From the Baltimore Sun, Baltimoresun.com, author Sheil Kapadia Draft profile: Vernon Gholston If Sunday's Super Bowl showed us anything, it's that you always have a chance if you put pressure on the quarterback. Enter Vernon Gholston. Ohio State's defensive end had 14 sacks during his senior season, good enough for third in the nation. Gholston's performance makes him a likely first-round pick after electing to skip his senior season with the Buckeyes. To get a better handle on what kind of player Gholston is, I called on Ken Gordon, an Ohio State beat writer for The Columbus Dispatch. Q: What about Gholston will impress NFL teams? A: His body. The man is a physical freak of nature. His veins just bulge out of his arms. He?s sculpted, with like 5 percent body fat, and he can bench press 455 pounds. I expect he?ll be a hit at the combine. Q: What were the major factors in Gholston's decision to skip his senior season? A: He had been here four years, having redshirted due to injury in 2005. He followed up a solid 2006 (8.5 sacks, second-team all-Big Ten) with a dominating 2007 (14 sacks, Big Ten defensive lineman of the year). He played in two straight national-title games. He probably felt he had nothing left to prove. Plus, his father passed away years ago and I?m sure he wants to support his mother. Q: Describe the "Leo" position that Gholston played at Ohio State. How was he against the run? A: Leo is OSU?s name for a hybrid rush-drop defensive end. They run a fair amount of zone blitz, and sometimes the Leo drops into coverage. It?s sort of like what Mike Vrabel does for New England, kind of a big, versatile outside linebacker-type. Or Adalius Thomas. Gholston was solid against the run, nothing spectacular. He doesn?t miss many tackles, and his strength is chasing to the outside. He?s got speed. Q: Describe Gholston's personality. What is he like off the field, and what was his relationship like with teammates, coaches and the media? A: He?s kind of a different bird, personality-wise. He?s very pleasant, but very quiet and kind of a loner. For instance, he lived with a woman, but she is not his girlfriend. Just different, not a typical jock. When the majority of the team gathered at the team meeting room Dec. 1 to watch the West Virginia-Pitt and Missouri-Oklahoma games (which decided OSU?s bowl fate), Gholston was one of the few players not there. Never any problems off the field or any squabbles with the media, just very reserved and private. Q: The Big Ten has had several NFL-caliber offensive tackles during the past few seasons -- Wisconsin's Joe Thomas, Penn State's Levi Brown, Michigan's Jake Long. Has Gholston gone head-to-head with any of those guys, and if so, how did he perform? A: He never faced Joe Thomas. Wisconsin was off OSU?s schedule in 2005 and 2006. In 2006 against Levi Brown, Gholston had a sack. Against Long, he had no sacks in 2006, and absolutely destroyed Long in 2007 (see my answer to the last question). Q: Is it true that Gholston didn't start playing football until he was a sophomore in high school? What made him want to pick up the sport? A: True. Gholston apparently was really into weightlifting and not team sports. As I said, he?s just a bit different. His high school coach spotted him in the hall freshman year and thought he was a kid?s parent. He looked so big and mature. When he found out Gholston was a student, he sort of begged and pleaded until the kid agreed to play football. So he was still sort of raw when he got to Ohio State, instinct-wise. Q: What was Gholston's signature moment at Ohio State? A: Last season at Michigan. Coming off a loss, OSU needed to win at its archrival in order to clinch a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth (of course, they ended up with more, but they didn?t think they would at the time). The Buckeyes won, 14-3, and held Michigan to 91 total yards, thanks in part to a banged-up Chad Henne and Mike Hart. Working mostly against Long, Gholston had three of OSU?s four sacks, including his final one, midway through the fourth quarter. Gholston beat Long