Key To New, Fat Will Gholston Contract
March 6th, 2017
Ok. Defensive end Will Gholston hit lotto from the Bucs, avoiding free agency. Good for him! The young man is a great story.
But now it’s on the Bucs to do the right thing.
Gholston is a part-time player. Don’t believe it? Look up the snap counts during the Bucs’ five-game winning streak last year, when the defense was at its very best.
That’s why Gholston is only getting paid $7 million per year. Young DEs like him who can ball stuff the run — and rush the passer — earn at least $10 million.
What’s key here is Bucs coaches not feeling or getting pressure from the front office to put Gholston on the field in passing situations, where he becomes a below-average player.
That happens all the time in the NFL. A dude gets drafted high or is paid well and there’s all kinds of pressure to make him earn his money — whether he can or not.
Joe doesn’t want to see that happen with Gholston.
Joe will give the Jason Licht regime credit. Outside of forcing Josh McCown down fans’ throats, letting Michael “Ghost” Johnson stay on the field when he was dragging down the entire defense, there’s been very little whiff of high-investment players getting preference over more deserving guys.
Joe hopes that continues. And yes, Joe’s looking at you, Mr. Aguayo.
March 6th, 2017 at 10:21 am
Yeah Joe. Said it then too, could have used a wr and a safety or dt with those 2 aguayo picks. We might not have to overspend on a wr this year if so. Anyway thats over time to move on and cmon licht dont mess up again this year. We have a good punter and long snapper. Dont draft aguayos replacement either. Wheeweeee things are about to get interesting in free agency. Go bucs
March 6th, 2017 at 10:35 am
Ya I agree. I saw the same positive signs from the coaches when it came to Ayers too. I was worried that they were going to pigeon hole him into DE, but some of our best success was with him at DT…
I’m liking what I’m seeing with these coaches.
March 6th, 2017 at 10:39 am
He’s only getting 5.5 m per year and he’s loaded with incentives.
March 6th, 2017 at 10:40 am
These don’t seem like Schiano-esque round peg square hole kinda guys. His excellent ability to kill TEs and create disruption for the other team’s running game allows for his lack of pass rushing ability. Hasn’t Gholston been killing himself the past few offseasons to get better at the pass rush? May be imagining stories here
March 6th, 2017 at 10:42 am
Maybe they feel like they can get Campbell here and he can teach Gholston how to use that big frame better? At first glance, I really don’t think he was worth that kind of money, especially as a one-dimensional part timer. I’m not hating on him or rooting for him to fail, I just think he’s reached his ceiling and the resources might be put to better use. I hope he proves me wrong.
March 6th, 2017 at 10:44 am
I don’t think there’s any pressure from above like that. I think they’re used to be and that they learned their lesson. Besides, Spence and airs are going to be the guys I’m passing downs, along with Smith back healthy
March 6th, 2017 at 10:44 am
If we can add Campbell our other D linemen could produce more too
March 6th, 2017 at 10:45 am
Great signing, But i don’t understand how Joe always down playing him by calling him a “part-time player” when he has the second most defensive line snaps behind Gmac. And he missed 2 games…how is he any different from a pass specialist??? we don’t knock them for being part time players
March 6th, 2017 at 10:51 am
overpayed>
March 6th, 2017 at 10:51 am
Part time player??… the dude finished in total snaps behind McCoy. Hardly think that’s a part time player
March 6th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Part-time player? ESPN reports that Colston played the second most snaps on the defensive line behind only GMC
March 6th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Great move!! Stay young and develop. Kid is young and will get better with the great defensive staff we have. I’d much rather a young kid on the raise over a 30 year old on the decline/ only 2 to 3 good year left in the tank.
GO BUCS!!!!
March 6th, 2017 at 10:53 am
The more impact players Bucs have in our DLine stable the better off we are. Players like Will Gholston & Noah Spence may be ‘specialists’ (one against the run, one against the pass) but we need both to play situational football. Add Calais Campbell in there, re-sign A. Spence & keep McDonald and we’ll have an excellent interior DLine with GMC (enough quality defenders to keep everyone fresh into the 4th qtr). Gholston, Ayers, Jack Smith & Noah Spence give us some excellent flexibility among our DEs (hopefully Bucs add 1 more in the draft). That’d be some serious talent for Mike Smith to work with.
March 6th, 2017 at 10:56 am
Gholston …. my talk-to-text stinks
March 6th, 2017 at 10:57 am
@Destin Did you not notice the massive drop off in our D line after Big Will went down late in the season? We couldn’t stop anybody from running the ball without him. He was anchoring that side of the field of 1st and 2nd down.
People try and make it out as though stopping the run isn’t important. But it is, very much so. You can make teams 1 dimensional and predictable, as well as consistently force them into 2nd & long/ 3rd & long situations.
The only scenario in which stopping the run doesn’t matter is if you have god awful Pass/ 3rd down defense. Something painfully abhorrent under Lovie, and something that improved markedly under Schmitty..
Signing Will Gholston back to a 5 year deal is yet another savvy move from Jason Licht.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:00 am
That’s like saying Mike Evans is a part time player cuz he don’t come in on 4th and 1… makes no sense.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:00 am
Anyone that does not understand the value of gholston on this team when many of your d-linemen are undersized is a football idiot. Every player does not have to be reggie white in order to have tremendous value. The fact that the bucs are as good as they are against the run is because of him. His versatility is also valuable. Do not get sidetracked by those who do not understand the value gholston brings. Those are the ones who jump and scream for the bucs to sign all the “name” players regardless if they are 34 yrs old and no other team is calling said player. They are also the ones calling for the bucs to draft players who have a lot of off field buzz/drama because they will “supposedly” fill the seats ignoring all of the on the field worts. Do not get sidetracked.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:06 am
E/T William Gholston $5.5M (per year)
William Gholston signed a 5 year, $27,500,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including $13,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $5,500,000.
