To the puzzle of Gholston
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- January
- 23
Rex Ryan made a point of calling out Vernon Gholston. The new Jets coach did it in a nice way, saying that the first round draft pick had a ton of potential and that he was just the defensive-minded coach to take on the project.
To the facts. In the year end stats that the Jets just released, Gholston is last on the list of defensive tackles with—wait for it—one solo tackle. A full season and just that one. Sure, he had four assists for a grand total of five, but check out some of the names on the list above him: Abram Elam, Cody Spencer, Drew Coleman, Donald Duck…
All right, so that last one was a cheap shot.
And Gholston did have 12 combined tackles on special teams. Not to mention that he seems like a decent person who has been struggling with the process of coming to the NFL.
He is lucky that his salary is so large that it is in the Jets best interest to keep working with him. Gholston has $21 million in guaranteed money over the life of his five-year contract. He makes that even if he never records another tackle. When he was asked about the linebacker on Wednesday, Ryan gave one of his longest answers of the day. The abridged version:
“He’s going to have to humble himself, just like Terrell Suggs did,” Ryan said.
He compared Gholston to the Baltimore linebacker who some considered a bust. Ryan worked with him, and the rest is history. Maybe Ryan and his new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine really can turn Gholston from a project to a Pro Bowler.
“That’s (Ryan’s) confidence,” Pettine said. “But he knows if the guy has it in him, we’re going to get it out of him. That’s just what we believe in. We’ve had that mentality in Baltimore for a long time on defense ever since Rex has been there. What we’ve done a good job of doing is identifying what a guy can do and let him do that. ‘Let’s turn him loose and let him play to his strengths at the same time we’re working on what he might be deficient in.’ A guy like Vernon, we’re going to find out early what he can do. I think a big part with him is getting him some confidence early.”
This entry was posted
on Friday, January 23rd, 2009 at 5:02 pm by Jane McManus.
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Jane McManus 
I have to admit that I was not high on Gholston when they were drafting. I actually wanted them to reach for Leotis McKelvin, but getting Lowery eventually took away that sting. The Jets made the mistake of picking what all the geniuses had pegged as the best available pick. If this coaching staff can’t turn him around nobody can, but I’m not holding my breath.
I think you have to give Ghoston some time to develop. He is only 22. They basically used him as a standup DE/LB rushing the QB. Considering all the players who struggled with this JET defense late in the season, you have to wait & see with him. Bryan Thomas was the same type of player before they moved him to a full time LB. Ghoston was also inactive quite a bit during the season. He got into Manginis’ doghouse early. And you saw what happened with players who got in his doghouse. Vilma, Pennington and Robertson, all 1st round, picks were shipped out for almost nothing. We ended up with 1 draft choice from thse 3 moves. Lets hope this staff knows how to relate to their players.
In fairness to Gholston, he was never really given much of a chance.
Ryan’s D should be easier for him to get his head around, being one-gap vs Mangini’s two-gap. Also, attacking vs read & react, should help him.
I suspect Gholston was kind of shellshocked. He often dominated in college, but he got to the NFL, and found his opponents aren’t pushovers. His bruised ego needs attention.
By the way, Jane… you’re header needs attention (spelling)...
Gracias burf. Fixed.
Colour 1,
We’re just going to have to agree to disagree on this. You think Clemens is not the answer and I do. Let’s see what the Jets’ management decides.
But keep this in mind: McCareins’s dropped TD pass (an easy catch for anybody else!) from Clemens would have won the game: against Rex Ryan’s defense AT Baltimore! WITH A HORRIBLE O LINE! Rex has seen what Clemens can do very directly and I hope he has a good memory about it! I have a feeling Clemens is going to get his chance, since I agree that Favre is likely not returning. And another thing: If Favre has a lousy string of games, Rex will not be afraid to bench him, so we may see Clemens either way. If that should happen let’s hope, for the sake of the Jets, that I’m right and you’re wrong. I’m sure you just want to see the team do well as much as I do. I will concede that Clemens has a funny-looking body, but where you see fat I see muscle. And a rocket for an arm.
