Merrill Hoge Doesn't Care for the Jets Defense

By JOSH ALPER

Updated 5:15 PM EST, Mon, Jan 5, 2009

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If Steve Spagnuolo or Rex Ryan gets the nod to replace Eric Mangini, the Jets figure to play a much more aggressive defensive style in 2009. There will be tweaks to both system and personnel, of course, but each man has built a fierce unit in their current position and would try to do the same with the Jets.

ESPN's Merrill Hoge doesn't think they'd be able to, however. He tells the New York Post that neither man's scheme would work with the current Jets roster. He has particular concern about the linebackers or defensive backs, who he feels lack the smarts and flexibility to thrive under Ryan in particular. His harshest criticism, however, is reserved for Vernon Gholston, the sixth overall pick of the draft who contributed one tackle to the Jets in 2008.

"Why they drafted the kid from Ohio State, that's a mystery in itself," Hoge said. "We get film of the top 30 players before the draft. I watched him and thought he may be the worst football player of the 30 I saw. Being a good athlete doesn't mean you're a good football player. There's a lot of good athletes. I want a good football player. I've never seen a more clueless player who completely lacks instincts."

Ouch. It's hard to find anything about Hoge's feelings about Gholston close to draft day, but he made similar charges on his blog back in November. The silver lining is that Hoge mentioned that Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu was also lost during his rookie season before becoming one of the league's best safeties.

Hoge goes too far with the rest of the defense, but his Gholston rip is right on. The sad thing about Gholston right now is that he's miles away from even being compared to another workout warrior, Mike Mamula. Mamula went seventh overall to the Eagles in 1995 and never quite lived up to that lofty standing. He did have a couple of eight sack seasons, however, something that seems beyond Gholston's grasp right now.