"Early in training camp, Jets coach Eric Mangini recalled when he first started to watch tape of linebacker Vernon Gholston prior to April's draft. He marveled at how the Ohio State product "popped" off the screen.

Mangini said Gholston seemed to make eye-catching plays every time he turned on the film. Soon, Gholston became the player the Jets had to have to ignite their pass rush, an area they feel they desperately need to improve if they are to dethrone Tom Brady and the Patriots (see Giants, Super Bowl XLII).

But through three weeks of training camp, Gholston, selected sixth overall, is still swimming up stream as he tries to learn a new system -- or "drowning" as Gholston says -- and it appears he may not be ready to make a significant contribution by the Sept. 7 opener in Miami.

Gholston has rarely "popped" during camp this summer. As an outside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 scheme, he seems lost in pass coverage and hasn't been effective when he rushes, often getting blocked by left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

Gholston does, however, seem more comfortable rushing than dropping into coverage, which is why the Jets drafted him. He had 14 sacks last season for the Buckeyes.

The Jets attribute Gholston's slow start to him missing nearly all of the offseason program because he couldn't report until the semester at Ohio State was over. But the fact that he has shown so little has to be a bit alarming to the organization.

Gholston, 6-3, 264 pounds, will get another opportunity to show what he can do tomorrow night against the Redskins at Giants Stadium.

"He's converting from basically being a down (defensive end) to a stand-up outside linebacker," said Jets defensive coordinator Bub Sutton, who was allowed to speak with the media for the first time in training camp.

"There's a transition there. You're a little out of your comfort zone. I think the longer he goes here and the more comfortable he gets with the system, he's going to be fine. We need to just keep speeding up the indoctrination. He's working hard at it. He's spending a lot of time after practice both on the field and in the classroom to catch up."

Gholston was credited with three tackles in last Thursday's 24-20 preseason victory over the Browns but didn't distinguish himself."