so quickly and got to Henne so fast that it surprised both players. Gholston didn?t even have time to get his arms up, he simply chest-bumped Henne to the turf. It was a dominant performance in a big game. More on Gholston ESPN.com lists him at 6-foot-3 5/8, 255 pounds. Mel Kiper Jr. has Gholston ranked as the ninth-best player available: He took his play to a new level in 2007, showcasing the explosiveness to overpower offensive tackles at the point of attack. Gholston also has excellent closing speed, as evidenced by the 14 sacks he registered. He also has the versatility to play with his hand off the ground. Kiper has the Jets selecting Gholston with the No. 6 pick in his most recent mock draft. So does ESPN.com's Todd McShay: This seems a bit high right now for Gholston, who flashes top-10 talent in many games (see: three sacks against Michigan) but disappears in too many others. Don't be surprised, however, if he works his way into the top-10 mix by the time April rolls around. Gholston is the best edge-rushing prospect in the class and we all know the premium NFL teams place on those players. He would be an excellent addition at rush linebacker for a Jets defense that is in need of some perimeter heat out of its 3-4 front. Scouts, Inc. has Gholston ranked as the No. 8 player overall. ESPN.com's McShay says Gholston's biggest strength is his combination of power, quickness and motor. He says Gholston's biggest negative is his smaller frame. It's probably worth noting that the Buckeyes recruited Gholston as a linebacker. Here's what Gholston told our interviewee Ken about his quiet demeanor during the past season: "I get fired up, but it will be more subtle than anything. My emotion comes from pride and going out there trying to dominate. ? I have my moments, too. I don't get as riled up as [Ohio State teammate] Malcolm [Jenkins], but I go out there and have intensity." And finally, I'm sure the part in the Q&A about Gholston living with a female roommate who's not his girlfriend caught your attention. Here's the story from the Dayton Daily News. Apparently the roommate was a licensed massage therapist. Here's what Gholston said: "It's a good living situation. I know my role, and she knows her role. I take out the trash, and she does the dishes."
Truly a quote to live by. He also drinks beer and watches football on Sundays while she makes him sandwiches.
Normally these types of articles get me fired up, but I saw lots of red flags. Weightlifter Quiet Loner Disappears This guy is the anti-Merriman to some extent. If that means he didn't actually do roids its a good thing, but Gholston doesn't sound like he's going to help fire up the D. It also doesn't sound like his heart is in football, and rather he's looking for a payday to support his family. I'm starting to hope Chris Long falls to 6. Longshot of course.
Article is very accurate. I live Columbus, seen every game Gholston has played and the writer is dead-on. Gholston is unbelievable rushing the passer, none better in College last year. I don't believe Gholston takes off plays, he just doesn't "have the Fire" of a C Long, or S Ellis. Gholston is lost in coverage, a major flaw. If you want a 3-4 OLB to only rush the passer, he's awesome, asking him to drop in coverage on consistent basis will be a liabilitiy. I agree that Gholston, as was mentioned, he doesn't seem to "love football". Mangini is from the Parcells mold and you know that one of the criteria is for the player to love football, Vernon just doesn't have that passion. Do I think Gholston is going to be a good player in the NFL?.....Yes, he has all the physical skills....size, speed to be good. A great player worth the #6 pick......No, he lacks Coverage skills and desire to be great. Also, BTW most , if not all Buckeye fans will tell you, Gholston was the third best defender on the Buckeye's last year...the 2 that didn't declare James L and Malcom J were much more productive players and NFL worthy.
I just don't get the love. He looks like such a one trick pony to me - who else on our team would you say that about?
