Mayo + Crable > Vernon Gholston?

[VJCPatriot]

I think so. The Pats traded down from #7 and picked up a 3rd rounder that would turn into Crable. In addition, because they selected Mayo at #10 they were able to sign him to a MUCH more affordable salary than Gholston. I think bang for the buckwise, the Pats got the best deal.

Mayo right now looks like an instant starter at ILB and Crable has impressed with his length and coverage ability. He'll certainly see rotation minutes as a rush OLB. Gholston is a physical freak sure, but he doesn't fill two needs at once. And his contract far outweighs both Mayo and Crable's combined. Opinions?

 

[Kdo5]

Mayo himself will be better than Gholston.

 

[ScottieC]

Mayo himself will be better than Gholston.

100% Agreed. Word out of the Jets camp was that Gholston was struggling.

Did I miss something?

 

[BadMoFo]

Obviously, we all saw that ONE preseason game.

 

[Metaphors]

Depends on what you are looking for. Gholston has a skill set that neither Mayo or Crable possess (and the reverse is true as well). Success is a byproduct of opportunity + fit + health.

I think that Mayo + Crable > Gholston for the Pats. I can't speak for the Jets...I tried but they won't let me.

 

[BradyManny]

Just for the record, I - like many others on this board, and my opinion was largely informed by more informed posters on this board having said opinion - soured on Gholston long before the Jets drafted him and long before it became apparent that the Patriots couldn't get him.

Any word from Jets camp on how he's doing?

 

[LoganMankinsPancakeBlocks]

Obviously, we all saw that ONE preseason game.

That's a great, sarcastic point.

One game proves nothing, so we shouldn't dare make any predictions about how guys might pan out. We need to wait 5 years, THEN make the predictions of who will be better. That would be so much ******* fun.

 

[Richter]

Assuming both Mayo and Crable pan out, Gholston would have to turn into the second coming of LT to outweigh their collective impact. Two good players are almost always worth more than one, even if that one is better individually than either member of the pair. It's why trading down works so well in the NFL if you scout talent well - you end up picking up more usable pieces and filling your roster better top to bottom.

If I had to guess, I'd say Mayo ends up having a bigger impact than Gholston. He seems like a great fit for the system, and doesn't have any of the motivational question marks Gholston has. That said, I'd be surprised if Gholston doesn't turn into a very good OLB, mostly as a pass rusher. His tools are so off the charts, that just turning him loose as an edge rusher will probably entail some serious production. The real challenge for him is becoming a complete player in all phases of the game, especially pass coverage.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

That's a great, sarcastic point.

One game proves nothing, so we shouldn't dare make any predictions about how guys might pan out. We need to wait 5 years, THEN make the predictions of who will be better. That would be so much ******* fun.

I'll be ready to judge after a couple SB's.

 

[Kdo5]

Just for the record, I - like many others on this board, and my opinion was largely informed by more informed posters on this board having said opinion - soured on Gholston long before the Jets drafted him and long before it became apparent that the Patriots couldn't get him.

Any word from Jets camp on how he's doing?

One news item I saw a week or so ago on a Jets forum was that he was struggling in camp.

 

[PonyExpress]

It's way too early to label Gholston a mistake.

 

[Rob0729]

It is far too early to tell who will end up being better. As of right now, none of those players have done crap in the NFL yet.

Gholston is apparently struggling with the transistion from DE to OLB. Who knows if it is a temporary thing or a long term issue? Mayo may be acclimating quickly to the Patriots defense, but who knows how effective he will be when the real games start. Same with Crable.

At this point, I am very happy with the Pats' draft this year. But we are a long way from being able to properly evaluating either teams' draft. I say we give it at least a regular season game before we declare the winner of this past year's draft.

 

[Rob0729]

It's way too early to label Gholston a mistake.

Yeah, he is learning a new system and position. You could have labelled Meriweather a bust late into last season since he didn't do much of anything until very late in the season.

 

[BadMoFo]

From an Aug. 3 story in the NY Daily News:

HEAD ABOVE WATER: First-round pick Vernon Gholston is making the switch from defensive line to linebacker, and he broke through with a sack of Clemens in the first quarter. Gholston said that he felt surprisingly comfortable in the game situation.

Gholston, who said earlier in the week that he felt as if he were drowning, expressed more confidence yesterday. "One minute I'm drowning, the next I'm floating," he said. . . . WR Laveranues Coles, who has been nursing a thigh injury, did not appear in the scrimmage.

