His biggest issue seems to be reading/adapting. His strength is...well he's strong, he's a moose. How about the jets tell him to add 30-40 lbs and make him a 3-4 DE? Charles Grant with the saints started college as a 250 lb linebacker at georgia...they fattened him up and he was a first round pick... just a thought...
Mangina thought the same thing. Then Sexy Rexy came in and had him drop 20-30lbs so he can get his speed back. There was an article back in training camp about him slimming down as per Rex's instructions.
From what I can tell Gholston just lacks that "killer instinct" you need to play in the NFL or football in general. I played some football in my younger days but hockey was my main sport. Same deal though...if you dont have that "killer instinct" in hockey your done. You have to get yourself in the frame of mind that you're ready to rip someones head off to get your job done and that no one out there can stop you. Go out there and push someone around just for the hell of it and let everyone know your not going take anyones shit. He doesnt display any of that.
That is what I think is his biggest problem to. He needs to play with much more fire and intensity. He needs to play like his life depended on it. From my observation, he is not even close. He looks like he's out there dancing and making friends. I guess it is hard to get mad when you have $20M in guarantees coming your way. If he keeps playing like this, I can't wait until he is off the team. We need somebody at that positins who eats snakes for lunch; not quiche. As far as getting a pick for him; right now, I don't care; he has disappointed me greatly. His first 4 games were his time to shine, and he did not. Fuck him. I do want to see Mr. Clowney play though.
He's going to be a nickel pass rusher with his hand down and will be an occasional pass rush specialist in a base set. I don't think he's an every down player at this point in his career. Everyone points to players who have had immediate impacts at the 3-4 OLB spot but then you have guys like James Harrison who it took some time to put together. There is still hope but fortunately the defense is good enough where the Jets can afford to be patient.
But, he has not earned his pay check at all. And, with the type of money his Agent will be asking for when it is time to renew, he will be gone; he simply is not worth it. I will really laugh when he is 1 or 2 years from the end of his contract and he starts crying for a contract entension. The only thing I am willing to extend to Gholston is my middle finger. That is my quote of the day. Yeah.
At least with Pace back, we won't have to watch Vern the Friendly Ghost run around after every play making sure we see a nice, clean #50 standing near the action. I doubt seriously if he gets resigned to play on the DRex. I don't even envision him as a special teams player. Just another guy that got paid too soon ala Brian Bosworth..
You're going to see a lot more Gholston with his hand in the dirt with Pace back. You're also going to see him collapsing pockets, creating pressure on opposing QBs. He was a DE, drafted to play 3-4 OLB, who will become a very good, and maybe even elite 3-4 DE. Bank on it. EDIT: I said this a few weeks ago already.
I say we wait til either 2009 and an uncapped year or 2010 and cut his ass. He is a bust , no production and has become an average back up 3-4 de at best
The Jets can keep Gholston around and make him a project for as long as they want but they have to get him to take a pay cut.
He's an 82 at Madden at DE who puts up double digit sacks for me, so clearly, that would be the right choice... Seriously, I'm starting to think 3-4 DE may be best. I thought he was supposed to be faster than this... All he seems good for is taking up blocks. 3-4 DEs are much better suited for that.
He's not going to take a paycut, and you can't assume he would. Would any of us? In terms of him being a project, that project ends December of 2010. If he hasn't broken out by that point, he won't be wearing green in September '11. As for him being an average 3-4 end, he has yet to play the position. So far, he's put his hand in the dirt alongside the 3-man DL. A sort of hybrid OLB-DE in a 3-man line package. He'll probably do that quite a bit more this year, while they transition him, though my preference would be to just throw him in the fire and see if he burns. His "game" is made for this. He's never going to put up flashy numbers. He's just going to push OLs around his entire career. That's not a bad thing as a 3-4 DE. He may not get sacks, or even a lot of tackles, but Pace will. Or Scott. Or Harris. Or Thomas. And watch when Ghoslton is eating up two blockers when they send a corner on a blitz and he flies past the oline. The key is going to be people letting go of judging him based on his draft slot/purpose. He was drafted too high for his skillset, for the wrong position. That's on Mangini, not Ghoslton.
He's fast. There's no question he's got speed. His problem is he's completely indecisive, and when he finally decides to act, he makes the wrong choice. The argument on his football instincts is valid. He's terrible at quickly processing action on-the-fly. That's what takes him out of plays, and why he's always "right there" with his "hands on his hips" at the end of plays. Obviously I agree with you regarding the him being an end. I believe he'll excel at that position.
He's way too small to be a 3-4 defensive end. Like 30 pounds too small in today's NFL. Sean Ellis and Marques Douglas are on the low end at this point, which makes sense since they're both early 30's and entered the NFL a half generation ago. If they want to make a move with Gholston it would be better to look at him in inside. The inside linebackers frequently get a free run at the QB when they blitz, especially on the timing blitzes that come a second late.
I hear you on the size but feel his strength will allow him to be at the bottom end wieght wise for that position. So add 20 to 25 pounds to him and he should be fine. The dude is very strong!
