He was projected top 10 way before the combine. This isn't proof, but I don't feel like finding it. I know for sure the combine wasn't what drove his stock up. People say that all the time, but it's incorrect. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2008-05-02-3941753610_x.htm Coach Eric Mangini first watched tape of Gholston while walking on the treadmill shortly after the Jets' season ended. "I remember thinking, 'This could be the sixth pick in the draft,"' Mangini recalled.
You don't really need to find proof over the internet about that situation...Any college football junky knows that Gholston was a top 10 lock during last years draft, before the Combine, and thats because Gholston played like an animal/freak of nature out there for two full years with Ohio State. Chris Johnson is someone who actually improved his draft stock thanks to his amazing 40 yard time but Gholston was well known for over 1 1/2 years before the draft.
Fair enough. I guess the proof will be in the pudding, or padding. Maybe Ryan will get a ton out of this guy. It will definitely be interesting.
Yeah, I just cant quit on this guys talents, not yet you know? I mean...I just think like this: Gholston left early, he would really only be a rookie this year if he stayed that extra year, but now he atleast has some experience working against NFL players such as Ferguson, Faneca, Mangold, Moore and Woody for the 2nd offseason in a row instead of NCAA O-Lineman who never even make the league for the most part. Last year he was a rookie learning a new position from his college days and to be honest...He simply looked lossed and confused out there as an OLB in a 3-4 Defense after years of playing as a 3-4 DE with OSU and I understand those types of struggles @ first. And now he was Rex Ryan calling the shots and showing him the X's and O's instead of Mangini (A secondarys coach) along with Sutton (Never enjoyed his play calling ability when it came to sending the pressure) All in all...I think last years failures could have been the best thing to ever happen to Gholston instead of him putting up say...4 sacks or something like that. As crazy as that sounds, I believe in a learning curve and I also believe in you must learn how to lose before you know how to win. He's still really young, really raw but the talent is there-He's no Schegel or however you spell that guys name
Rexy, Rexy Rexy... I guess this could end up being his first black mark as a HC for me. They haven't even put on the pads yet and he's naming a starter at an impact position. This could end up being a great motivation tool, but i don't like the way it looks right now.
That is just plain out wrong. Gholston was a top pass rusher at Ohio State. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Gholston He was going to be a high draft pick before the combine no matter what. He set Ohio state records. He was the only player to get a Sack against Jake Long, the top Left Tackle prospect, that year. If you didn't know who Gholston was before the combine, you didn't follow colledge football that year.
Even if he wasn't a combine freak, not to even mention that his career in Ohio State was very good and he was at least a top 15 player even without the combine, he was never going to be a coverage linebacker, Ware isn't a coverage linebacker and neither was Merriman. The problem was that the penguin tried to force him into the role and his play suffered badly because of it.
It isn't that big of an impact that you will think, he will still probably be switching Thomas and Gholston in and out throughout the game so both will get good amount of playing time
lol! Yes, Gholston will be bringing the pain this year! I don't know why so many are so quick to give up on him when he has such a great burst off the line and will have a full year to get into the system.
If Rex did this and then Mangini came along coaching after him, everyone would be saying the opposite. "Ryan made them lazy, Mangini got them motivated and ready to work for their spot."
My hope is the difference that there seems to be between Mangini and Ryan. From what I have read, Ryan designs his system around his talent. Mangini forces talent into his system. *coughDRobVilmacough*
I really hope Vernon Gholston turns into an impact OLB for us and you know why? Because if that happens, we are REALLY set @ the LB position because Bryan Thomas makes for a really, really, really good backup LB. Not alot of 3-4 teams have an OLB with as much playing time, experinece and production as a backup OLB... 8.5 sacks in 2006, 5.5 sacks last year? This man can rush the passer as and as backup, he's one of the best out there. I'm not confident with Thomas as a starter but I enjoy his talents as a backup because in the 3-4 you can really never have enough LB's and Thomas is a great building block to build your backups around. Pace, Scott, Harris, Gholston----Thomas. Thats strong right there (If Gholston can breakout).
just imagine if gholston breaks out and sheppard returns to all-pro form? that would be a sick, sick defense. but those are two BIG IF's.
Well, Sheppard has never lost a step-The Eagles benched him last year because of his contract situation and Sheppard just didn't wanna be there. When 100% healthy (Which Sheppard is as of right now), he's always been known as a top 10 coverage CB. They don't call Sheppard "The Cowboy killer" for nothing...This man has shut down Owens over the years better than any WR ever has. I do agree with you, if Sheppard plays like he's always played-Revis and Sheppard can make for the best 1-2 punch around @ the CB position with Rhodes roaming the secondary. When we play the Bills...I want Revis on Evans / Sheppard on Owens / Lowery on Parrish because I cant see the Bills rushing on the D (With thier O-Line) And thats becasue Scott-Harris and Jenkins can be an elite triple-combo against the run
You are speculating a lot with this post, based on speculation on the part of sports journalists. Some people believed that Lito had lost a step, others believe he was dogging it because he was frustrated, and yet others believe that he was in Reid's doghouse. It's probably somewhere in the middle of all three of those. I'm not jaded enough to believe that he will automatically become Lito Sheppard 1996 immediately, and you are setting yourself up for disappointment if you think that he will.
1996? How old do you think Sheppard is? The man is only 28 years of age, still has his speed, still has his quickness and he can still make plays on the ball because he's only 28...He's not a 35 year old TY Law who simply had nothing left. Lito Sheppard was a rookie in 2002 and in 2006, Sheppard had 6 INT's in only 13 games-I'm telling you...This dude is going to be a huge upgrade over Law of last year. I'm really not speculating all that much, I went over to an Eagles message board and just about all of them said that Sheppard was upset with his contract status, Andy Reed wanted no part of it and all in all...That was the reason why Sheppard never had playing time last year and I'll take their word for it because I remember the type of player that Sheppard has always been---He's a ball hawk
