I didn't like Gholsten then and I still don't. However, I was definitely in the minority around here. It's also the same fear people should have now about Upshaw where people are saying he shouldn't be a top 20 pick.
Completely different. Gholston is a physical freak that they thought could learn to be a football player. Upshaw had bad workouts but has great tape and has shown himself to be a good football player. No way Upshaw busts like Gholston he just doesn't have the highest ceiling. Either way I'm not really interested in drafting Upshaw.
As the posters above have already said, the only thing in common between Upshaw and Gholston is their projected position. You pretty much can't get 2 prospects that are more dissimilar. If you're going to compare Upshaw to a prospect, compare him to Lamarr Woodley. Like Upshaw, everyone was hot on drafting Woodley going into the offseason due to his tape and consistent production. Both saw people cool on them when they worked out and didn't blow anything up. Both faced criticism of having a "low ceiling" as a result, being called a "safe" pick who wouldn't blow the NFL up, but would likely be a solid all-around player. Looking back, I sure as hell would have liked to have gotten Woodley back in '07, and I would be pleased if Upshaw is our pick at 16. I don't think it's right to count on him to exactly reproduce Woodley's numbers, but if he can bring that same presence to our defense, sign me up.
I just feel like Upshaw is too risky of a pick. This draft is really important for the franchise and can determine how well we do in the upcoming years. If the experts out there are wary of Upshaw those warnings need to be looked at very seriously. And for those who say that he has a history of doing well, but doesn't have NFL type attributes: college is a whole different skill level than the NFL. Especially when you're playing on a dominant defense that is carried by a great coordinator and supported by other all-star type players like Barron and Hightower.
The Jets Were In No Man's Land With the 6 pick. That year if McFadden slipped I think they would have taken him but Al Davis took him. I wanted no part of Gholston then and stated so in various blogs. I don't like Ohio State players and not a big fan of converting DE to OLB. Just saw another Mike Mamula and it turned out to be true and now Mike Mamula is off the hook any bust in the future will be labeled Vernon Gholston. The Jets should have traded back and taken Jonathan Stewart or Rashad Mendenhall or even Chris Johnson. It was viewed as a weak draft at the time but some good talent came out of it.
Not all Ohio State players are bad. Gholston was a true bust from Ohio State. It is on the player, not the program. There has been numerous players that have come out of Ohio State and have played extremely well. With that said.. I stated many different times that I thought Gholston was a complete bust and I was praying the Jets wanted nothing to do with him. I hated the way he played for Ohio State and I knew he wouldn't pan out for us.
Upshaw and Gholsten are more similar than you think. Gholsten had 37 tackles, 15.5 sacks and was an all american in his last year and nobody thought he should be a top 10 pick. Upshaw had 36 tackles, 8.5 sacks and made all-american and nobody thinks he should be a top 20 pick. Just saying...I hope we don't do it again.
Well hopefully Rex is better at evaluating a defensive player's true value than Mangini was. Wilkerson was a good pick for us last year, and Kyle Wilson is shaping up to be a good corner. I think if Rex chooses Upshaw, it's because he truly believes he could work in a good defensive system.