From a July 30 NY Post story:

The New York Post

July 30, 2008 Wednesday

GHOLSTON FEELING JET ROOKIE PAINS

BYLINE: DAN MARTIN

SECTION: All Editions; Pg. 63

LENGTH: 317 words


Vernon Gholston is being realistic, even if his goals for the time being probably won't excite Jets fans.

"I always have high expectations for myself," Gholston said. "Maybe it comes a little slower than others expect, but one day I hope to be a good player."

So, he doesn't consider himself one already?

"Definitely not," said Gholston after practice yesterday at Hofstra.

The former Ohio State defensive lineman isn't being modest, just accepting the realities of making the transition to the NFL and to a new position.

When told Eric Mangini had said it looked as if Gholston was "swimming" during training camp, the linebacker-in-training responded, "Swimming? Closer to drowning."

That's what happens when a player is adjusting to the pros - and a new position. Of course, it didn't help that Gholston missed most of the OTAs while still in college and then didn't finalize his contract until last weekend.

"There was a lot of teaching that took place over that time that would have helped him," Mangini said yesterday. "He would have been much further along . . . He's got to build a base level."

But that doesn't mean he hasn't shown glimpses of why the Jets made him the sixth selection overall in this year's draft.

"You can see the talent he has," said another new linebacker, Calvin Pace, who also has experience playing both on the line and at linebacker. "It's not going to be easy for him because it's a hard transition for anyone to make, but there's no reason he can't do it. Even though he might be struggling now, that won't last long. He's too good."

The Jets are counting on Gholston leaving those growing pains behind as he settles into the 3-4 defense.

"I was relentless in college, just trying to get to the quarterback," Gholston said. "Now, there's more thinking involved while I try to figure everything out. I just hope to get back to being relentless again soon."

 

[BradyToMoss]

(Jerod Mayo - 10) > (Vernon Gholston * 10 *15 + 25)

 

[JFK]

Big Homers in here...Asante stay...I wish he is a bust in Philly
Sign Gholston....Crable and Mayo are greater..
Of course they are greater but they are two player...they don't count as one and are gonna take two positions but as of right now, Gholston is better than either of them.

 

[Richter]

Of course they are greater but they are two player...they don't count as one and are gonna take two positions but as of right now, Gholston is better than either of them.

Wait, based on what, his draft position? Unless you want to go by one preseason game, it's pretty hard to say anyone is better than anyone else from the 2008 draft class.

 

[Ring 6]

Big Homers in here...Asante stay...I wish he is a bust in Philly
Sign Gholston....Crable and Mayo are greater..
Of course they are greater but they are two player...they don't count as one and are gonna take two positions but as of right now, Gholston is better than either of them.

Your logic is foolish. SOME people wanted Asante to stay (I was one of them) SOME people say he will be a bust (I am not) and hoping he is a bust has nothing to do with wanting him to stay or not.
SOME people wanted to draft Gholston(I was not one of them) and SOME people think Mayo is better (I am one of those). I have said from february on, every single time pre-draft that I did not want Gholston drafted that I think Gholston is a terrible fit as a 34 2gap OLB. I think he may be OK as a 43 onegap DE.
You cannot take the collective majority opinion of 100 people, and then say one persons opinion 4 months later is homerism because it is inconsistent with the consensus. I agree with the people saying Gholston will probably turn out to be a terrible pick for the Jets, but I said that the first time anyone mentioned the 2008 draft.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

As far as performance goes,lets see what Crable and Mayo can do up against the likes of a top QB like Manning or a RB like Ladanian before we consider them better than Gholston and of course the same goes for Vernon to show something as well.

Stopping rookie Ray Rice in his tracks and knocking his helmet off was fun to watch but not exactly awe inspiring - Now Mayo doing that against McGahee or Tomlinson is a different story - We will see who got the better guy(s) soon enough

 

[Ring 6]

Frankly, its possible Crable could be better than Gholston all by himself. I think Gholston is horrible miscast as a 34 2gap OLB. I personally think that the expectations of him if he were drafted in the 3rd round would be reasonable in that system. If Crable turns out to be better suited as a 34 2gap OLB than at a different position (Im not convinced either way yet) it won't be real difficult for him to exceed Gholston in production and success.