General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini met with the media a little while ago, with both praising Gholston's work ethic and flexibility.
Tannenbaum: "We spent a lot of time with Vernon on and off the field and we think he’ll fit in well here. He can help in all phases of our defense. He can rush the passer, he does a good job staying the edge in the run game. He plays over the tight end as well, so there’s a lot of different things he can do. That’s why we’re excited to have him.”
Mangini: "Vernon’s got to come in and establish a role but we look forward to him coming in and doing that. One of the things I liked about him was his flexibility and being able to line up over the tight end, drop back into coverage, do a lot of other things that they do at Ohio State."
Mangini displayed his knack for understated humor when asked about some of the criticism surrounding Gholston, primarily that many of his sacks came in bunches.
"I'm always happy with sacks in bunches," Mangini said.
Back with more later...
Comments (6)
They traded up for this? Would this guy have been gone by the time they picked anyway? They're apparently not smart enough to recognize that one of their best receiver is already a tight end on the roster. They needed that corner from Indiana. What is Tannenbaum smoking this weekend?
I am not normally a negative Jets fan by any standard, but all I can say so far is WTF?
I agree. If we wanted a TE with our 2nd pick and our 4th pick we could've traded for Shockey and gotten a proven, speedy, talented TE not some unheard of lamer who DEFINITELY would've been there come the 2nd pick and maybe even beyond.
Gholston I can't complain about but this just screams Nugent all over again. We reached for Nugent, we reached for TE and if this kid doesn't come out of the gates looking like a first round TE (Gates, Heap, etc.) then we will be kicking ourselves in the asses for years to come.
A WR would've been a great pick at that spot or maybe Brandon Flowers? We got lucky enough that EVERY WR dropped that far, so why would we trade up and take a TE? Not to mention, why wouldn't we address an issue on our team? The secondary needs help...major help.
I would've been happier if we had chosen a backup DT with the 30th pick. It would've at least made more sense.
They are going to use him at receiver. He has 4.55 speed. At 6'2 and a half 246 lbs and 27 reps at the combine, Coach understands the complications he is going to cause for opposing defenses. We will not use him at tight end. He is better than any receiver on the board, just as fast most, and bigger and stronger than all. Every one else left in the draft is a reach. Coach was not feeling anyone else so he made sure he got the last best bet out there. Excellent choice. The Jets landed the strongest players in the draft. Both player take care of themselves and fit right in with the new scheme and theme: POWER. Richardson, Bubba, TJ, the whole offensive line along with LC and JC. Power. GO JETS!!
Two workout warrior combine stars.This is pattern that began with Terry Bradway. Since Bradway is still here and given the inexperience of Tannenbaum and Mangini I have to wonder if Bradwy is being given too big a role in player evaluation.
Here's the pattern. Fall in love with an athlete who stars at the combines and pro day workouts and believe that the player can be coached up to be a Pro Ball Player.. See Brian Thomas, DeWayne Robertson, Justin Miller, D'Brikasha Ferguson
Both picks fall into this category. Heres what the Sporting News War Room had to say on Gholston:
War Room analysis
POST-DRAFT TAKE: The Jets fell for the hype and grabbed Combine warrior Gholston. Now, coach Eric Mangini must find a way to turn the athlete into a football player or he and GM Mike Tannenbaum might be out of work this time next year.
The Sporting News is right.. If he is another workout warrior bust Tannenbum and Mangini should be fired.
In the Sporting News top 99 players in the draft, they graded Gholston at 39 and Keller at 48. Both are reaches.
Keller was a panic move, Tannenbaum fearing a Shockey trade and Giant selection. And giving up the extra pick?
Gholston = Brian Thomas
Keller = Doug Jolley
Gholston is going to be a defensive fixture for years to come. Me likey.
Jeez Raj, you and the Sporting News forgot to mention that he set the all time school record for sacks at Ohio State this year! Remember, the team in the National Championship game?
That being said, being a freakish athlete and peforming magnificently at the combine is not a bad thing!