screen play.

34. 1 & 10 - OLB weakside. Covers the slot receiver for 10 yards then breaks off to cover the RB in front of him. Nice recognition.

35. 2 & 10 - Same pos. Run to opposite side. No comment.

36. 1 & 10 - OLB strong side. Run up the middle. Gets blocked out of the play.

37. 2 & 9 - Same pos. Covers the Slot receiver. QB sacked.

That does it for Gholston's play time on defense.

My overall analysis is that he has learned A LOT from last week. His overall play at the OLB position has been pretty great. Solid recognition in pass coverage. Great awareness of where the play is going. Pretty good job holding his ground in the running game. Only decent job shedding the blocks of TEs. What his major weakness so far is honestly his pass rush. He had only one good play in that area. His other weakness is just that he seems a little bit shy and awkward at times. I think he is still getting used to the position as a whole but overall he looks pretty promising.

 

No problem I enjoyed doing it. The real thanks is to the DVR.