Bucs’ coaches pleased with Gholston’s rapid improvement
William Gholston looks to get past Colts tight end Coby Fleener during last Sunday’s game. Bucs coaches say Gholston is at his best when he’s outside and matched up against a tight end. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: December 4, 2015It wasn’t long after he arrived as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers new defensive coordinator last year that Leslie Frazier realized he had a project on his hands in defensive linemen Willian Gholston.“When we first got here and we were looking at him going through the (blocking) bags (in practice), we were like, ‘Man, he’s going to need some work to get to where we need him to be,’ ” Frazier said.Gholston must have put in the work necessary to change Frazier’s mind, because in addition to replacing George Johnson as one of the Bucs starting ends in Week 4, he’s now being hailed as the team’s most improved defender.“I don’t think anybody has come as far as he has in as short a period of time,’’ Frazier said of Gholston, a fourth-round pick of the Bucs in the 2013 NFL draft. “He’s played extremely well for us.’’Gholston’s stat sheet backs that claim. He ranks fourth on the team with 40 tackles, including five for loss, and his 20 quarterback pressures lead the team, according to ProFootballFocus.He’s versatile, too. Gholston often moves inside to tackle on passing downs, but the Bucs believe he’s at his best when he’s outside and matched up against the tight end.“Will will never be classified as a speed pass rusher on the outside, but that guy is valuable,’’ Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “As far as untapped potential, he has a lot of it. He’s a green player. And he’s gone from being a guy on the outside looking in to a guy that we are counting on.’’[email protected] Twitter: @RCummingsTBO
