I'm really excited about Gholston. From what I've read he has a great work ethic and is smart...if those 2 things prove to be true...he will be a dominant player in this league. His physical skills are that good. You could actually make the argument that he has the most physical upside this league has seen since Derrick thomas enterred the league. Now the same things were said about Lavarr arrington when he enterred the league and time will tell if Gholston can be better at staying healthy and getting along w/ his teammates. All that aside..I think the best way to utilize Gholston long term, is to avoid him dropping back in space(not his strength) and allow him to continually attack the LOS as a rush defender and pass rusher. His size, strength and speed will make him a force in that role. Put him in different spots all over the front 7 and let him take over. That's a scary thing for Offensive coordinators to deal w/.
I don't agree with this philosophy. It might be the best approach or it might not. It should be determinted on an individual basis. The Jets were going to be bring Harris along slowly and then played him out of necessity. All he did was turn out to be the best defensive player on the field. Whatever happened to whoever plays the best plays?
I don't think they're necessarily straying from the best player plays philosophy by saying they don't want him to play full time until he learns the system. If you haven't learned the system yet by definition you aren't the best player. My take on it is that as soon as they're comfortable that he does know the system if he is the best player he'll be playing full time. Just don't expect him to be the week one starter - he was mostly a DE in college although their DE's do drop into coverage at times it's not as much as our OLB's. Harris was a linebacker in college so the transition probably wasn't nearly as difficult for him as it will be for Gholston.
Let em start off on the bench playing some packages at OLB and then if we really need him or he is becoming that much of a force he becomes the starter.
This article sounds like coach-speak to me; trying to keep expectations in check. Over the last few years, many top notch linebackers (Pat Willis, D. Ryans, AJ Hawk, DJ Williams, Odell Thurmann, K. Wimbley, Tatupu, Ernie Simms, Vilma and Harris albeit by injury) have found their way on to the field, and with Vilma and Harris I think they would have sooner or later with or without injury, pretty quickly. If Gholston performs the way they expect him to perform, worthy of a #6 pick, his production, or more importantly, value to the team should be good. IMO an athlete of his caliber, even if used initially in a situational, pass-rush only capacity, certainly has the capability to put up the sack #'s to win DROY.
he will start on the bench holding harris, pace, and BT's jock straps. but he will get his shot throughout the games to make plays, but he won't start unless has a replapse or someone gets hurt.
It would be a massive waste of his pass rushing ability. Most of the pressure in the 3-4 comes from the OLB's of the edge and that is what Gholston does best. If Barton needed replaced badly I would rather see Pace or Thomas shifted inside.
Calvin Pace was never a good pass rusher. He had his best sack numbers last year. This is not to mention, all of his sacks last year (except maybe one or two) came against teams who's pass protection isn't really all that great: St. Louis (injuries decimated their OL), Washington (injuries hurt them on the outside), Detriot (2.5 from a Martz offense with a shoddy OL), Seattle, and Atlanta. So i don't think any casual football fan, thinks Calvin pace going to put ujp big sack numbers.
If the Jets take the #6 pick in the draft, who's main talent is a potential monster outside pass rusher, and move him inside, to a position he has never played, my only thoughts will be of killing Mangini
I doubt Gholston actually starts at ILB. Still, Mangini's two biggest influences (BP and BB) don't exactly baby their guys...I wouldn't be surprised to see Gholston and everyone else take snaps at ILB...this is a D based on hiding the 4th blitzer and having guys who can move around inside, outside, and hand on ground only makes it tougher to deal with.
That's not a surprise at all, I felt all along they'd bring him along the way Groh's staff brought along John Abraham in 2000. He'll be a situational pass rusher until he can handle every down duty. Abe was on his way to a monster rookie year until(surprise!) he got hurt. Abe was on pace for 12 sacks, if we can get half that production from Gholston while he transitions to an everydown player I'll be very happy.
