Advertisement

Bucs' William Gholston sees playing time diminish

 
Will Gholston (92), pressuring Falcons QB Matt Ryan last month, is sackless since Week 2.
Will Gholston (92), pressuring Falcons QB Matt Ryan last month, is sackless since Week 2.
Published Dec. 5, 2014

TAMPA — When Bucs defensive end Adrian Clayborn was lost for the season after one game, second-year pro Will Gholston had a huge opportunity, stepping into a starting role after showing promise at the end of his rookie year.

Three months later, as Gholston returns to his hometown as the Bucs play in Detroit on Sunday, he is back on the bench, having gone without a sack since Week 2, with a total of four tackles in the past four games as his playing time has diminished.

"Will will tell you he's anxious to get his starting spot back, which you want him to do," coach Lovie Smith said. "He has a role for us, and of course he gives us some special-teams play, too. He's doing a lot of things for us. Love having him on the team."

Gholston, 23, has given way to another young pass-rusher, Jacquies Smith, 24, who was claimed off waivers from the Bills when Clayborn was injured. Smith has produced well, with four sacks in the past five games, most among Bucs defensive ends. Gholston has played fewer than 30 snaps in each of the past three games but has used his 6-foot-6, 281-pound frame to provide depth at tackle as well as end.

"In any situation, when you're asked to do something, you have to be able to do it, to step up to the challenge of playing a role," said Gholston, who has 34 tackles, four more than his rookie total. "That's really what I've tried to do, to do the best I can do with the snaps that I do get."

A fourth-round draft pick after his junior year at Michigan State, Gholston has made believers out of his teammates. He didn't have a tackle in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, but he batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage, putting his wingspan to good use.

"Once he really figures it out and starts to put it all together, it could get scary," tackle Gerald McCoy said. "He's a really big guy who has one of the best long arms I've ever seen when he uses it right. Just a big, physical guy, and he's more athletic than people think. He's willing to learn. If you say something to him, he'll hear you out. That's why I believe he will get better and he will be good for a long time."

Last year, when Gholston and the Bucs went to Detroit in Week 12, it sparked a run of strong play by Gholston to finish his rookie season. He had just seven tackles entering the Lions game, then had 22 in the final five games of the season, active in stopping opposing runners at the line of scrimmage.

He has shown his versatility in this second season, with size to help inside, as was needed Sunday when starting nose guard Clinton McDonald was out with a hamstring injury.

"I think it went okay," Gholston said of that game. "I thought I stepped up and had a productive game. As a group, we played all together and played pretty well. I feel like my game has expanded."

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Bucs defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier reiterated Thursday that the change at end was prompted by Smith's breakout play rather than anything Gholston had done and his confidence in the young lineman is strong moving forward. Gholston is tied for fourth on the team with six tackles for loss, twice what he totaled as a rookie.

"With Jacquies doing as well as he has at defensive end, it's hard to take him off the field," Frazier said, "but we still want to have a rotation system. So we're rotating William in. He's just not getting as many snaps as he was when he was the starter.

"You can't take away from what Jacquies has done. William will get his opportunities, and he has to make the most of those opportunities."