Is Will Gholston’s Time Up?
January 20th, 2018
Bad fit?
If you get paid, you better produce.
Unfortunately for Will Gholston, he didn’t produce but he sure got paid.
In the first year of a five-year, $27.5 million contract, Gholston was a total non-factor this season. While he was OK against the run, those guys are a dime a dozen — and the Bucs run defense allowed 4.3 yards per carry, tied for 7th-worst in the NFL.
Gholston recorded no sacks this season. Think about that for a starting defensive end in the pass-happy NFL. No sacks; zero. One almost has to try to pull that off.
Fortunately for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, he covered his arse by only guaranteeing one year on Gholston’s contract.
The Bucs can turn Gholston loose without a financial penalty and Doug Farrar of Bleacher Report believes Gholston, at best, is in the wrong defense and, at worst, shouldn’t be starting.
On the surface, the five-year contract William Gholston signed in 2017 is one of the sport’s oddest. The former Michigan State pass-rusher recorded just 10 sacks (2.5 per season) during his first four years. This season, he didn’t record a sack. He’s slated to make $20.5 million over the next four years, but not a cent after 2017 is guaranteed, meaning the Buccaneers can pull the rug from underneath their agreement.
A potential cap casualty, the 6’6″, 281-pound Gholston has the length to be rushing-down end or a potential 5-tech with better pass-rushing ability than most 3-4 defensive ends. A three-down starting 4-3 defensive end role isn’t in his future, though.
Gholston was and is a great story given his background and upbringing. A fourth round pick, it seemed his arrow was pointing up. Now, the arrow is pointing toward an exit ramp.
There is just no way to justify bringing Gholston back at his price. Then again, the Bucs decided to bring back Doug Martin at his price and with his baggage. So Joe guesses anything is on the table.
January 20th, 2018 at 7:13 am
As if the near head scout knows he’s q better for at 3-4. Seems this regime is simply trying to show the football world how loyal they are too players instead of creating an environment that results in wins. If you think your set at positions that don’t produce and refuse to create competition you can get away with a zero sack season.
No faith whatsoever licht moves on from a zero sack guy and we’ll once again here The guys are your guys excuse
January 20th, 2018 at 7:27 am
Defensive Coordinator..MIKE SMITH’s Time is up!! Its been up. Please fire this guy! IF..you want to start building a great Defense.
January 20th, 2018 at 7:41 am
At what point was his arrow pointing up ?? Uh never , he is what the stars say he is.
Good guy but gotta go unless he resigns as a cheap backup.
January 20th, 2018 at 7:41 am
I’m beginning to think Doug Martin did the same thing to Joe as Gerald McCoy did to tmaxcon. The obsessive, tiresome, same-old act should end already. We get it!
January 20th, 2018 at 7:46 am
That boy good …he good…
Mmmmmmhhhhhmmmm
Good and terrible.
January 20th, 2018 at 7:50 am
He makes his share of plays in the run game but has never had the burst to be a pass rusher off the edge
He’s a 1-2 mil a year rotational DL-redo his deal or let him walk – he, fatbaker, Ayers all must be upgraded –
If he stays he is the back up left end, 25 run snaps a game
January 20th, 2018 at 7:54 am
What a great contract by Licht…..it was a one year guarantee on a big money contract….and obvious prove your value contract….it’s time to negotiate a lower contract with Gholston or cut him. he will take the pay cut, I suspect.
January 20th, 2018 at 8:20 am
I simply never understood why he got that contract to begin with. I guess the coaches must’ve hyped him up bigtime to the GM.
His time is up……..especially from a salary cap stand point
January 20th, 2018 at 8:27 am
That’s funny Joe if you don’t produce you’re gone. Martin didn’t produce in 2016, got suspended for drug use, and came back at full salary in 2017. That’s the example Licht sets. Our special teams sucked, our D, and O lines did not produce, so far no coaches have been held accountable while teams that made the playoffs fired some coaches. No one seems to be held accountable no matter how bad they play, or coach. Licht, and Koetter are a joke, and the Bucs will continue to flounder under such poor leadership. Oh the team was good at something. Playing ping bong in the locker room, what a tough bunch!
