DE Vernon Gholston (Official Thread)

[twoodbuck97]

I do remember a Mr. Vrabel who didn't pan out at Pittsburgh and found a home and a pretty solid career in New England. I hope the same thing can ring true for Gholston. The kid needs a new home with a team that runs a 4-3 defense.

 

[Thump]

as others have pointed out, if you don't know the difference between a 3-4 DE and a 4-3 DE there is no point trying to have a discussion about it.

I know the difference.

You don't think if they saw enough raw ability in him that they'd have him beef up?

Mangini fell in love with Vern in college and didn't take off the blinders come draft day.

Believe me, I'd love to see big Vern succeed but right now he is absolutely floundering to say the least.

It seems that you guys are basing how good of a Def. end he would be based on one great game in college against Jake Long.

For all we know, that was Jake Long's worst game his senior year and Vernon's best.

All I know is that for a guy who's been in the league for 2 years, Vern looks lost out there almost as if he doesn't have the football IQ to match his skill set.

 

[NFBuck]

All I know is that for a guy who's been in the league for 2 years, Vern looks lost out there almost as if he doesn't have the football IQ to match his skill set.

He doesn't look anything, he's never on the field.

That, however, leads me to draw the conclusion that he just isn't good enough to play. Whether it's scheme or just Big Vern being a physical specimen that just doesn't translate to the pros, I don't really know. I do know that Rex Ryan said he was going to work with him last summer. Obviously he didn't see enough.

 

[Buckeneye]

You don't think if they saw enough raw ability in him that they'd have him beef up?

As in Vern "beef" up to a 3-4 DE?

 

[Jaxbuck]

I know the difference.

You don't think if they saw enough raw ability in him that they'd have him beef up?

Mangini fell in love with Vern in college and didn't take off the blinders come draft day.

Believe me, I'd love to see big Vern succeed but right now he is absolutely floundering to say the least.

It seems that you guys are basing how good of a Def. end he would be based on one great game in college against Jake Long.

For all we know, that was Jake Long's worst game his senior year and Vernon's best.

All I know is that for a guy who's been in the league for 2 years, Vern looks lost out there almost as if he doesn't have the football IQ to match his skill set.

It was 2 games over 2 years and you do not "beef up" a 4-3 DE and make him a 3-4 DE.

I agree that he's been a bust so far but until someone gives him a try as a 4-3 DE I'll continue to wonder what could be.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Vern was prepared for the Combine not the NFL ..he could've used more time at tOSU but he had to cash in. He'll get a second and third chance somewhere..strictly on a talent basis(not off the field) he reminds me of Alonzo Spellman...if Vern works hard he has a chance but I'm wondering if he is a PRO..

 

[3074326]

Vern was prepared for the Combine not the NFL ..he could've used more time at tOSU but he had to cash in.

He was drafted 6th overall, I don't fault him at all for leaving and would've done the same 100/100 times. I think he was ready as he was ever going to be.

He's just not an OLB at the professional level.

 

[mattynokes]

While on another forum, prior to the deaft, I called it that Gholston wouldn't be a good NFL player. Not because I didn't think he had what it takes to succeed, but it was because everyone was enamored with him being a 3-4 OLB. The guy dominated as a 4-3 DE and that's where he needs to be!!! I'd love to see the Jets trade him for a late rounder to a 4-3 scheme defense and then watch him dominate.

 

[Colvinnl]

Here is a hypothetical. Say teams did not see Vern as a 3-4 OLB...where do you think he would have been drafted?

Certainly not in the top 10. Second half of the first round? Second round?

 

[Fremont Buckeye]

This is my wish too. When he went to a 3-4 I thought to myself that it would be a waste of his skills. I'm looking forward to the day that the Jets look back and ask themselves, "why didn't we try running a 4-3? If we had only known..."

As a Jets fan and an Ohio State fan I disagree, especially when at the start of the year the Jets had a healthy Pro-Bowl nose tackle in Kris Jenkins to anchor the 3-4.

I doubt it, you don't change your entire defense around a second year player.

Exactly. I know the 3-4 is not where Vern fits in, but he has been given multiple chances to adapt and has not produced. I hope he stays with the Jets and finds a way to contribute.

