Originally from the Newark Star Ledger, via Rotoworld: I know OLB's, kind of like 4-3 DE's, work as a tandem. Pressure from one side yields sacks on the other. But I see these first four games as a competition, The Ghost vs. The Cactus. He with fewer sacks warms the bench Week 5. Please, please, please let Vernon Gholston win.
It good news. Gholston rearly saw the feild last year. For better or worse I felt Mangini was not giving him much of a shot to succede. Now, after the first 4 games, we will ahve a very good idea of exactly how good Gholst can be in this defense.
Gholston really never seen the field last year, I'm pretty sure he wasn't all that confident either. This should be great news for Vernon Gholston because he now knows that Rex Ryan and the Jets coaching staff really believes in his ability to make plays as our OLB. It's now up to Gholston to see what he makes of this opportunity. If he plays solid and shows everyone signs of an explosive player from the outside...Pace, Harris, Scott and Gholston will be the Jets starting backers week 5 against the Dolphins, if he shows us pretty much nothing, it's back to backing up Thomas
I like it. I just want to see him get some time. I am sure he will make mistakes but i want to see, more than anything, if he improves. That the real key. And you need extended playing time to find that out.
this will be good for him.... he gets his chance and has a coaching staff that believes in him. you can't judge vernon based on the fact he didn't play at all. yeah maybe he didn't dazzle in practice or know the system as well, but when you're on the field is when you have the opportunity to make things happen. he never got that chance, regardless if he was completely prepared for it or not. the only way to tell is to be thrown into the fire
Bingo. What Rex is doing is letting Gholston know that he has so much confidence in him to name him the starter before training camp, that it would likely instill confidence itself in Gholston throughout training camp and the first quarter of the season. This is huge given that Vern never seemed to have the slightest bit of confidence last year, so if he can somehow grasp whatever assignment that Rex gives him, we could be pleasantly surprised with the results. Smart move by Ryan.
And therein lies the difference between Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan. Mangini robbed his players of any and all confidence during training camp. Open competitions, every position is up for grabs, yadda, yadda, yadda. Rex is making this move to say "I believe in you, I'm sticking my neck out for you, don't let me down."
Well said Scik. I always try and keep in mind (When judging Gholston), that he was an amazing talent rushing the passer from the outside with Ohio State, I also keep in mind that Gholston would actually be a rookie this year, if not for leaving for the NFL a year early. He has a head start and now has a full offseason to learn the game of football. Last year, Gholston was a rookie who was simply trying to learn an OLB position under a Mangini 3-4 Defense, after years of playing as a 4-3 DE with Ohio State and I honestly believe in a learning curve because not every player plays like an All-Pro/HOF type of player from day one. Sanchez, Gholston, Greene were the 3 draft picks of 2009 if you ask me, well, thats how I'm starting to look @ it.
The other way to look at this is: Ryan just put The Ghost on notice. He has 4 games to impress the coach and his teammates. No more excuses, no Mangini, no competition. He's gonna have to live up to his high draft status this year, right now. If The Ghost comes up short or worse yet, pulls another no-show, you'd better believe he'll never see the new Stadium in a Jets uniform.
I dont think thats what Ryan meant, given we know how much of a headcase Gholston can be if he isn't given his weekly pat on the back. Mangini really fucked with him. Last years results are more then enough to show that. Ryan, whose players love him, is more likely to instill confidence in players by showing his support then threaten their job security and put them in the dog house (Mangini)
I forget how mentally soft The Ghost is.. If Ryan is just trying to gas the kid up, then these 4 games are even more important. Especially if the Ghost still stinks up the joint. I just have a feeling that even though on the surface, its all feel good for Vern, you have to wonder just how long Ryan will go along with this. I'd like to think they've learned something from the BT Local or yet another example, DRob. If the Ghost doesn't produce over these 4 games, then what?
Soft like puddin.... If the Ghost cant show Ryan something in the first 4 games, he likely will be given spot chances here and there to show he is worth the headache. If he can't at least show a glimpse of 1st round talent, he may either have to kick him in the ass, try something new, or scrape the pick all together.
Just keep in mind guys...Gholston would be a rookie this season if not for leaving college early for the Pro's last year and he would have been a top 5 pick here in 2009. He was a rookie last year, learning a new system with a pretty bad head coach, Sutton was calling the plays and he really never even seen the field...He's far from a "bust" as some Jet fans love to call him. He's in his 2nd offseason (1st full one this year), he's in his 2nd year, he's still learning the 3-4 Defense but lets not forget, Rex Ryan is one of the best 3-4 Defensive minds that the game has ever seen. I rank Rex Ryan right up there with Dick Lebeau, Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick as far as knowing and understanding how to run an elite 3-4 Defense. This man, Rex Ryan, sends the pressure from all different types of angles, he makes it just about impossible for the O-Line to protect their QB for anything longer than 2-4 seconds...This man is smart and knows how to send the rush. Rex Ryan is respected by players such as Ed Reed, Suggs, Ray Lewis along with just about every other player that plays in this league and heck...Even Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard followed him from Baltimore to New York and thats something that Mangini never had, respect (Maybe from Ty Law) And previous coaches like Marvin Lewis has never been able to fill the Bengals D with previous Raven players. Gholston has the right man working with him and I'm pretty sure that Rex Ryan wants Gholston to be pumped up, excited to play football, confident and aggressive @ the same time on Sundays-Something Mangini never did for him.
Gholston gets his chance. He either takes advantage of it or he doesn't. I like this move... the opportunity Gholston finally needs to shed all the doubt. Do it, Gholston. Make it or break it. Go for it all. Prove them all wrong about you. It's your chance to propel yourself into NFL stardom.
