By Matt Sohn
April 26, 2008

Vernon Gholston

Ever since Eric Mangini came to New York with his 3-4 defensive system, the Jets have needed to overhaul their front seven personnel. The players he inherited were brought in to run Herm Edwards’ 4-3 scheme, and most were ill-equipped to handle their new roles. The Jets lacked a nose tackle, their middle linebacker was undersized and their outside linebackers didn’t have the requisite speed to wreak havoc off the edge.

With the pick of Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston, the Jets are now a couple of DE acquisitions away from completing their defensive restoration. So far this offseason, they’ve added massive NT Kris Jenkins from Carolina and signed OLB Calvin Pace from Arizona, and have parted ways with perennially disappointing NT Dewayne Robertson and ILB Jonathan Vilma. And that’s why this was the absolute best pick the Jets could have made in the sixth slot. Gholston fits the system. A defensive end in college, his game translates very well to outside linebacker, where he’ll form a potent bookend with Pace.

The 3-4 is a tricky system to run. It’s more technically complicated than the majority of 4-3 schemes, and requires great coaching and a more narrow range of personnel to properly execute. But if a team does have the right personnel, it affords more flexibility to the “D,” and will ultimately lead to greater productivity. The Jets have the coaching with Mangini — like him personally or not, Mangini knows defense. And when presented with the rare player who personifies exactly what it means to be a 3-4 outside linebacker, the Jets made the wise choice to pounce on him.

Is outside linebacker the Jets’ biggest need? Not necessarily. RB Jonathan Stewart, the top running back on PFW’s board, would have also played a critical role in bringing the Jets back up to playoff contention. But, as good as Stewart is, he plays a position that the Jets can address in a later round and still get a good player. There are no more Gholston-esque players available after the physical freak from Ohio State.

A season ago, the Jets hit home runs with their first two picks, CB Darrelle Revis in the first round and ILB David Harris in the second round, both of whom they traded up to get. With Gholston now in New York, Mangini has hit another one out of the park. Excellent selection.