Comments on: Bent Gets Analytical – Vernon Gholston on Sunday

By: miketaliaferro

miketaliaferro — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:27:56 +0000

Bent,

Just stunning work.

Thank you.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:09:59 +0000

So far he’s disappointed. However, look at the Steelers’ Harrison who took sveral years to develop and was cut by a number of teams. I’m reluctant to rush to judgment. There are too many cases of athletes becoming stars after a team gave up on them.

By: Eddie DiGio

Eddie DiGio — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:04:52 +0000

Bent
That was really cool stuff how you broke down the entire game. I have to say man, you are pretty right on. I too see a definite improvement in VG’s play.

By: Bent

Bent — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:38:05 +0000

matthewm – He had 10 special teams tackles last season. This season, he’s the right tackle, so his primary job isn’t really to get downfield and make tackles. Wright and B Smith (and the next wave, Trusnik, E Smith and Izzo) are so good, there won’t be many chances for him to get tackles in punt coverage.

By: matthewm

matthewm — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:34:52 +0000

Given his speed and size, he ought to be better on special teams, but on those he’s AWOL, at best. Maybe he doesn’t even play them? I never see his number called in the plays. How is it that Brad Smith is in on nearly every punt or kickoff coverage and VG is nowhere? Trade him to Cleveland for Brady Quinn? Worth considering. Or find some other 1st round bust? One other thing: he’s still pretty young. And he does seem to have a good character.

By: jvsvn

jvsvn — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:30:57 +0000

What a great post (and comments). All about understanding the game, the team, and the players better. I have to say that the analysis was a lot more positive than I anticipated. People have noted (rightly) how clueless he has looked at times. The fact that he was lined up in so many different formations and basically did his job is a very positive sign. Unfortunately for VG, his reputation will always be influenced by his draft position and last year’s invisibility. OK, he’s getting paid big money and that’s what comes with it. But, as Bent has pointed out in many previous posts, VG came out as a junior and got absolutely no experience last year. If he was a rookie this year and had the game described above in his third professional game, then everyone would feel very, very encouraged. I’m not saying he’s going to be a superstar, but he is far from the bust a lot of people have made him out to be. Hopefully, this post can signal the beginning of his growth into a solid contributor AND a more objective analysis of his skills and potential as a player. Great job, Bent.

By: SackDance99

SackDance99 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:50:39 +0000

Gholston has to learn how to execute a spin move because of his speed. LTs will continue to run him past the QB if he doesn’t learn how to spin into the pocket. Guys like Strahan who were primarily bull rushers learned how to club and swim. Gholston, however, doesn’t bull rush well.

IMO, Pace will be a HUGE upgrade. He’s just better at every aspect at 3-4 OLB play and he knows how to bull rush and execute moves off of his bull rush.

I watched Freeney on Sunday night, fear of his spin move made his bull rush more effective because LTs EXPECT him to spin. So, now and then, he just bulls on a straight line to the QB. VG could be the opposite, if he learns how to bull rush better, with a more direct angle to the QB and with more power exerted against the LT.

I must say though, he’s looking less clueless and one day I expect him to spin and flatten a QB. Watch the tape, it’s wide open.

By: BubbyBrister/shovelpass

BubbyBrister/shovelpass — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:09:22 +0000

Bent – this is great stuff ! Thanks!

I’d bet that no other blog site is “putting on the foil” like TJB is with stuff like this from it’s avid fans.

That’s why this site is the best!

By: Bent

Bent — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:30:08 +0000

Matt – Great question, Matt. VG is too small to play DE in a Mangini-style 3-4, but in a flexible system like Rex Ryan’s, when they do occasionally line up with a conventional three man front, he can do a good job there on a play-to-play basis, but not as an every down player. He has a nice combination of speed and size to do this on passing downs, but against the run, he’d find it tough. You might see him bulk up so that he can do more of this, perhaps.

To answer your question, he was mostly employed as a DE when there were 4 on the line and when he did it on a three man front, it was usually either a passing down or an overload blitz (usually on his side, presumably because if he ended up being the free man, he could get to the QB quicker than a Douglas or DeVito).

john – I don’t expect him back. If he comes and does it again, I’ll block him so effortlessly you’ll think he’s doing a satirical impersonation of Gholston as a rookie.

By: john sec.125

john sec.125 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:59:30 +0000

bent, sorry to go off topic, but “mr. suck” the troll from yesterday has to go. blatant attempt at disrupting the blog.