Rex Ryan Hopes Vernon Gholston Can Be Great Player, Admits He's Not Sure

During his introductory press conference Wednesday, new Jets head coach Rex Ryan compared rookie linebacker Vernon Gholston to Ravens Pro Bowler Terrell Suggs, suggesting that Suggs had been considered a bust early in his career before the Power of Ryan saved him from himself.

Unless the "Suggs Is an Unmitigated Bust" bandwagon got rolling between the time Baltimore drafted him in April and just prior to the start of the 2003 season, I'm not getting the parallel. But as the coaching bromide goes, "it is what it is." The Eric Mangini Jets selected Gholston with the sixth-overall pick in April and now Ryan and new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine have to find a way to make this work.

Which is no small task when you consider that Gholston had 13 tackles last season (no sacks, no forced fumbles no passes defended) and Suggs had 12 sacks as a rookie. Compounding matters, some scouts were well aware of Gholston's workout warrior reputation.

In September, NFL Films' Greg Cosell, writing in Sporting News, offered this frank assessment:

A number of things struck me as I watched six Ohio State games on tape, and I did this after I witnessed his athletic feats at the NFL Combine. First, Gholston's athleticism on the field, during games, did not match his off-field measurable skills. He did not play anywhere near as fast as he timed in the 40-yard dash.

In addition, his level of energy and effort varied from play to play, game to game. He did not come across on film as a consistent competitor, and that's always a red flag. In fact, in three of the game tapes I broke down, I would not have known Gholston was on the field if not specifically watching him.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but pretty accurate, apparently. Here's what Pettine, who scouted Gholston before last year's draft, had to say on Thursday:

"I thought he was a tremendous athlete, but being in shorts is one thing and how it carries over to the field is another ... We liked him for sure, but there was a lack of consistency in some of his play. He would have a flash of brilliance for two or three plays, then disappear."

Sounds familiar. But now general manager Mike Tannenbaum's decision is now Ryan's problem, and Ryan seems to understand that. "We hope he can be a great player," Ryan said. "A lot of us aren't sure, but we're going to find out. If he can't do it for me and for this team, he's never going to do it."

On the upside, Ryan has a history of getting the most out of his players. The Ravens defense has Suggs, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, but this unit was one of the best in the league with Jarret Johnson, Justin Bannan and Corey Ivy playing major roles. The point: if Corey Ivy can be successful in this league, so can Gholston. It just might take time, something fans and media might not be willing to give him or the Jets.