January 20th, 2018 at 8:37 am
Who wants to bet he gets cut and signs with the Patriots on a low salary, and he gets coached up to a 6-8 sack guy as a 3-4 end, coaching matters, we missed out on some potentially good coaches this offseason, Shurmur and both Pats coordinators, those 3 teams have franchise QBs like the Bucs, granted the Giants draft Eli’s replacement with pick 2, I wouldn’t be surprised if all 3 of those teams make it to the playoffs and the Bucs are looking for a new GM and coach, I’m really starting to question my sanity rooting for this team
January 20th, 2018 at 8:37 am
Seriously…can anyone name a defensive end outside of Spence that the Buccaneers should keep this year? Heck, I can only think of two defensive tackles, and I would be willing to trade either one for picks!
January 20th, 2018 at 8:39 am
Guzzie Says
“Who wants to bet he gets cut and signs with the Patriots on a low salary, and he gets coached up to a 6-8 sack guy as a 3-4 end, coaching matters…”
Even if that did happen, it would be because he has other guys on the line to help him get there. And FYI…6 sacks is nothing. That bar is too low.
January 20th, 2018 at 8:40 am
Some media & some fans seem to think that the Bucs have all the options in the world. After all, we’ve got money (CAP $$$) & we can buy whoever we want. Better slow down a little bit before we blow this ENTIRE DLine up.
Bucs played 1065 defensive snaps this year. GMC (under contract, sorry tmaxcon) played 810 snaps (76%). Ayers (under contract) played 589 snaps (55%). McDonald (free agent) played 467 snaps (44%). Russell (free agent) played 459 snaps (43%). Baker (under contract) played 457 snaps (43%). Gholston (under contract) played 447 snaps (42%). Will Clarke (free agent) played 315 snaps (30%). From there, it went WAY DOWN HILL. Spence, Siliga, Tapp, O’Connor, Ward, Jack Smith contributed close to nothing this past season in terms of time on the field.
So, as some suggest, cut Baker (yes), Ayers (maybe), and then Gholston (not so fast). McDonald & Russell & Clarke are FAs remember. What’s left then? GMC and (oh oh) an injured Spence (and Stevie T) PLUS several ‘others’ who contributed next to nothing. Remember, our DLine needs at least 9 players to function (3-4 DTs & 5-6 DEs depending upon type of defense being used).
Personally would keep Gholston (even at his current salary) and re-sign McDonald (definitely) & Russell & Clarke. Hope like heck that Noah Spence makes it back to 100%. That’s 5 guys right there. But we’d better be finding at least 1 stud DT AND 2-3 beastly DEs REAL FAST if we expect this DLine to even sniff opposing QBs.
January 20th, 2018 at 8:57 am
Bonzai…6-8 sacks compared to 0 is completely something, if Gholston had 5 sacks this wouldn’t even be a topic whether to keep him, regardless the point I was making is how it sucks to see so many average players leave and become valuable pieces on other teams because we can’t find a competent coaching staff, keeping an ineffective Martin and a losers like Swaggy n Ward only emphasizes how bad our coaches and GM are, doesn’t make any sense
January 20th, 2018 at 9:00 am
Does anyone else get the feeling Swaggy and Sweezy will still be Bucs next year, after keeping the current coaching staff, anything is possible
January 20th, 2018 at 9:07 am
i don’t believe they will let him go after this season .. ayers , baker , sweezy & martin are all gone but i don’t know if they are going to be willing to just give him up without nothing in return when he is possibly the best run defender on the team. if it was my decison to make i would be in favor of keeping him as at the least a quality depth piece in a rotating d line , but i also believe he can be a quality 2 down starting d end in either a 4-3 or 3-4 he had a down year no doubt but was hampered by injuries and the d line as a whole struggled (whole defensive staff shouldn’t be returning but they will) so i don’t know if i can fully put the blame on him .. there was a reason he got paid last offseason maybe they overpaid but the game is changing , backup level talent are getting big paydays now. he was easily the best run stuffer on our d line going into this season and i have no reason to believe he can’t bounce back after one done yr … if he struggles again next season u can easily cut him next offseason
January 20th, 2018 at 9:24 am
I thought the renegotiation of Gholston’s contract was the the right thing to do. You like to think that a home grown products will succeed and mature. However as is the case with most Buc’s as soon as you give them the bucks their play goes south. Only rational excuse that those around him were injured or mediocre at best which detracted from his play. Final analysis (deductive reasoning) is he is a rotational player at best and should take a salary cut or if you can’t find someone better, be cut loose. Only downside to that logic is he goes to
Seattle and notches 8 sacks.
