3rd Year LB Outlook (Gholston vs Durant)

[kmb154]

which one of these 2 3rd year LB's has more upside? Vernon Gholston or Justin Durant?

I like Durant to do better this year and possibly have the better next 3 years. I have a chance to get either in a contracts league and was wondering what everyone thought....

thanks

[bungle613]

Gholston is only a year 2 LB and very close to being labeled a pure bust. Durant just got moved to MLB and has the confidence of the coaching staff and will be a 3 down LB.

Durant and it isn't even close.

[mattb47]

Gholston is only a year 2 LB and very close to being labeled a pure bust. Durant just got moved to MLB and has the confidence of the coaching staff and will be a 3 down LB.

Durant and it isn't even close.

Agreed...Rex Ryan apparently is making Gholston his personal project to try to get him to make a bigger impact this season but Durant is definitely looking like the better choice right now.

[Gmazz06]

I agree but only because Gholston was a complete bust last season recording only one tackle but is the same type of player Terrell Suggs was and Rex Ryan was able to transform him into a far better player than experts believed he would be. I see Gholston having a breakout season to be honest. Ryan doesnt just play his players at their best positions, he uses their specific skills and traits to make his 46 defense the best it can be.

[mattb47]

Well...another thing though is that very rarely do you see an OLB in a 3-4 really be a great fantasy LB and usually not great on a consistent basis. Durant is going to be playing at MLB where he has the chance to be a great fantasy LB because they are just involved in more plays. Even if Gholston "breaks out" for the Jets this season, the chances of him being a great fantasy LB are slim I think.

[LS2throwed]

I agree but only because Gholston was a complete bust last season recording only one tackle but is the same type of player Terrell Suggs was and Rex Ryan was able to transform him into a far better player than experts believed he would be. I see Gholston having a breakout season to be honest. Ryan doesnt just play his players at their best positions, he uses their specific skills and traits to make his 46 defense the best it can be.

Maybe, but other then big muscles and size what does Gholston have that Suggs has? Suggs is actually a great football player that can rush the passer from a variety of spots, and he's produced at a pro bowl level since he came into the league, Gholston had a tackle...Suggs being good doesn't have anything to do with Rex Ryan, he moves him around but he really didn't make him into what type of player he is.


Not to knock Gholston next year, but I'm not touting a breakout season for a guy who had one tackle, that's just way too optimistic...Which makes the original question very easily, Durant has already looked like a young stud in the making and he's moving to a position where he'll be even more productive...Gholston would probably never outscore Durant in an idp league, I don't even know of many 3-4 OLB's who could and Gholston certainly isn't one of them.



Durant looks like one of the guys to target in idp leagues, Gholston is still learning how to make an impact on an actual NFL team, let alone a fantasy team...Gholston is very stiff, he's nowhere near as agile and flexible in the hips as Suggs or Ware, which is why he should of stayed as a 4-3 End where he played in College...He's not good in coverage, and looks uncomfortable rushing the passer standing up, I would expect Ryan to line him up in a 3 point stance alot as an edge rusher in sets that look like a 4-3 base since they ran a hybrid scheme in Baltimore, and they'll try to put him in positions that resemble a 4-3 End but I wouldn't want him anywhere near my idp team.

[bungle613]

Gholston is very stiff, he's nowhere near as agile and flexible in the hips as Suggs or Ware, which is why he should of stayed as a 4-3 End where he played in College...

I don't think he had much choice of where they put him. Regardless, LS2 is right in the description. I liked him oout of school but I have my doubts that he will ever be an impact player.

On a side note of IDP players to avoid... Per Rotoworld...

First-round pick Brian Orakpo has continued to spend most of his time in the Redskins' linebacker meetings during OTAs.

Orakpo shouldn't get DL eligibility in IDP leagues as a stand-up linebacker on early downs. He will blitz with his hand down in nickel situations. As a 4-3 team, the Redskins using the 13th overall pick on a college end and converting him to outside linebacker was a highly unconventional move.
Source: Washington Times

[LS2throwed]

Don't get me started on Orakpo, leave it up to Washington to screw up a perfectly good thing, he went to a 4-3 team, he's built perfectly like a John Abraham type and could be an every down RE, no idea why they want him standing up as a strong side backer in a 4-3 scheme.


You put him at his natural spot and he's a monster, now I think there's a chance he ends up being a bust or not as effective as he could be because of all the moving around, he's athletic enough to do it because Muschamp toyed with him at Texas, but there is just no positive to asking a 4-3 DE to play your strong side backer on rushing downs, I can't think of ONE player right now who is above average that does this in the NFL, somebody help me if you know of one.

[Gmazz06]

Ya i completely agree as far as fantasy value goes but I think that Gholston has a very good chance at being the better player. I guess we will see. It's easy to assume a guy with one tackle last season can only do better so lets see what happens.