New York Jets LB Vernon Gholston, 8.14 On getting ready for preseason games? We did a little bit of watching Washington. The preparation stuff, I?m learning how the team goes about that, and how the defense goes about that. Me, I?m still learning, just focusing on what I?m doing and it?s getting better. On if he?s picking things up faster now? Yes, it started out late but that?s something I couldn?t control. Once I got here I was focused on what I?m doing. Doing some extra meetings, doing some extra things on the field and I?m getting up to speed. On if it is hard to not think on the field and just react? Yes, that?s the tough thing. Everybody tells you just to go, but it?s kind of hard when you don?t know where to go (laughs). It?s one of the things I dealt with in college early. Once I learn what to do, where I need to be, I?m pretty good. On if he has more spotlight on him due to being the team?s top draft choice? Maybe it is, I don?t look at it that way. Once I get with the guys, I just try to fit in and be a team member, regardless of where you were picked or how long you?ve been here. Everyone has to contribute a little bit. On if he?ll be in a position to contribute by opening day? That?s what I?m working for. At the end of the day it?s all about what the coaches think is best, whether I?m out there or not, just be with the team. On if he is focused on getting into a position to contribute? Not necessarily because I?m the number-one pick. I?m a competitor. I?ve been that way since college. I want to be out there and playing with my teammates. I feel if I?m capable and I?m ready, then I?ll be out there. If not, than maybe I shouldn?t. On if the process has been frustrating? A little bit. Coming from last year, being a leader of the team at Ohio State, knowing everything that was going on and what we were focusing on and being part of the game plan. Coming to now, you?re just trying to learn what?s going on and where to be at. It?s a little frustrating but it?s what you go through when you first start out. Everybody can relate to that. On if he has moments where the playbook confuses him? Not really, not now. Most of the installation stuff is done. When I first came, it was more so, ?Wow, we have to know this, we have to remember this, we have to remember to do that.? Now, it?s more-so ?What was this on this play?? as opposed to not knowing anything. On if he has had moments where he told himself that he ?got it?? Going back to the game, no (laughs). It was kind of rough. This week, I?ve really picked up on it so now I?m a little more comfortable out there. Some of the things I?m actually getting based off of pre-snap reads and jumping on it. It?s coming. On if too much is made about ?flashing? early on? My biggest thing is always knowing where you need to be be, knowing what?s going on. From there, you can get the job accomplished. It?s not necessarily easy to go out there and play hard. But, if you go out there and not know what you?re doing, you may accidentally make a couple of plays, you may accidentally give up some plays. More likely, you?ll give up more than you make. My thing is, if I know what I?m doing, know where I?m supposed to be, hopefully I won?t give up too many at all. On if he has a timetable for when it?s going to ?click?? No. It?s just one of those things where you?ll be out there, and sooner or later, you?ll realize you?re making plays and not thinking at all. I?ve kind of had those couple of periods in practice, for the most part. Some things I?m not sure about but I?m still learning and growing. On how long it took him in college to finally start reacting? It took two years before I became an actual starter (laughs). You learn. I?m not saying it?s going to take that long. Obviously, it was a different situation coming into college, being I was fresh to learning anything about football. Now, you know the general things and concepts. To say I will be a perfect player out there, that?s probably never going to happen. I think I?m close to being a contributor to this defense. On how he can contribute right now? It?s all up to the coaches. What they see in me and where they want to put me. For me, wherever they want me to be. On what he is most comfortable with right now? Just the things where I don?t have to think too much. So you can?t say I?m rushing, or just having this one assignment as opposed to possibly changing anything. On if he has done anything for the people back home since signing his contract? Not really. They came to the Cleveland game and I paid for the tickets for them to come down. That?s been pretty much it. I?ve been in camp so I haven?t been spending anything. On his signing bonus being more than the cost of tickets? More than tickets? (laughs) I might buy something. On how many tickets he bought? About 14 or 16 people there. Not overwhelming, I know. On spending time at Hofstra University? It?s been hot out here (laughs). The Jets have been here for 40 years, over that. Obviously, there?s a lot of historical presence here. I think it?s good for us to get a new facility, have the chance to expand what we can do inside. Hopefully, it looks good for us. On how he thinks he?ll feel in the next game? Hopefully, a lot more better, a lot more comfortable. Obviously, it was my first time out. It was a little rough, I was a little nervous, wasn?t sure of plays. Now, I had a chance to get into the playbook a little bit more. I obviously got that first experience out (of) the way so hopefully I will be a little more comfortable out there.