January 20th, 2018 at 9:37 am
I wish some of the local media start asking why it seems that GMC is the only thing holding back from a switch to a 3/4 defense!!!!! It seems all the other pieces are lining up fit the 3/4!!!!!!!! I know that they did a little last year and the local media ran to GMC asking how he felt about the alignment!!!! which he complained about!!!!!!! Even the stunts he ran half-azzed!!!!! as it did not allow him to be double teamed and stuffed all game!!!!!! Can we please trade for draft picks and get the “Man among boys” Vita Vea!!!!!!!! switch to a 3-4 for a point of difference in the division!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2018 at 9:55 am
its too bad, I really like Will. I met him week 17 and gave me a few autographs and took a picture and even remembered me from a few instagram responses i had sent his way. Very good to the fans and a great guy. I hope we keep him another year to see how it works out.
January 20th, 2018 at 10:33 am
I’ve always felt Gholston has been an enigma. Hard to understand how a guy with his physical gifts can be so ineffective. Perhaps the old…”looks like Tarzan plays like Jane” syndrome.
I hate to say anything bad about Gholston because I agree with CanadaBuc and Joe…great story…and he’s been a class act here.
Given D.R.’s point I certainly wouldn’t cut Gholston until I had absolutely found a replacement to eat up some of those snaps.
I think Gholston was just another gamble by Licht to hope that a player would finally figure it out and do some damage. Understand what Licht was looking at. Holes all around and only so many opportunities to fill them. Since we just drafted a franchise QB and had ME and nobody else…Rudy?..at WR. Can anybody here suggest that Licht didn’t do a great job on our WR corps…now perhaps the best top to bottom in the entire league?
And so he made the now well documented gambles trying to fix the DL hole.
Noah…Jack Smith…Gholston…Swaggy…NONE of them really contributed much…some not at all. Licht crapped out on virtually all of his gambles on the DL. Bad dice.
January 20th, 2018 at 10:40 am
Realist, you’re spot on. We’ve got more pieces that fit a 3-4 (Spence & Beckwith & probably Kwon for instance) than we have to make a 4-3 work. I know that Smitty has used the 3-4 some, but I have no idea how much. Not so sure that GMC though is the reason that the Bucs aren’t using it more, but maybe he is. My impression of the 3-4 is that you need a beastly DT in the center to anchor it or you’re in deep doo-doo. GMC isn’t that anchor IMO. For him to really be effective, he needs a strong NT next to him (thus maybe why he & Baker didn’t really work very well together?).
Bottom line though is that it’s up to the GM, HC & DC to determine what defense will work the best, they get guys in who can maximize that defense. That looks like what Jacksonville did this year, and what the Panthers have been doing for several years (remember when they drafted DTs Short AND Lotulelei in the same year?).
January 20th, 2018 at 10:47 am
@StPete … “Can anybody here suggest that Licht didn’t do a great job on our WR corps…now perhaps the best top to bottom in the entire league?” Won’t disagree with you at all StPete, BUT … GMs are supposed to look at MORE than just WRs. He was building a fleet of race cars while he should’ve been ‘Building the Wall’. Not just the Defensive Wall but also the Offensive Wall. Any GM can fix one positional group over a couple of years … it takes a true Pro to fix the whole enchilada. Licht IMO isn’t that guy (glorified scout as several others have noted), BUT … I really hope that I’m wrong and that he performs like gangbusters this year. Not holding my breath though.
