Home > The Way We Hear It ~ ~ ~ NY Jets June 27, 2008 Jets in no rush to throw rookie Gholston into the starting lineup There?s little argument that Jets rookie OLB Vernon Gholston has incredible physical skills. But the way we hear it, you should look elsewhere when trying to find the preseason favorite to walk away with Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Word out of New York is that the Jets are planning on easing Gholston onto the field ? starting him out as a pass-rushing specialist ? rather than thrusting him into the starting lineup immediately. Eric Mangini, like former mentor Bill Belichick, ideally wants his young linebackers to learn the system before becoming an every-down fixture. He had to break from that philosophy last year with ILB David Harris, but Harris? insertion into the starting lineup was more out of necessity. With free-agent acquisition Calvin Pace and holdover Bryan Thomas occupying the starting OLB spots, Mangini can afford to take it slowly with Gholston. > http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/default.htm
That is a very good plan. Gholston has the ability to be very, very good as a pass rushing specialist. He's going to be fresh when he comes on the field, so we can expect 110% from this guy when he's out there.
Yah, I agree with this type of mindset. I didn't really expect anything different tho. B. Thomas obviously knows more about the system.
no surprise there..... they did the same thing with abraham in 2000 in a perfect world, you would get to do that with all of your day one draft picks jil
Who of the Jets draft picks still have to be signed (I know Gholston is one of them - I guess Keller, too)????????????
Gholston, Keller and Lowery. They'll get done. I wouldn't be surprised if Gholston's signing is waiting on Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey's contracts so that the FO has a guide of how much to offer. Keller and Lowery are much easier to do.
I think that we will see Thomas go back to being the pass rusher from the side he was on in 06, and Pace will be more of the all-around guy. Pace>Hobson, so Thomas can be what he was again, with Gholston attacking on the blitzing plays. I'd like to see Gholston get 15 snaps in each game in the 1st half of the season. Then ease him in more.
I think if the starting LBs stay healthy, this is an ideal plan for the CS to adhere to. I'm really anticipating Gholston having a stellar TC...which should light a fire under B.Thomas. Nothing like having the threat of someone taking your job to stoke the "motivation fire"...something that Thomas desperately needs.
He should be motivated enough already because people will be scrutinizingly questioning his effort if he doesn't produce since he came out and said that he wasn't motivated last year after he got money. He'll get hounded about effort if he blows again. If he were a rookie last year and played 15 snaps a game that would be, like, 20% of the defensive snaps last year:drunk:
I hope so, man...complacency is tough for players to overcome, especially since they got the big payday (see Shaun Alexander).
My biggest fear is that Gholston's slow transition is due to him not having great football smarts and he is more brute strength. My optimism is that he shows his talent in TC and amazes the CS and he is given more snaps earlier in the year.
This was the plan with Vilma too, until Sam Cowart got hurt in Week 2. Same with Harris after Vilma got hurt last year. You never know.
If you want to go by track records, this FO in it's current alignment has started every 1st rounder they've drafted on day 1, so I'm not sure it's out of the realm of possibility that Gholston and/or Keller are starting on day 1. I think it's less likely that Keller is starting than Gholston, but I guess it depends on how TC pans out, and if Gholston is in camp from day 1. And also how the Baker situation ends up.
yeah, and both ILB's played better than the guys they replaced. so maybe Gholston should get a lot of PT.
well yeah I think it is good but I think even when he is in a pass rushing specialist mode I would like to see him drop into coverage on at least a few of those snaps to see what he looks like when he is not breathing down a qb's neck
Great post. There are 2 very crucial things people refuse to acknowledge regarding our LB corps and its season long projection. 1. One of the reasons for BT's "dissapearance" after his big contract, is that he was moved away from the weak side to the strong side. When you play strong side, you typically have to be more disciplined, and more focused on the Tight end/slot reciever in your area as well as being stout at the point of attack. Truthfully, BT wasnt bad in this role...he just didnt make alot of plays. A move back to weakside where he can roam free and make plays should make a world of difference in his performance. It also helps that we added a real NT, and more size/depth around him in the LB corps. 2. Those who believe Pace was brought in to rush the passer, are partially wrong. Pace was brought here to be the strong side backer and do all the things I mentioned above. Yes there will be times when he is going to be blitzing and asked to get to the QB..but he didnt get the big bucks to be solely a pass rusher. Those who think he was, will be calling him a bust by week 3...and will likely be severely off base.
Kurtthejetsfan, I think you have made a lot of very good points. Bryan Thomas is a "good ole boy" who takes his responsibilities seriously, if a bit casual on the take up -- which, by the way, he acknowledged this year with chagrin. I think Bryan was not used well last year, as do you. As to Pace, Mangini has stated on more than one occasion that he liked the versatility and fluidity of Pace -- not that he was a Gastineau in disguise. It's important not to get too simplistic in our focus on our own ambitions when it comes to how these new guys will be used. I believe that Gholston is a studied Monster In Disguise -- you should notice how hard people react when he hits them with his hands on the rush. People should remember that he set a record for sacks when he was in college, and he left Ohio State when he was a rising senior. This man will figure out what he has to do. For the record, I really believe that our linebacking group is perhaps the most improved unit on the NYJs today.
