Somehow I got this weird idea - hear me out. In his first year, Ferguson had Tony Wise as his position coach. Of course, Wise sucked, and was canned subsequently. Under his guidance, Jets ranked #20 in rushing, and #16 in Sacks allowed in 2006. True, having no-name in RB corp didn't help his cause, but that doesn't change the fact that he sucks. Due to his incompetency, that affected Ferguson a lot (this is my contention.) We have heard times and again about this Ferguson Bust thing in the past - I can still remember it. Now... look at Ferguson of late: his run-blocking has improved heads and shoulders above his rookie season level, while his pass-blocking hasn't diminished one bit. His line coach is, of course, Bill Callahan, a massive upgrade from Tony Wise. Now... you'd be thinking "Just what the hell is he trying to say?" I am trying to talk about... Gholston a.k.a. the Ghost. I have come to think about... who the position coach is for him, and why wasn't I surprised to find the name: Bob Sutton? In the current situation, it's either Rex Ryan's scheme sucks so much that Gholston can't thrive in it (Say that to #1 rank defense. This one doesn't have a leg to stand on.), or Gholston just doesn't have the talent to be playing in this league (For now, I'm 50-50 on this...) , or maybe, just maybe, his position coach sucks beyond human imagination. I also think that, Pittsburgh of late is simply churning out Pro-bowl level LBs out of just about anyone they draft. And they happen to have one of the better LB coach in Kevin Butler. Could this be a coincidence? I don't think so. So... what do you guys think? Do we give up on Gholston now, or give him another shot with someone better (than, of course, Bob Sutton) at LB coach?
I think it's entirely due to his mindset and passion for the game of football. The only way he was going to catch on was to have some quick success and develop that desire to play the game, but it hasn't happened. He'd be just as content being a special teamer as he would a star, and that's not how a Rex Ryan defense operates. Look at the guys he brought from Baltimore: Jim Leonhard- Undrafted Bart Scott- Undrafted Marques Douglas- Undrafted He wants guys that force themselves onto the field, not guys that would be happy sitting on the side.
From what I can see, when watching him play his 4 or 5 reps a game, the ghost's biggest problem is the inability to get off a block. In my opinion that isn't due to poor coaching, it's just a lack of effort. Someone as big as him should be able to blow up a charging fb. However, he gets pushed 5 yes down field ever damn play. He has no heart get rid of him.
The problem with the theory is that Sutton is a very good LB's coach. He was abysmal as D Coord -- but was that his schemes or Mangini's? Our LB corps has always been very effective and productive when Sutton has been LB's coach, which would make Gholston the outlier. Let's not make the analysis more difficult than it is-- he lacks the passion and instincts for the game. That is why he's struggling.
When I heard Vernon Gholston get drafted I was crushed. Being a Rutgers Fan I'd love to have seen Ray Rice get picked up.
I still think they should keep trying with Gholston. It would be a real shame if he was picked up by another team, and started playing well next season.
First, Gholston. There were a lot of draft experts that thought he was going to be a bust long before that draft was even conducted. He has been even worse than that, Westhoff doesn't even want him on any of his units. If he can't even play ST's at this point in his career, I say just cut him. Sutton gets a bad rap, and the truth is we don't really know if Sutton sucks or not. Other than Gholoston, the LB's have played great this year. Rex decided to keep him. If he he stays next year, guess what that means? It means Sutton is a pretty good coach. He may not have the leadership qualities that a coordinator might need. He might be fine as an LB coach though. I'll go with Rex... if he keeps him, there you go.
My opinion (probably not an original thought) is that he is a pass rusher from the DE position, nothing more. LB need to shed blockers and he can't. For some weird reason he seems to get a better burst to the QB when his hand is on the ground. I think he should a situational pass rusher in a 4-3 scheme much like the Colts/Vikings. As long as we play the 3-4, I don't seem him doing much. Whether we can move him in the spring for a draft pick or two, who knows?
There is no comparison between Ferguson and Gholston. Ferguson has been a starter since the day he got here. Gholston can't get on the field. Ferguson may have struggled some in his first two years, but you could see the talent and he was part of a rebuilding process on an offensive line and team that was putrid. Gholston can't get on the field. I was willing to be as patient as anyone in giving him the benefit of the doubt, but if he can't contribute on this defense with this CS, he is never going to contribute. We are seeing the last of Gholston over the next few days or weeks.
1) D'Brickashaw Ferguson was never a bust, he was a young player learning one of the toughest positions in the NFL. Jets fans are just too impatient. 2) I bet that David Harris, Bryan Thomas, Jonathan Vilma, and plenty of other good LBs to be developed by the Jets disagree that Sutton is a bad position coach. 3) Gholston's got all the tools. His inability to get off of blocks and play with energy on every down is nobody's fault but his own.
If he had usable skills, we'd be using them. OR: this was his rookie year and NEXT year is his jump to total domination year.
gholston has enormous talent and drive. rex just hasn't found his calling yet. maybe rex could try him at the LC postion (lunch counter), seving up grub in the mess hall, or pushing a floor buffer around. with the right position coach, i'm sure gholston could master either of these important positions in 3-4 years max.
I remember at the beginning of the season Rex said that Gholston would be his "project." I say we give Gholston 1 more year, it's usually the 3rd season where you can officially label bust, Gholston will then get signed by a 4-3 team and have a HOF career as a 4-3 end.
This. I'd just like to add that a lot of Fergusons improvement can be directly linked to him filling out his frame and getting stronger. He's always had the athleticism and it showed, he just wasn't big or strong enough at first. Now that he's filled out his frame that is no longer an issue, and again it shows. I'm sure Callahan, Faneca and experience play a large role too. Gholston is ass.
VG is just a combine Freak Unfortunately football is more than just physical skills. It was well documented that he took time out during games and didn't have the mental fortitude to play 60 minutes of football. The Jets just got caught up in the combine stats. Jim leaonhard, Douglass and Scott all went undrafted. He is the LB version of Jarmacus Russell.
wrong. Gholston sucks balls, but he wasn't just a combine freak or "workout warrior". He was projected to go top 10 well before the combine because of his body of work at Ohio State. This is something people get wrong all the time.
