http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/05/gholton_impressing_new_jets_je.html Vernon Gholston impressing New York Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, plus tidbits from Thursday's organized team activities by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger Thursday May 14, 2009, 5:43 PM Ed Betz/Associated Press Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine says Vernon Gholston, above, is 'right where he needs to be' in terms of his progression. Of course, this is what sold the Jets on him in the first place, and has some in the organization ruing Draft Day 2008, but second-year linebacker Vernon Gholston is looking great in shorts these days. Gholston, selected sixth overall in 2008, shot up draft boards with his combine workouts that February and the Jets bit. To date, they have little to show for their five-year, $32.5 million ($21 million guaranteed) investment. Shortly after Rex Ryan was hired, he and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine called out Gholston, saying if they can't make him a player, no one can. "I think Vernon is having a real good offseason,'' said Pettine Thursday following an organized team activity session at Florham Park. "You can tell this is important to him. He's passionate about it. "The signs are there. He asks the right questions. If he makes a mistake, usually he knows it right away. I think progression-wise, he's right where he needs to be. ... I'm confident he'll be better once we have the pads on.'' Said Gholston: "The comfort comes from this being my second year. The biggest thing is that last year at this time I wasn't here. I was back at Ohio State. Now, you get the chance to go through the defensive installs. You can work on it and work on your technique and the different ins and outs of the defense. I didn't get the chance to do that last year. I think that's pretty big.'' ... QB Kellen Clemens had a so-so day. In fact, so did the entire offense. It was a day for the defense, which appeared to be in mid-season form, especially during an end of practice two-minute drill. It was the Jets' version of blitzkrieg. "As far as trying to figure out a defense, I've never seen anything like it since I've been in the league,'' said 11-year veteran RT Damien Woody. "They do such a good job of disguising what they're trying to do. They have looks that you just don't see.'' Said Clemens: "They do so many different things with so many different people, and it's all unconventional. It's going to be really exciting to watch on Sundays. It'll be tough Mondays through Saturdays. ... They do so many things, I can't even explain it. It's so unique.'' Backup QB Erik Ainge also had a rough day. He's wearing No. 10 but he's no Chad Pennington. Sorry, Erik. ... If Ryan wins at all, he may have his own reality show on Comedy Central. His press conferences are that good. Thursday, he joked about his weight -- asking how a men's store calls itself a men's store if it doesn't have a size 4X. Also, he said he thought he was in French class while sitting in on an offensive line meeting recently. And his showstopper was when he imitated coaches who are stiff in front of the cameras while speaking in a monotone and handing out canned answers. At one point, he stood ramrod straight to make his point and mockingly uttered, "It's an open competition,'' referring to the quarterback battle between Clemens and rookie Mark Sanchez. The room erupted in laughter because to many of us he sounded a lot like former coach Eric Mangini, but Ryan quickly pointed out, "It's not a shot at anybody.'' Veteran TE Bubba Franks, who was signed on Monday, is still trying to get into condition and didn't practice. Veteran DE Shaun Ellis (knee) and G Brandon Moore (sport hernia surgery) participated in drills but didn't practice. See more in Must-See Sports Stories Send To A Friend | Print this | Permalink Reddit Digg del.icio.us Google Facebook Buzz up! COMMENTS (2)Post a comment Posted by IRASI on 05/14/09 at 7:49PM Dave, Thanks for the update. Great to read something positive about Gholston. I thought they just might line him up at DE on passing downs and let him go after the QB. I hope they just put too much on his plate last year and this read and react defense wasn't good for him. Just cut him loose and let him go after the QB.Very impresive for Woody to say what he did especially after he came from the Pats and what Belichick use to dial up in practice up there. The defense will carry this team and be excellent. Inappropriate? Alert us. Post a commentPosted by Sec309 on 05/14/09 at 10:31PM Gholston was a monster in college. He has raw talent that will be unleashed in Ryan's attack style defense. Mangini's read and react scheme was not good for him, as Ira suggests. It certainly is good to read something positive for a change.
Gholston could the difference between a good defense and a great defense. We need at least one person on the front seven to be able to rush the passer, specically on the edge. Thomas and Pace are not speed rushers.
Dear 6lb, 8oz baby jesus, so young, don't even know your name yet, Please don't let him suck again this year. Thank you.
They have a tiny bit of it at nfl.com, not really that special when you see it. You could tell he was serious about everyone showing up for the mandatory part of training.
Anything positive about Gholston is great news in my mind. With the new coaches and their enthusiasm over VG it feels almost as if we have two top 6 picks in the lineup this year waiting to see what they can do. If he can be a 6-10 sack guy I absolutely love our front 7. Our other 3 starting backers I am a massive fan of. Ellis Jenkins and Douglas gives me confidence too. If the D is good to go right out of the gates I really think we have a chance to be great. I dont want to say top 10 top 5 because that is completely baseless at this point. We have so much talent on that side of the ball and I think the CS has the right attitude about getting the most of your players abilities and not making them conform to a system. I am getting really excited about this season. Ideally I would like LW to play out his contract so we can tender him next and either lose him for a 1st and a 3rd if he rips it up again or sign him to a long term deal then. The only real concern I have this year is not about a QB or a WR its about depth. Its about injuries, we are in big trouble if key piece goes down. Not many positions have able backups in place - Leon does not have a choice to produce or not to produce - he knows his contract is up and he needs to get it done on the field in order to secure that payday at the end of the year. If we can use that for ourselves and get some high picks out of it I think that is the way to go.
hopefully we can start calling him the ghost for his ability to get behind the offensive line this year.
I'm looking forward to seeing Vernon's transformation this season.....TC and the start of the season can't get here soon enough.
Thanks for the post. This is encouraging The fact that the defense is ahead of the offense should not be as surprise. The defense should be better they have the whole unit participating in the OTAs. The offense has a lack of experience at QB, no number 1 wide out, and both TJ and LW are sitting out. If the defense can't look good now it will never look good....
I agree with part of this statement Gholston could be the difference between a good D & a great D for us. If he could play like a top ten overall pick should play. I think Pace is a good edge rusher he had seven sacks last year for Mangini & I think he will have ten sacks this year under Ryan. Rex will not have Pace in coverage like Mangini did he will have him either rushing the passer or he will take him out of the game & put a DB in. What I would love is for Pace & Gholston to become our version of Lamar Woodley & James Harrison on the Steelers where both of those guys have double digit sack numbers.