January 20th, 2018 at 10:55 am
I honestly believe that Licht wants to run a hybrid defense but Mike Smith doesn’t have the balls to go for it.
January 20th, 2018 at 11:11 am
@gotbbucs … “I honestly believe that Licht wants to run a hybrid defense but Mike Smith doesn’t have the balls to go for it.” I haven’t seen a single thing that would indicate Licht wants to move to a 3-4 defense. OR that Smitty doesn’t have ‘the balls to go for it’. In fact, quite the opposite … Smitty has been using the 3-4 in selective situations for the past 2 years. Licht brought in Spence and Beckwith who COULD play the 3-4 IMO, but Licht NEVER indicated that’s why he drafted them (to play a 3-4 defense).
Folks don’t seem to understand that Licht is a GAMBLER. Take a close look at his signings (draft & FA). Look at the number of draft picks he’s chosen who were injured at the time … that’s a gamble. Look at the number of FAs who he signed who had like ONE good year before he pounced … that’s a gamble. Look at drafting a kicker in the 2nd round who was poorly scouted … that’s a gamble (I’m not opposed to drafting a kicker in the 2nd round BTW; just that that particular kicker wasn’t even worth a 6th or 7th round pick). Gamble after gamble after gamble … some worked out; many (maybe even most) didn’t.
January 20th, 2018 at 11:27 am
In order for a 4-3 defense to be successful, you have to get pressure from your Edge Rushers.
NFC South Sacks From The Edge
Atlanta | 22.5
Carolina | 27.5
New Orleans | 21.5
Tampa Bay | 8.5
All three teams run a 4-3 defense
January 20th, 2018 at 11:29 am
I’m not on board with the Bucs WR Corps. They are good on paper, but I didn’t see anything on the field.
January 20th, 2018 at 11:29 am
We signed him because he is worth keeping. This year made everyone look bad. He and Spence are a good rotational tandem. Will has the ability to flash on screen plays and run plays. His value was trumped by the fact our DBs made it easy to get rid of the ball fast and let screen plays develop to far outside.
You bring in someone who brings heat from the opposite side and WG is gonna look way better.
WG is not the problem…. Yall will be crying if we “let him walk for no good reason.”
January 20th, 2018 at 11:30 am
All 4 teams in the NFC South run a 4-3 defense
January 20th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
I saw Will make a handful of very good plays this year. Certainly not $7M worth of good plays though. That’s just $1M short of Brent Grimes level money – 3/4 of the way to Lavante David money.
0 sacks in an entire year for a “starting” DE is – um – well its beyond unacceptable considering the organization just stepped up big time in an attempt to reward some Home Grown talent (with the expectation he would continue to progress).
This is a pickle because we need any talent we can get on the DL right now – but keeping Gholston at his current salary would not be a good look. We have tons of talented young players that will be coming up for 2nd contracts in the next 2-3 years and Licht has to be very careful about thinking through how this year’s contractual decisions might effect future negotiations.
It was very smart to have a contractual out for the team after just one year if Gholston grossly under-performed. But it was only smart if that out actually gets utilized.
Licht should attempt to re-negotiate with Gholston and make it clear that he will not be paying $6.5M for Will’s services this year – so let the chips fall where they may on that basis…
Will either re-negotiates a contract that matches his value to the team – or gets released to see what he can make on the open market – at the time of the Bucs choosing btw – which could include holding onto him until final cuts in Sept 2018 then releasing him.
That would be the proper “tone” to set in this particular case IMO.
January 20th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
@defense rules
Great thoughts on the D-line.
We need 9 guys and if we cut everybody, we are screwed. I want to shift Gholston to DT and ask him to block more passes.
Starters
LE- nobody
NT- nobody
DT- McCoy
RE- M. Bennett (hopefully)
Bench
DE/DT-Ayers 3rd down specialist
DT- McDonald- rotational
DE/DT- Gholston
DE/DT- Clarke IV
DE- 3rd down- Noah Spence
DE- high draft pick
January 20th, 2018 at 2:15 pm
The Bucs overpaid on a yearly basis to basically get a series of 1-year contracts they could opt out of at any time. I think it’s very clear he’s not worth $7-mil, but someone will pay him like $5-mil I think. If the Bucs switched to a 3-4 I think he’d have a lot more value as his play style is all based around defending the run, and a 3-4 end should be able to do that.
