Buccaneers: 3 most underrated players in the playoffs
By Rob Leeds
Buccaneers’ defensive line stud
As one of the longest-tenured players on the roster, William Gholston has deserved all of the recent glory more than most other players. Putting in so much time and seeing various coaches/disasters can be a confidence killer, but Gholston has not jumped ship.
The transition to a 3-4 defense has been a turning point in Gholston’s career. While he was already a consistent starter for the Bucs before that point, Gholston has emerged as the best defensive lineman on the Buccaneers this season.
Gholston was one of the most successful linemen in the league at creating pressure and beating double teams during the regular season. Gholston didn’t dominate in the sack department, but his pressure on the quarterback was all the Buccaneers needed to step up their pass rush.
Gholston has continued to bring pressure on various quarterbacks and several very successful offensive lines during the playoffs. The attention the offensive line has to give Gholston has freed up Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
In addition to the successful pass rush, Gholston had been a significant contributor against the run, and the Buccaneers have still not allowed a running back to dominate so far in the playoffs.