Gholston has gotten a lot of time in the preseason and has basically been thrown into the fire, being asked to do everything an OLB is asked to do and it’s clear he’s not ready to be an every down player yet. Here’s the thing though – DeMarcus Ware, Shawne Merriman, Terrell Suggs. All were drafted in the top 15 and played the same position Gholston did and were instant impact players from day one, but they weren’t complete players from day one. Merriman still isn’t. They all did their work in pass rushing situations, and blossomed into complete players later on in their careers – same idea as Gholston.

I’ll use Suggs here as a more detailed example. Suggs won defensive rookie of the year in 2003. He had 12 sacks that year and also forced 6 FF. He played in all 16 games, but here’s the big stat – one start. Terrell Suggs started one game all year, yet had 12 sacks and won defensive rookie of the year. How? The Ravens knew that he wasn’t ready to be an every down player in the NFL, but due to his natural ability as a pass rusher they kept him fresh and let him loose on passing downs and the result was an instant impact from their top rookie.

It’s the same idea with Gholston. Don’t think for a second that when the lights come on and the games start to matter the Jets are going to play Gholston like they have in the preseason, basically throwing everything at him and seeing how he does. They’re going to use him in a situation where he best helps them win games, and that’s letting him loose and getting after the QB.

I would not be the least bit surprised if in December Gholston is leading the team in sacks and in contention for DROTY(though if he’s not starting I don’t think he’d deserve it). His technique is pretty poor as an all around football player right now but that’s to be expected. But again, as a natural pass rusher his tools are elite. You keep a guy fresh with his first step and raw power and have him come off the edge on passing downs, he’ll be just fine.

Now Clemens is a bust and we can’t waste a roster spot on him with Mr. 253 consecetive games in a row on our team.

Maybe I could have headed the thing up “Opinion: Gholston is Not a Bust” and then I would be getting props, but my style is to be balanced in the initial post.

All along I have been the one who is saying “if he has a slow start (and he probably will), this doesn’t mean he is – or will be – a bust”, so it’s amusing to catch some heat for raising the topic.

I guess it is similar to when I raised the issue of whether Jets fans would boo Pennington next year. I wouldn’t, and nor would the majority, but there are those that feel the opposite way – and therein lies the debate.

I hope you see why I did it this way and I am enjoying everyone’s comments, so I feel happy with what I posted and glad that most commentors have drawn the same conclusion as me.

If you think he is a bust – say it!

I would say back to you that, “if you can call a player a bust, after his first few pre-season games, after coming in late, while changing positions from a down lineman to an outside linebacker, as a ROOKIE – then you know jack-squat about pro football.

It is all about our opinions.