RamView, 8/23: Rams sign... Vernon Gholston?

Photo - Sports Illustrated

* In a move that can only be described as puzzling, the Rams have added former Ohio State and New York Jets defensive end Vernon Gholston to the 90-man roster. Gholston, the #6 pick of the 2008 draft, who many believed could have been taken higher, is one of the colossal draft busts of the past decade. In three years with the Jets, he started only 5 games and did not have a single sack. The Jets cut him last March. Chicago had him in training camp, where he also did not impress and was cut in September. Rex Ryan says today that he never liked Gholston coming out of college, thought he was "phony," and advised then-Jets head coach Eric Mangini not to draft him. In his defense, Gholston was a poor fit for Ryan's complicated system and was miscast as an outside linebacker.

Gholston's draft stock soared in '08 thanks to the NFL Combine, but the years since have exposed him as just another workout wonder. His strength did not translate to the field. He has no bull rush, can't shed blockers and doesn't stop the run well at the line of scrimmage. He's a stiff, upright pass rusher, a one-note speed rusher easily blocked by a RB or a TE, who takes poor angles to the QB and plays too out of control. He disappears on the field for stretches and his motor and killer instinct have been questioned. Whatever amount of faith you place in Rams defensive line coach Mike Waufle, he's likelier to successfully flip a crack house for a profit in the next two weeks than he is to turn Vernon Gholston into a viable NFL player.

The only advantage I can see in this signing is that it could potentially raise Jason Smith's self-esteem. For once, he might not be the biggest draft bust on his team.

* Wednesday injury list:
- Danario Alexander, out, hamstring
- Sam Bradford, probable, ankle
- Craig Dahl, out, hamstring
- Bradley Fletcher, out, ribs
- Brandon Gibson, out, hamstring
- Jamaar Jarrett, out, unknown
- Trevor Laws, out, knee
- Darell Dorell Scott, out, unknown
- Eugene Sims, out, foot. Jim Thomas reports Sims is wearing a walking boot.
- Darian Stewart, out, undisclosed but probably hamstring

Sims' and Jarrett's injuries seem to be the reason Gholston was signed. Nick Wagoner speculates that Gholston could play Saturday night.

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