I must've blinked on the play where Gholston almost got a sack. It looked like Lowery was the first round pick today.
You don't seem to be alone in that. My only worry about Gholston is that he doesn't have enough moves. Given the actual circumstances of his situation, it's understandable and doesn't really bother me *that* much. He doesn't seem mentally retarded, so he'll probably pick up a few over the years. And yes people, he does have *years* to grow as a player. Not the 6 or so weeks some of you seem to be giving him. Considering everything, he didn't look bad. Woulda been nice if he registered a tackle, but DeMarcus Ware had two whole tackles in his NFL debut...and he started that game. Slooooooow doooown people.
I never expected him to make a major impact this year. However, because this guy was drafted 6th overall, I won't give him a pass in 2009. He better start showing shit then. If Gholston does not play well by the end of the 2009 season, he might only have one more year to show something before the Jets look for a replacement. In conclusion, I don't think Gholston has four or five or six years to grow as a player. I think he has two.
If he learns how to go "across the face" of a Tackle, he can have 10 sacks a season. He is so strong he can bullrush fine, but he has to just learn moves and he could kill. There are many times i've seen a hole to the inside part of the pocket where if he went across the face he'd be standing in front of the QB. Bryan Cox has to teach him that move, then this all goes away. He'll be the 3rd down gunner all season, get over it everyone.
Also about the "lack of aggression" thing...the 3-4 OLB...LB position in general...calls for less aggression and more intelligence. He doesn't seem to lack aggression when rushing the passer, and even if he does, he still got into the backfield today. It's all in your head people. Slow it down and you'll realize you've got a pretty talented guy (and team) here. Sit back and give them the time...theres really no need to analyze. Then again...keep doing it 'cause the board would get fuckin boring.
With Gholston I still see an excess of tentativeness than a lack of agression. He's been playing football for only 7 years of his life, as opposed to the 16 for 90% of players in the NFL. That will fade. I think it will take an entire season for the kid. 3-5 sacks on the year is my prediction.
I was watching Gholston, in the first half when I was sitting 6 rows behind the Jets bench and he was pretty much in there on passing downs. They had him go after the QB and not do much of the more complicated things that they had him do in preseason. I watched him bull rush Vernon Carey the fins RT and he pushed him 5 yards back. He went around the end better then he did in preseason too. As a whole though, he really was not that impressive.
I wasn't angry with his performance. At the very least he's taking up blockers and letting the players around him make a move. I'd like to see more cb blitzes to his side comming from Coleman or Barrett to see if they can finish off what he starts. I'd like to see him do more than he did today but I'm going to be patient about it. As long as he continues to mature and the coaching staff brings him along slowly I think he'll be fine. Gholston's next lesson in practice: punching Joey Porter in the throat.
It's funny, because you bash the guy for having a political avatar yet you come back and make a political statement? Rather foolish, don't you think?
some of our fans really need to wake up and realize the knock on gholston would be the HUGE transition period for him if he is going to succeed.making the position switch, let alone the system switch is a big fucking task for someone with little football experience. they used him as a rush backer and he occasionally applied pressure, collpased the pocket but fell short of sacks. so week 1 lets call him a bust. jesus, if we judged d'brick by this standard hed have been the worst bust around. hell he still might be but he gets a pass cuz theres a new top 10 pick to shit on.
Just met VG at an autograph signing today. He was with Kenny Phillips of the Giants. The guy is a monster. He said he hasn't been happy with the way he's been playing but is still getting more and more comfortable with the NFL game. Nice guy but Phillips had more of a personality. Doesn't really matter as long as he puts the qb on his ass.
Gholston is a quiet guy. The Ohio State team said he doesn't talk much and kept to himself. He has the whole season to learn, and some of next... he'll be like D'Brick.
Well, Gholston is swimming in the deep water for the first time, and there's no life guard in sight. Just what do you guys think his position coaches are saying to him? I believe that he has received (via HUDDLE) film of every play, with commentary, from his coaches on his laptop by now. One of the things that this on-line networked software provides is a way for each player to be individually, microscopically critiqued by his position coaches IN PRIVATE well before it becomes an issue in the meeting room. There will be a few layers of improvement opportunity every week for the Rooks. By the way, I'm pretty sure this includes the guys who did well, like Lowery, for instance. We have a helluva long way to go to catch and overtake the fucking Pats. I believe this CS is bound and determined to do that, too.
What's funny is if Gholston wraps up Pennington and doesn't get overly excited about his 1st NFL sack...Then the people who critique him will say "Wow, he had a sack and did good. I liked what I saw!"
^^ It wasn't that he got overly excited... Long played him the way you play any exceptionally athletic pass rusher... Gholston went straight up field, and Long let him, forming the pocket for Pennington to step up in... It was textbook pass-blocking from the LT position.. If/when Gholston learns some pass-rushing moves, he can work through/across the tackle, instead of simply trying to go around him, and providing the QB with a perfect pocket...
