Vernon Gholston Still Has Much to Prove

The knock on Vernon Gholston coming out of Ohio St. was that he took plays off, even as the most physically gifted player on the field. His rookie season with the Jets didn't change that perception, especially since he was taken sixth overall in the 2008 NFL draft.

Gholston's final stats: 15 games played, no starts, 13 tackles, no sacks. In January, shortly after getting the Jets head-coaching gig, Rex Ryan said that "We hope [Gholston] can be a great player ... 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."

As the Jets prepare for the 2009 season, doubts remain. Via the New York Daily News' Rich Cimini:

"He's strong as hell, but the question is, does he want it?" said one player, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "It's the weirdest thing I've ever seen. He's got talent, and he doesn't lack confidence, but sometimes he's like an 18-year-old kid who's never played the game before."

Safety Kerry Rhodes added, "If he's not (ready), we'll be in a little predicament. He's gaining momentum toward the season. He's getting better. I think he understands the onus is on him to do a little more. Hopefully, he gets it."

And that's thing: it's important to remember that Gholston's only been in the league a year and for most players, the transition from the college game is a slow one.

Troy Polamalu looked lost for most of his rookie season, and Mario Williams was labeled a bust after 16 games. Both are Pro Bowlers and considered two of the best players at their positions. So, yeah, young players struggle. But there's one glaring difference between the two situations: no one ever questioned Polamalu's and Williams' desire to play. Fair or not, that's still a huge question with Gholston.

And SI.com's Ross Tucker, who is at Jets' practice today, still seems skeptical.

"Gholston still lacking fire and sense of urgency when rushing the quarterback. Not good."

No, it's not. On the upside, Ryan has a knack for getting the most out of his players. Jarret Johnson, Frank Walker, and Jim Leonhard were all part-timers forced into duty for the the 2008 Ravens. And, ultimately, they had a lot to do with the team's success.