Lovie, D-Line Coach Talk Up Will Gholston
September 24th, 2015
“Push.”
Lovie Smith adores using that word when he talks about his interior defensive line.
Speaking on his Total Access radio show on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Lovie praised Clinton McDonald, Henry Melton, Will Gholston and Gerald McCoy for their pass rush — their push — against the Saints.
Lovie paid particular attention to Gholston, talking about him twice in 20 minutes. Then, defensive line coach Joe Cullen joined the show and talked about how the success of the pass rush and how Jacquies Smith’s three sacks was about that push. He, too, shined a light on Gholston, who has transitioned from defensive end to defensive tackle this year.
Cullen said Smith getting the edge first was key, and a focus of the game plan was letting the guys in the middle worry about the step up from Drew Brees. Then the luck of timing led to the Bucs slapping around the Hall of Famer, Cullen said.
“Good push at times [from the defensive tackles], and it happened to be at the same times [Smith] beat his tackle around the edge,” Cullen said.
The high energy D-line coach seemed a little extra jacked up about Gholston, just like Lovie was.
“Will Gholston, you know, there was a couple of rushes where will drove the guard right into the lap of the quarterback,” Cullen said.
Gholston is a real player to watch. He just turned 24 in July and is entering his third season after former Bucs general manager Mark Dominik made him a fifth-round pick in 2015. The thing about Gholston is his mammoth but lean size. He’s a true 6-6, 280 pounds with long arms and little body fat.
One of those long arms also blocked an extra point in New Orleans.
Gholston spent his own money to attend defensive line camp for weeks this summer under the direction of Hall of Famer Chris Doleman, and Gholston believes it really made a difference in his game.
He’s helped make defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, a starter for the Seahawks the past two seasons, little more than a luxury on the Bucs roster.
September 24th, 2015 at 7:14 am
100% effort gets you your paycheck. Lets keep earning it!
Go Bucs!!!
September 24th, 2015 at 7:26 am
sounds like something I do in the bathroom
September 24th, 2015 at 7:27 am
I like this spirit, there is team work but there is Homework.
The guy used his money, time and energy to improve and it’s paying now.
Well Done Man continue like this
September 24th, 2015 at 8:00 am
Wow, it is amazing how many players from last year went to get outside help!!!
And @thebucsanthem
Maybe you should go see a dietitian!!!
September 24th, 2015 at 8:01 am
Called the Gholston draft pick before it even happened on draft day right here on JBF and was happy when his name was called. But I have to admit I’m very surprised his success has come at DT rather than DE. Not that I’m complaining…sometimes a player has to find out where he really fits in the NFL and it isn’t always apparent at first. One of Dominik’s few, or rather very few, successful draft picks. But I don’t give Dominik any credit because it was Cullen who identified his skills as suitable for a position switch to DT. Under Dominik and Schiano this guy would’ve probably already been released and finding success with another team (ala Michael Bennett).
September 24th, 2015 at 8:15 am
They’re approaching the corner. It won’t be much longer before it’s unnecessary to wait on it.
September 24th, 2015 at 9:25 am
Damn Nole, “wait on it” was starting to grow on me. Now we are almost there. I must admit, at first I thought it was a dig at the Bucs. Nothing you did, just my own silly interpretation.
September 24th, 2015 at 10:17 am
I need more fiber
September 24th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
@Realist
Wow, it is amazing how many players from last year went to get outside help!!!
Wow? Amazing? Really? Your post is meaningless without some context. How many players on other NFL teams go for outside help? Virtually every QB does.
And so two questions for you. I’ve asked the first already…how do we compare to other teams? That is what would make it wow worthy or amazing if our guys were doing it in significantly higher numbers than other teams.
Second…does the CBA have any effect? Perhaps the players are literally not allowed to work with their coaches in the off season?
September 25th, 2015 at 4:25 am
Good point, St. P. B. F. – thanks for the rational optimism! This team is nowhere near as bad as the perpetual pessimists would have you believe…for a change!