Great Job Licht!
Now Sign E/T Calais Campbell – and we looking real good.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:15 am
“Outside of forcing Josh McCown down fans’ throats, letting Michael “Ghost” Johnson stay on the field when he was dragging down the entire defense, there’s been very little whiff of high-investment players getting preference over more deserving guys.” says Joe
The above has Lovie written all over it!
But don’t forget folks Lovie gave us Winston….BoooM!!!! Fire them Cannons!!!!
Lovie gave us a franchise pick! lol
March 6th, 2017 at 11:26 am
I don’t personally think Licht will go after Campbell…or I don’t think if he does, he won’t go overboard with an offer. Here’s Why: Robert Ayers.
Now, my viewpoint is that Ayers is great for motivation, but average (if that) for play at DE. However, they are paying him to start, and that means he’s going to do just that. And seeing as his games were best when he played in the DT spot, that’s where I believe he will be full time.
Sorry, but I think out Dline, except for depth, is not going to be seeing any big signings now. So I don’t think they will go after Campbell.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:26 am
Only an idiot would down play or disagree with this signing. He is an integral part of this defensive line rotation, no matter how much Joe wants to sh!t on him. Last year it was Mike Evans that was the Joebucsfan whipping post. KW hands, now part time Gholston. As if defensive linemen rotating is some new revelation.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:27 am
LUVMYBUCS Says
“E/T William Gholston $5.5M (per year)
William Gholston signed a 5 year, $27,500,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including $13,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $5,500,000.”
Why is your number $10m less than what Joe says?
March 6th, 2017 at 11:29 am
gotbbucs, he actually was part time. As in certain types of downs. Stop being a troll. I have yet to see Joe bash him. In fact, I believe he is one of Joe’s fav players if I remember right.
A full timer is a 3 down player, fyi.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:43 am
@Bonzai Why would they not be able to pay Ayers and Campbell to start?
Seeing that Campbell plays more snaps at DT, and kicks out to End on some plays that are guaranteed runs. And Ayers plays almost always at End, and only slides inside on guaranteed passes.
I’m telling you. Campbell, DJax, and Tony Jefforson, and Mangold are our targets. I’d be shocked if we don’t come away with at least 3 of them.
March 6th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Could have had Yannick Ngakoue.
March 6th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Blake, they are basically competing with 31 other teams for those four guy’s services. Predicting we will sign at three of those specific players is EXTREMELY optimistic. Would love to see if but there are so many variable I would say it is highly doubtful. We don’t even know if Bucs management is interested in going after one of them.
March 6th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
@Bonzai
Contract Notes:
• Incentives: $9M
March 6th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Blake_bucsfan, it isn’t a question of money. There are only so many starting positions. Spence has earned the right to start at DE, and he plays the same spot as Ayers. Ayers did much better at DT next to McCoy anyway. So they should move him to DT…then we do not even need Campbell.
LUV
Thanks for clarifying 🙂
March 6th, 2017 at 12:57 pm
I think it’s possible the Bucs target Mangold, but as to D-Jax & Campbell, I doubt it. I could be wrong though. It’s just a theory.
March 6th, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Our d line was injured beyond belief.
Spence was a rookie they groomed slowly and he still played with a bum shoulder.
Jaq smith missed the entire season
Ayers missed 6(?) games i think
Mcdonald, missed most of the season.
Akeem spence sucks
We had some rookies who stepped in as part time players.
Our d line was struggling most of the season to stay healthy. Lack of talent and “full time” players didnt help the situation. Im sure the bucs would have loved to let gholston play all game. But they knew we had better option to rush the passer. If you really think gholston is an every down DE then you havent been watching the bucs. The play count on the d line is deceiving this year, because of so many injuries.
March 6th, 2017 at 1:39 pm
noah spence & jacquies smith (if healthy) give the bucs a compelling reason keep him off the field in pass rushing situations. at DT, he could be your interior guy next to mccoy at times but the bucs could use Ayers or even Calais Campbell in a that DT2 spot when the package calls for someone quicker than your nose tackle
March 6th, 2017 at 1:42 pm
I wonder if Da’quan Bowers ever got his guitar in tune.
March 6th, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Good to sign him now. this is an average contract for a run stopper like him. He doesn’t need to play on 3rd downs with our DEs. Save his energy for 1st and 2nd down. His ability to move inside gives him added usage so I like this move by Licht kills
March 6th, 2017 at 3:31 pm
$7-mil a year for a 2-down player seems like a ton of money, but with the salary cap having exploded over the last few years I guess I need to readjust my expectations. Glad he’s back, but wow, that’s a lot of money.
March 6th, 2017 at 4:13 pm
$5.5M per year sounds about right – especially in this inflated market for free Agents. I imagine the incentives are for sacks and games played/snaps which is a good thing.
The best news of all is that if Gholston blows up and starts getting more sacks on top of the solid run stopping he’s known for – then we have him locked up at a reasonable price for quite awhile at our choosing beyond year 2. (guessing that all the guarantees are for the 1st 2 years).
March 6th, 2017 at 11:17 pm
Guys call down Joe rarely EVER makes sense. Again I ask you Joe do you do any research before you wrote these articles or do you just puff the magic Dragon and pull this stuff out of your rear end? Gholston has the 292nd most snaps on our dline behind GMac. Get it together Joe
March 6th, 2017 at 11:17 pm
Calm*
March 7th, 2017 at 9:50 am
Yes Yannick would have been a good pickup too. I was referring to Javon Hargrave, came on strong end of last year. I think he’s a future pro bowler. Him and Malcolm Mitchell would have made the team better. Free agency kickin off lets go bucs! Keep up the good work Joes