i dont know who here agrees, but i am not worried about gholston at all.. First off, I never expected him to suddenly become a full-time starter. Maybe if all goes well, he can work his way into the line-up on 1st and 2nd downs... but slowly. Otherwise, I know he will be there on pass-rushing situations and I am perfectly happy with that. That's why we drafted him. Chris long has been having a lot of issues in his transition as well.. its not an easy one for a rookie to make. I can't say I'm exstatic with his progress or anything, but I am not at all disappointed either. I think this kid will be very good for us in the years to come and we will see some signs of that later this season for sure. Anyone that expected him to come in and suddenly know how to play OLB in a 3-4 has some truly outlandish expectations which are completely unrealistic.
The #1 best thing that ever happened to Gholston? The signing of Brett Favre. He'll be able to take his time and fly under the radar. If we didn't get Favre, Poor Gholston would have been under a microscope from day one. The kid sounds intelligent and well spoken. I look forward to seeing him work as a pass rush specialist in his rookie season. With Thomas and Pace there really is no rush to start him.
That missed time from OTA really hurt. Good to know that the jitters are out of the way and he's really ready to get the nuances of the playbook down. Once that happens he'll settle in and be ready to dominate.
good point about Favre. I also get the impression he's very honest and realistic. He's not afraid to admit if he's utterly confused or something like that.
GReat point.. didnt even think of that. This also gives him a chance to concentrate on improving and learning instead of being harassed by the media. No rush to start him at all. He will DEFINITELY contribute.. bring him along slowly and let him build his confidence.. soon enough he will dominate like he should. He has too much raw talent not to. I'm confident that Cox and Mangini and Sutton are playing this one right on the money.
I give the Ghoul til the end of next year as far as the system goes. If he doesn't get it by then I will break out the "B" word. He's a damn rookie with raw talent that he should use regardless so we should see something until he gets it. Somebody needs to tell not to scared of making a mistake.
I'm concerned about him. He looks like a roid user and he isn't being talked about like a guy who can flat out dominate. I don't care how inexperienced he is if he has the instincts he would be disrupting things and people would notice it right away. It doesn't mean his going to bust but it doesn't mean his going to be any good. Thomas is a big fast guy who plays slow.
I am really hoping he comes through this season. I have heard of nothing positive so far that really impresses me. I hope he wasnt some roid user who is going to have to stop and now. He probably wont have to stop anyway as long as he smart. I hope he go nuts in one of the first games
I know what you're saying WB...I at least want him to sound more badass than he does. Linebackers/pass rushers should be mean motherfuckers. Not that I don't think he'll be a good player. It just kind of sucks...but I doubt he sounds any different from Ware or Merriman...especially Ware...when they were rookies.
^I was watching Hard Knocks: Dallas Cowboys on HBO. Ware seems like a nice guy, but a monster on the field. Gholston seems to be that same way - a quiet low key guy until he hits the field, then he's an animal. He said once he knows the playbook he'll be fine, thats what he did in Ohio State. That should mean the end of the year at the most, maybe by week 10 he could step in and play a whole game.
im sure hell be fine, i wasnt expecting him to make a huge impact his first year. now jenkins and pace on the other hand are the newcomers who need to have an impact to improve our d.
This isn't a QB, he doesn't get a two year flyer. He has the first half of this season to show he was worth the pick. In my mind he will always be compared to McFadden who we could have traded up to get.
Merriman and Ware were both very good their first years and neither was drafted in the top 10. I think you have two issues here, the coaching staff and the talent. Hopefully we have both.
I'm not ready to give up on a guy who is as physically imposing as Gholston is with the collegiate numbers to back it up. He got a late start on everything. He'll get it at some point; once the game becomes reacting and not thinking, it's much easier.
I think that can be said for the entire NYJs defense. All of the media attention is going to be on the offense, and not that I think teams will be taking our defense lightly, but they aren't going to have a hell of a lot of pressure on them from the media early this year.
Well they were picks 11 and 12...and the first thing ESPN said about Ware after he was drafted was that he was going to be Parcells' new Taylor...so the expectations were piled on from the start. Gholston's dealing with something similar, but doing it for the most bitter, negative fanbase in the NFL. Ware isn't much of a trash talker either, and he's handled his hype and etc. well...here's hoping Gholston is a similar type of animal and my small worry about him not *sounding* like a dominant linebacker from day 1 goes away. I think we have enough coaching and he's got enough talent that this guy becomes a legit player.
