I had a chat with Vernon Gholston

[Dufflebagz]

No, really.....

I went to David Clowney's Celebrity Basketball Game (which was a lot of fun btw) and there were a lot of NFL players there (Anquan Boldin, Chris Gamble, Dustin Keller, Davone Bess, and many others).

Anyways, before the game started Vernon Gholston sat right next to me.......so, I asked him about coming to the Pats

He said he had no idea where he'd end up playing but said he'd love the opportunity to play in New England. Of course he'd end up as an all star and we'd rub it in Sexy Rexy's fat face. Staying on Jets players, Dustin Keller was a real nice guy.....kinda surprised

I also saw Leigh Bodden, so I got a picture with him (now my phone background) and AJ Green showed up, which really excited me for some strange reason and I got a picture with him too.

Kinda random thread......but, yeah.

 

[RayClay]

No, really.....

I went to David Clowney's Celebrity Basketball Game (which was a lot of fun btw) and there were a lot of NFL players there (Anquan Boldin, Chris Gamble, Dustin Keller, Davone Bess, and many others).

Anyways, before the game started Vernon Gholston sat right next to me.......so, I asked him about coming to the Pats

He said he had no idea where he'd end up playing but said he'd love the opportunity to play in New England. Of course he'd end up as an all star and we'd rub it in Sexy Rexy's fat face. Staying on Jets players, Dustin Keller was a real nice guy.....kinda surprised

I also saw Leigh Bodden, so I got a picture with him (now my phone background) and AJ Green showed up, which really excited me for some strange reason and I got a picture with him too.

Kinda random thread......but, yeah.

Any thoughts on his demeanor, attitude etc. It seems bizarre he couldn't do anything in the pros, a lot of time it's attitude.

I know nothing about him, but if he somehow could come around, we sure could use a pass rusher to groom.

I understand he hasn't been one, but that would obviously be where he'd need to make his way here first.

 

[Dufflebagz]

Any thoughts on his demeanor, attitude etc. It seems bizarre he couldn't do anything in the pros, a lot of time it's attitude.

I know nothing about him, but if he somehow could come around, we sure could use a pass rusher to groom.

I understand he hasn't been one, but that would obviously be where he'd need to make his way here first.

It's really hard to tell just from one small chat with him but he seemed like a good guy with a decent attitude but obviously I couldn't determine if he has good work ethic or anything like that.

 

[RayClay]

It's really hard to tell just from one small chat with him but he seemed like a good guy with a decent attitude but obviously I couldn't determine if he has good work ethic or anything like that.

Well, he was obviously in good shape from lifting. Sometimes a less that constructive attitude is obvious.

 

[ausbacker]

Can he rush the passer?

 

[Captain Cliche]

Can he rush the passer?

Obviously not.

 

[supafly]

Can he rush the passer?

In all seriousness, you never know what Belichick can do with some of these guys. Bill seems to have a knack of recognizing a player's strengths, and helping them utilize their talents in the best setting/way possible. As much as we've made fun of Gholston, I am sure that he can obviously do something
right. We really don't exactly know if he was used improperly, if he was being asked to do something that he wasn't good at/familiar with etc. I obviously wouldn't put my money on him personally coming here, but I am sure that we will see someone who in some ways has underachieved, and who most have written off at some point. I have absolutely no problem with someone being brought in for a second opinion from Belichick, or someone who may be able to achieve a TC tryout, or even provide camp fodder in the hot 2x a days--even if it is Vernon Gholston. Regardless of how bad he actually sucked in NY, I think it's quite possible that the coaching staff here could get something more out of him, even if that's actually making the team as a bench warming inactive backup. We've all seen how a change of scenery and superior coaching can sometimes help. I would imagine that Belichick would be able to 'see' one way or another on a guy such as Gholston, or even one that resembles him, pretty quickly.

 

[randomk1]

Ghost should've been a 4-3 end...not 3-4 end or OLB.

 

[supafly]

Ghost should've been a 4-3 end...not 3-4 end or OLB.

Yes, you are likely spot on. Another example of asking someone to do something they aren't necessarily 'good' at, or utilizing them to the best of their strengths. I do believe that the supposed experts claimed that he'd still be able to play both coming out of school though. I guess they were very wrong, lol.

 

[ausbacker]

In all seriousness, you never know what Belichick can do with some of these guys. Bill seems to have a knack of recognizing a player's strengths, and helping them utilize their talents in the best setting/way possible. As much as we've made fun of Gholston, I am sure that he can obviously do something
right. We really don't exactly know if he was used improperly, if he was being asked to do something that he wasn't good at/familiar with etc. I obviously wouldn't put my money on him personally coming here, but I am sure that we will see someone who in some ways has underachieved, and who most have written off at some point. I have absolutely no problem with someone being brought in for a second opinion from Belichick, or someone who may be able to achieve a TC tryout, or even provide camp fodder in the hot 2x a days--even if it is Vernon Gholston. Regardless of how bad he actually sucked in NY, I think it's quite possible that the coaching staff here could get something more out of him, even if that's actually making the team as a bench warming inactive backup. We've all seen how a change of scenery and superior coaching can sometimes help. I would imagine that Belichick would be able to 'see' one way or another on a guy such as Gholston, or even one that resembles him, pretty quickly.

I've no doubt BB could make him into a contributing NFL player. If that comes to pass then so be it. For the mean time whilst under the employ of the Jets he sucks more than Rex when a shoe advertisement airs.

 

[supafly]

I've no doubt BB could make him into a contributing NFL player. If that comes to pass then so be it. For the mean time whilst under the employ of the Jets he sucks more than Rex when a shoe advertisement airs.