I sincerely hope I eat my words, but I still think Gholston will go down as a bust. His collegiate stats were inflated by a couple of games, but on the balance he looked like a one trick pony to me. I do hope I’m wrong, though.
I think (just a hunch) that Golston will improve immensely under this new leadership. Manigini and company killed his confidence by making him inactive…....Let’s give Kellen Clemens and Ratliff a chance.
Erik,
I agree with you about the confidence thing. And who knows what else may have gone on in that top-secret regime. I also am hopeful that Gholston will not turn out to b e a bust.
With Brett the Jets have a great chance.I hope Jones plays well and this year wasn’t a fluke.Maybe if he could shut his mouth and play football it would be better for the Jets.
Clemens and Ratliff can hold clip boards and get a few plays in when the game is out of hand.Ryan must do his best to get Brett back,if not we will be chanting SAME OLD JETS>
This won’t be the same old jets with or without Brett, Dan.
Dan…where do you get we…You are not a Jet fan, you are a BRETT idolizer.. You said you will go wherever he goes. I hope it’s bye-bye
Jane come on the amount of tackles he had is irrelevant!! He barely saw the field of course he is going to have a small number of tackles. The big story is that he never played not that he didn’t get many tackles.
I really hope the Jets release Brett.He then can go play for the Vikings and play the Packers twice a year.He has called his own shots for his complete career,and I believe
this was his intention when the Packers let him go.If he stays with the Jets,they will have another winning season
and probably go deep in the playoffs.With the Vikings every game would be played with passion and excitement leading up
to the two games against GreenBay.It would be like two Super
Bowls to Brett playing his old team.This would also be good
for the NFL.Many Jet fans have given up on Favre after the one year in which he helped with a 9-7 season compared to
the 4-12 in the previos season.Time will tell in the next
few weeks and those Jets fans that think Brett will stick around another year to tutor a QB to take his place the following year are in for a big surprise.Brett will play for only one reason on any team and that is to win it all at all costs. GO BRETT GO
Go Dan Go
I’m suppose none of the other free agents had anything to do with the improvement in record. It was all Brett’s doing….....Get Real!
Dan, You are a FRAUD as a JET fan.Dan January 6th, 2009 at 12:36 am While Brett is a Jet I am a Jet fan..Dan January 6th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Jane I thank you for your reply.This is why fans like Josey and myself who have followed Brett’s entire career will
stand up and defend him as if he was family…..............We JET fans don’t want fans like you..As David said, so do I..Go Dan Go
Erik did I write Brett did it by himself?Joe I am a Jet
fan while Brett is a Jet.If he stays I’m the number 1 fan of the Jets.If he goes to another team I’m the number 1 fan
of that team.If he retires I will probably cheer for an underdog like Brady and the Patriots.Joe b you are so negative about Favre its a shame.Give the guy a break,if he stays he will probably show up and go to the mini camps for
some team PR,maybe get to know the new coaches throw a few balls around.What more can you ask.
Dan..It’s not really that I don’t want him back. I just don’t want you back. I can’t be any clearer on that. How can you claim to be a JET fan. You probably never watched a JET game until he came here. That’s not a fan, that’s a turncoat. Plus I was against it from Day 1. And in the end I was right. He didn’t get us to the playoffs and I think he is too old for the game and too slow. And you can go wherever he goes as far as I am concerned. The only time you show up is when something is said about your boyfriend.
#1 Jet fan?????????????????.....Dan – You said that if Brett is here, you’re the #1 fan….That is a contradiction. True fans are fans no matter who is on the team. True fans were fans when Kenny O’Brien was getting knocked to the turf. True fans were with the team when Brooks Bollinger was behind center…...Please don’t ever claim to be the #1 fan. That is an insult to the real fans.
I agree with Erik, David, and Joe. I thought that we on this blog were through with these temporary “fans” for the off-season. Of course, for true Jets’ fans there is no “off-season.” It’s Jets, not one player, all year ‘round for us. I should’ve said “all life long.”