 

[Buckskin86]

Underachieving linebacker Vernon Gholston will definitely be back next season. Tannenbaum praised Gholston?s ?great work ethic.?

?This is going to be an important offseason for him,? Tannenbaum said. ?I have no objective information that the guy doesn?t love football.?

NY Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum discusses surgery for Mark Sanchez and other possible offeseason moves | New York Jets - - NJ.com

 

[mross34]

Rex Ryan doesn't run a pure 3-4.

Rex Ryan runs his defense (personnel and formation-wise) very similar to Tressel runs his offense. Whoever the best 11 players are for a particular result will be on the field and put in the best position to maximize their talents.

If anyone in this league can make Vernon Gholston a great player, it's Ryan. I'm as much of a Big Vern fan as all of you, but if he's with the Jets next year and doesn't produce, he won't produce for anyone.

 

[Buckskin86]

Jan 28, 2010
Despite little production, Jets plan to give Vernon Gholston another chance

The Jets drafted Vernon Gholston with the sixth overall pick of the 2008 draft in hopes that he'd be a force as a pass rusher.

Two years later, they're still waiting for his first regular-season sack.

But even though the Jets could potentially cut Gholston without consequence if the salary cap goes away in 2010, GM Mike Tannenbaum says the organization plans on giving the youngster another year to break through.

"He has not played as well as he has hoped or we would have hoped," Tannenbaum admitted Thursday. "The attributes of why we drafted him is what gives me hope there which is really a great work ethic. He's 23 years old and this is going to be an important offseason for him."

Gholston, who's had to transition to outside linebacker after playing defensive end at Ohio State, has 30 tackles in 29 career games. He started three games early in 2009 while LB Calvin Pace served a four-game suspension then went back to the bench.

Tannenbaum refuted a theory that Gholston doesn't have a passion for football, saying:

"Looking at all of the objective information I get every day, I think he does. He's never missed a workout. (He) doesn't miss practice. I have no objective information to say that this guy doesn't love football. He may be quiet but that doesn't mean he's not passionate. From where I sit in the world, it hasn't been lack of effort. He came out early. He's still young. I have no reason to think that because of those attributes that he still can't improve and help us. How will his career turn out? We are not sure yet. Collectively, we have seen players struggle and develop and they develop at different rates."

However Tannenbaum acknowledged that Gholston may not be around much longer without significant improvement:

"It's really the production. It hasn't been there. He's going to get another offseason with these defensive coaches and I agree with (Coach) Rex (Ryan). They are going to do everything they can to try to get it out of him and I know it's important to Vernon, but he has to do it. He has to do it once the bullets are flying. I'll say this. He started the first four games of the year and maybe didn't show up in the stat sheet but we were 3‑1 and we went up against some pretty high profile offenses in Houston, New Orleans and New England. He did some good things. He just has not produced at the level we had hoped."

Despite little production, Jets plan to give Vernon Gholston another chance - The Huddle: Football News from the NFL - USATODAY.com

 

[ethel merman]

I question the Jets coaching ability and may be part of the problem. Granted, I haven't watched every single game or anything. But look at how much better Farve was on a different team. And it seemed like many of the Jets LBs looked lost in space. Their coaches either can't coach or can't put their players in position to succeed.

 

[Merih]

I question the Jets coaching ability and may be part of the problem. Granted, I haven't watched every single game or anything. But look at how much better Farve was on a different team. And it seemed like many of the Jets LBs looked lost in space. Their coaches either can't coach or can't put their players in position to succeed.

Wow, no offense, but that is a TERRIBLE comparison. A 40 year old QB (who is known to not accept coaching) compared with a 20 something Vernon Gholston? Offensive coaching versus Defensive coaching?

Their coaches took a defense full of unknown characters and had them perform to within a game of the Superbowl...they are proven. Vern is not.

Rex Ryan and his defensive philosophy is known for putting players in a position to succeed, but for it to work, the player has to be very versatile. Vernon is a pass rusher, pure and simple, and is just not a good fit for the type of playcalling that takes place with the Jets. It's neither sides fault, Vern didn't choose to go there and it was Mangini who picked him, not Ryan.

I see a split coming up, and Big Vern resurfacing somewhere where he can try to get his career back on track.