Vilmatic...Read my post in the draft forum a few days ago...I said the same thing. #34 WW85 Totally Addicted Join Date: Nov 2003 vCash: 500 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've seen Gholston's entire career, he hasn't played LB. Most people have no clue about Gholston's true ability. I'm telling you he can't cover, it ain't happening. If you want a one trick pony that's fine....that's Gholston in a nutshell. Ghoston can rush the passer and is very explosive, but let's stop the garbage that he can cover. I feel very strongly about my opinion....Nobody on this site has seen Gholston play more than myself. Ghoston is a HUGE risk, he's not a Ware or Merriman, at least they can drop and cover with good lateral movement. If the Jet's want to spend a Top 6 pick on a one dimentional player it would be a move they will regret. The internet hype on Gholston is out of friggin control. Since Gholston is built like a Brick craphouse..."he's a great player"....that's a bunch of "Internet draft know it alls" that don't have the first clue about Gholston and haven't seen him play. I've been pretty quiet about my opinion on Gholston, but I'm just tired of people talking....about something they have no clue. The Hyperbole on Gholston's abiltiy makes me physically ill. __________________
As said above, I think the kiss of death for him not being in green is his possible lack of passion for the sport. Honestly, any coverage deficiencies and such could be fixed with his athletic ability if he had that passion, but I'm not so sure now. I'll let Mangini and Tanny be the judge of whether or not he's worth the pick, and I trust them as far as the draft goes. However, you guys shouldn't be so dead set on him because as said above, Mangini's in the Parcells/Bellechik mold and loves guys who love football. Chris Long (if there) and Sedrick Ellis (same) seem more likely be guys Mangini would fall for at #6.
I agree with the chris long statement, im sure the jets have gholston real high, im not sure if they are sold on him yet.
http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?p=757016#post757016 He could be good in a Dwight Freeney role, but I honestly think his lack of lateral agility is unhideable.
I can think of another Jet that fits the quiet, confident, hard working type... Why does he have to be like Merriman personality-wise to be as good a player? I'd think good play would fire up most defenses.
I agree. This is where I leave it to Mangini and Tannebaum; is the guy just quiet and reserved as a person, or is his heart actually not in the game? I think that'll be the difference between us drafting him and looking elsewhere.
other posters have eluded to CM as an example of the quiet type that still has a burning passion to be the best, so i wouldnt let his outward demenor make or break the deal. its posts like ww85 the make me wonder how well he would utimately do. plus when you just look at him its hard to shake the whole roid thing. pass.
Back to the internet issue...Gholston is not a good prospect because he's ripped and his pictures made the internet...he's a good prospect because he's been one of the best pass rushers in college football since becoming a starter. He's a good prospect because he offers size, pass rush, strength, and motor...despite the knocks that came on him after the LSU bowl game. I mean...how many DE/OLB propsects in recent memory were great or even good in coverage coming out? Gholston has experience at least, and has looked competent at times. Ware and Merriman weren't Ware and Merriman at the time of the draft either...most people thought Ware was a huge reach at 11. Your hyperbole on Gholston's...everything pretty much...makes me physically ill.
It is possible to have a great physique without doing steroids. People just assume that because he's big that he's on roids. One of my old coworkers practically lived at a gym and went there twice a day every day and had like 5 or 6% body fat and was huge. I never saw him drink anything other than water, and I never saw him eating anything that could be considered unhealthy. He swore up and down that he didn't take any steroids, and he wasn't doing it to play sports, he just wanted to be in shape and healthy. I read an article that Gholston was approached by his coach in HS when he was a freshman or sophomore, and that he loved to lift weights then as well. Some people can just be that into lifting weights. Just because you're big doesn't necessarily mean you're on steroids, especially if you've always been big. Now, if he was a scrawny 210lb guy and within 3 months went up to 260lbs then that's another story.
Was that article the article in this thread? :wink: I agree...the "Gholston is on roids" schtick is ridiculous speculation...theres been more than a few articles that states Gholston's first love was body building.
I don't know, this kid doesn't really get me fired up with some of this quiet, reserved, loner stuff. Maybe he'd be a good late first rounder, early second.
Why is this so significant to people? DeMarcus Ware is quiet, reserved, and a bit of a loner...would you take him? Would you take Curtis Martin?
Sounds like David Boston. Does anyone remember that crazy David Boston article from a few years back that talked about how he took 80 pills of some sort a day and lived in an apartment with his trainer? -X-