Love it..simply classic

 

[randomk1]

Yes, you are likely spot on. Another example of asking someone to do something they aren't necessarily 'good' at, or utilizing them to the best of their strengths. I do believe that the supposed experts claimed that he'd still be able to play both coming out of school though. I guess they were very wrong, lol.

It's quite amazing how someobody so physically gifted can be such a failure.

Other than playing in a wrong position I always thought he lacks the toughness/nastiness that is required...Suggs,Mankins, J.Harrion,R.Harrison,Lewis,Porter,Sapp,Suh etc. You need that little bit of crazy
and the desire to hurt the other guy to be a good player in those positions. He might have gotten by with his physical gifts on the college level but what happens when the talent level is far higher?

 

[Rob0729]

Gholston will never be a Patriot and never was going to be. The Pats conned the Jets into grabbing him by faking interest. The guy had serious red flags written all over him. He lacked passion for the game, he took a lot of plays off, and he made a college career by bull rushing the OT (can't do that consistently at the Pro level unless you are a oversized 4-3 DE). As other say, he doesn't have the skill set to play a 3-4 OLB. He is a 4-3 DE pure and simple. I don't know if he can even be an average 4-3 DE.

The only way I see the Pats picking him up would be a situational player as a DE in subpackages. But I see that as a long shot at best.

 

[ausbacker]

Gholston will never be a Patriot and never was going to be. The Pats conned the Jets into grabbing him by faking interest. The guy had serious red flags written all over him. He lacked passion for the game, he took a lot of plays off, and he made a college career by bull rushing the OT (can't do that consistently at the Pro level unless you are a oversized 4-3 DE). As other say, he doesn't have the skill set to play a 3-4 OLB. He is a 4-3 DE pure and simple. I don't know if he can even be an average 4-3 DE.

The only way I see the Pats picking him up would be a situational player as a DE in subpackages. But I see that as a long shot at best.

I'm fairly certain Gholston could be coached up and would succeed in the Steelers 3-4. He's about the same size as LaMarr Woodley from memory and I'm sure he could slim down to play like Timmons, Farrior or Harrison.

It can be done.

 

[randomk1]

I'm fairly certain Gholston could be coached up and would succeed in the Steelers 3-4. He's about the same size as LaMarr Woodley from memory and I'm sure he could slim down to play like Timmons, Farrior or Harrison.

It can be done.

I seriously doubt it..coaching goes only so far.

He is FA so it will be interesting to see how his career will pan out. I do respect him for being willing to take a pay cut...atleast he ain't a douche like Jamarcus milking his team for every penny.

I'd love it if he becomes a premier pass rusher on another team just to laugh at the Jets.

 

[Lamanai]

Gholston will never be a Patriot and never was going to be. The Pats conned the Jets into grabbing him by faking interest. The guy had serious red flags written all over him. He lacked passion for the game, he took a lot of plays off, and he made a college career by bull rushing the OT (can't do that consistently at the Pro level unless you are a oversized 4-3 DE). As other say, he doesn't have the skill set to play a 3-4 OLB. He is a 4-3 DE pure and simple. I don't know if he can even be an average 4-3 DE.

The only way I see the Pats picking him up would be a situational player as a DE in subpackages. But I see that as a long shot at best.

I agree with all of this, except the part about the Pats conning the Jets. They do their homework too. I doubt they take players just because a competitor wants them. Different needs, schemes, priorities, etc...

Personally, I don't think Goulston is a viable player...

 

[ausbacker]

I seriously doubt it..coaching goes only so far.

He is FA so it will be interesting to see how his career will pan out. I do respect him for being willing to take a pay cut...atleast he ain't a douche like Jamarcus milking his team for every penny.

I'd love it if he becomes a premier pass rusher on another team just to laugh at the Jets.

There's a lot of things which go into becoming a top line sportsman. Perhaps Gholston simply couldn't adjust to the expectations coming out of Ohio State transitioning to the NFL. Let's not forget despite whatever shortcomings he's had as a pro he was dominating in college.

I think he could be something put in the right environment and unleashed. I also really don't care.

 

[BTTA]

Gholston's problem is clear: he never recovered emotionally from the pay cut he had to take when moving form Ohio State to the Jets.

 

[zoostation]

Odds are Jim Tressel will be the Patriot head coach before Gholston plays a down for the Pats.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

It's quite amazing how someobody so physically gifted can be such a failure.

Other than playing in a wrong position I always thought he lacks the toughness/nastiness that is required...Suggs,Mankins, J.Harrion,R.Harrison,Lewis,Porter,Sapp,Suh etc. You need that little bit of crazy
and the desire to hurt the other guy to be a good player in those positions. He might have gotten by with his physical gifts on the college level but what happens when the talent level is far higher?

He was also impacted by OSU's late graduation which kept him out of most OTAs, a la Taylor Price. But as a high pick, he wasn't given the advantage of a red-shirt season but rather thrown to the wolves.

Maybe it isn't mental. Maybe he just wasn't a good football player. In college, physical freaks can dominate on athleticism alone. But if they don't develop good technique, they'll get destroyed at the next level. It's quite common to see with WRs who can simply outrun everyone at the college level, but when required to run proper routes, can't do it. Maybe Gholston is the equivalent.

Or maybe the position change is more than you think. I had high hopes for Connor Barwin, but we didn't take him, and he played out of position in Houston and didn't exactly light it up. With the switch to the 3-4, perhaps he'll make a huge impact.

If I were a 4-3 team, I'd definitely be willing to give the kid a chance on a 1 or 2-year deal for around the minimum.