January 20th, 2018 at 3:23 pm
A 3 – 4 defense, where are you playing McCoy. You have to kee Swaggy if you go that route,
DE – Gholston
NT – Swaggy (eat up blocks)
DE – McCoy
OLB – LVD
LB – Kwon
LB – Beckwith
OLB – Spence
I say stay 4 – 3 and go get D. Lawrence or Ansah
January 20th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
I suggested Gholston was a bum 2 months ago and was called a troll. ::rolleyes::
January 20th, 2018 at 4:05 pm
Rrsrq – You’d move McCoy to DE in a 3-4, the same way the Raiders used Sapp at DE in their 3-4. Baker in my mind would be gone, but there’s plenty of options for a NT in a 3-4, plus the Bucs do have Tu’ikolovatu coming back, and he is a natural NT. Gholston is a perfect fit as a 3-4 runnin stopping end.
The reason you’d consider going with a 3-4 is that the Bucs have LBs that can rush the passer. David is the best pass rusher on the team and Spence, as a stand up edge rusher, has more value than in a 4-3 where he’s way too undersized (remember he LOST weight last offseason and was in the 230 range). Beckwith played well as a rookie, but his size and speed makes him better suited for a MILB spot in a 3-4.
As for Lawrence or Ansah there is literally no chance either will not be franchised or given transition tags. Joe just ran another story on this, but I’ve been saying it for a while, look at the FA market, there is nothing out there that is available. We heard all last offseason about the Bucs playing more 3-4 this year and then they didn’t do it at all, but it’s clear they’ve been considering it internally, and can not get any worse.
Also while d-lineman are going to be tough to get in FA, there should be some choices at corner and safety. The Bucs could go with an attacking 3-4 or maybe even a zone blitz – but LB’s are the strongest group the Bucs have on defense, so they should play to that strength. Dirk and Mike Smith got at most one year to turn it around, so using your strengths should be a big part of their plans.
January 20th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
KEEP Gholston but REDO his deal … he’s vastly over-paid imho.
January 20th, 2018 at 6:30 pm
He almost got a sack in one game.
He also had one two tackle game
January 20th, 2018 at 10:56 pm
Jack Del Rio is walking the streets- and we have Mike Smith on the Payroll.
Unbelievable
If ownership doesnt make any Changes in the Defensive staff, then dont expect any changes in our Defensive results
Mike Smith couldnt even draw up a blitz package that generated pressure.
Next season will just be another year of Licht/Koetter/Smith standing on the gallows, waiting to get fired at seasons end.
Another lousy season of Football for us.
Im sure Gholsten will still be starting At DE.
January 20th, 2018 at 11:38 pm
It’s not the coaching we don’t have the players
January 21st, 2018 at 3:21 am
As soon as you let Gholston leave he will become a superstar for another team. Keep your homegrown players.
January 21st, 2018 at 7:36 am
He shoild have used the same defense as Gerald McFraud uses (double teamed all the time). It works for that worthless piece of $h!t.
January 21st, 2018 at 11:18 am
Please, for goodness sake. Stop with the 3-4 bull**it. Gerald McCoy is not the type of player who built to wrestle with o-linemen for linebackers to run free. That would be his new assignment as a 3-4 DE. McCoy is a shoot the gap with his speed and quickness DT. You want to take that away from a guy who made a living at the Pro bowl doing what he do best?
Chris Baker and Gholston both fit as 3-4 linemen. Didn’t Baker play DE in the 3-4 alignment?
January 21st, 2018 at 5:05 pm
Stop with this nonsense. Will was paid as a solid rotational player. He was not signed to be von miller. You guys must not know what type of money elite pass rushers make. Gholston is not overpaid.
January 21st, 2018 at 7:27 pm
Like I said he almost had a sack in one game
He also almost had a two tackle game.
Just missed it.