Anyone want to see Carpenter replace James inside?

[5mics]

Ayodele is purely a run stopper, nothing more. He should sit down on passing situations.
I'm mixed about James.
I think Adalius Thomas and a DC with a clue would fix most of what ails our D. And maybe a Jarvis Moss or Anthony Spencer in the draft.
I also like the potential of Hatcher for next year.

Well......Rex Ryan as our new HC could weigh heavily in Adalius' decision about coming here. How about this for our front seven:

Hatcher, Ferguson, Canty
Thomas, James/Ayodele, Carp, Ware

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Ayodele is purely a run stopper, nothing more. He should sit down on passing situations.
I'm mixed about James.
I think Adalius Thomas and a DC with a clue would fix most of what ails our D. And maybe a Jarvis Moss or Anthony Spencer in the draft.
I also like the potential of Hatcher for next year.

He does.. Its called Nickel Defense

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

As we say in Farmers Branch: Hail yaes!

 

[Hostile]

do you guys think we should draft Patrick Willis in the 1st then? if we keep Carp outside

Patrick Willis is someone who might definitely be on the radar.

 

[Cochese]

Absolutely, the key factor to this whole equation is that James has got to sit. I cant believe they gave him that contract extension, to think we could be rid of him this offseason for no compensation...

 

[junk]

Most of the 3-4 OLB are 6'4 or 6'5 unless your a freak like Adalius Thomas and carry 270 like its nothing.

I think that is a misconception that Parcells has helped perpetuate. Look at the starting OLBs for 3-4 team around the league. Ware and Merriman are exceptions rather than the rule. Most go 6-2 to 6-3. Just about the same height as Carpenter.

I think Carpenter was starting to really come on outside last year, but the fastest way to improve the defense probably involves moving Carp inside and drafting a pass rusher. For the record, I think Carpenter has better long term potential outside, but will always be a guy that can play both and fills in as needed (like Vrabel who he was compared to pre-draft).

Any contribution from Ellis next year is gravy and the team CANNOT go into the season counting on him. If he plays again, it will probably be a bonus.

I do find it amusing that the same people that don't think Carp should be playing outside are, in many cases, the same ones who were in love with Manny Lawson all off season.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Patrick Willis is someone who might definitely be on the radar.

I'm thinking either him, or someone like Lamar Woodley

now hear me out about Woodley, the dude is 6'1", he's going to be having a hard time defeating blockers on the outside w/ short arms, and Teddy Bruschi was also a pass-rushing DE out of ASU, Woodley would be a much better pass-rusher than any natural ILB/MLB, at least much better than Bradie is, idk how it either would work out w/ Bradie James just receiving a contract extension, Kevin Burnett looking like a pretty good nickle LB, and already have AKin as a starter, but I definitely would draft someone to be a better ILB candidate, esp. as a pass-rusher, than Bradie

 

[Hostile]

Absolutely, the key factor to this whole equation is that James has got to sit. I cant believe they gave him that contract extension, to think we could be rid of him this offseason for no compensation...

I still want James to get PT, but not in the Nickel. Holy cow, what was he doing out there?

 

[Hostile]

I'm thinking either him, or someone like Lamar Woodley

now hear me out about Woodley, the dude is 6'1", he's going to be having a hard time defeating blockers on the outside w/ short arms, and Teddy Bruschi was also a pass-rushing DE out of ASU, Woodley would be a much better pass-rusher than any natural ILB/MLB, at least much better than Bradie is, idk how it either would work out w/ Bradie James just receiving a contract extension, Kevin Burnett looking like a pretty good nickle LB, and already have AKin as a starter, but I definitely would draft someone to be a better ILB candidate, esp. as a pass-rusher, than Bradie

Don't you ever say that again as long as you live. Tedy Bruschi is a University of Arizona Wildcat, not an ASU Scum Devil.

BTW, I know Tedy and his wife Heidi (used to work with her and was at their wedding) and there is a very real chance he might retire. I can see him going into coaching. Not relevant, just wanted to throw that out there as he will likely be a 3-4 LB Coach.

I like Woodley a lot but he is not landing on most 1st round projections. Another guy I really like is Paul Posluzny of Penn State who I think is a prime candidate to move to ILB and be dominant. If we got him I would do cartwheels.

 

[Ratmatt]

If we stick to the 3-4 does anyone want to see a starting lineup like this:

Ware - Carpenter - Ayodele - Ellis/Draft Pick/Free Agent

Why would you want to stick carpenter inside for.That's where he was most of the year,and he struggled.He only started to come on when he was moved outside.So I say no!

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Don't you ever say that again as long as you live. Tedy Bruschi is a University of Arizona Wildcat, not an ASU Scum Devil.

mucho apologies

I like Woodley a lot but he is not landing on most 1st round projections. Another guy I really like is Paul Posluzny of Penn State who I think is a prime candidate to move to ILB and be dominant. If we got him I would do cartwheels.

whatever is an upgrade over Bradie, works for me

 

[Hostile]

mucho apologies



whatever is an upgrade over Bradie, works for me

As much as I like Bradie, I have to agree.

You're forgiven, but the bad taste in my mouth from the vomit is a bad memory that you owe me for.

Bruschi tied Derrick Thomas' NCAA all time sack record as a DE at Arizona. No one thought he was fast enough to play LB in the NFL and the Pats were derided for making him a 3rd round pick. I knew the guy could play in the NFL. He has a non-stop motor.

 

[Idgit]

mucho apologies

Nothing to apologize for, summer. Lots of people forget than successful pro atheletes can come out of the UofA ju-co system. He plays like a Sun Devil, though.

It all worked out in the end. I hear that Teddy found the fire that made him so successful at the pro level by staring at all of that Mildcat Rose Bowl hardware. Oh, wait....Nevermind. He must have been staring at something else. Maybe a picture of Geraldo Rivera, Hos?

:devil:

 

[theogt]

I think that is a misconception that Parcells has helped perpetuate. Look at the starting OLBs for 3-4 team around the league. Ware and Merriman are exceptions rather than the rule. Most go 6-2 to 6-3. Just about the same height as Carpenter.

I think Carpenter was starting to really come on outside last year, but the fastest way to improve the defense probably involves moving Carp inside and drafting a pass rusher. For the record, I think Carpenter has better long term potential outside, but will always be a guy that can play both and fills in as needed (like Vrabel who he was compared to pre-draft).

Any contribution from Ellis next year is gravy and the team CANNOT go into the season counting on him. If he plays again, it will probably be a bonus.

I do find it amusing that the same people that don't think Carp should be playing outside are, in many cases, the same ones who were in love with Manny Lawson all off season.

Well, many (myself included) preferred Lawson over Carpenter because they didn't think Carpenter was a good fit for 3-4 OLB because of his lack of pass-rush ability. While he did come on late in the season, even then he didn't show any pass-rush ability.

It's only logical for those same people to continue to think that he doesn't fit the 3-4 OLB position. I'm not sure why that's amusing. It shows consistency in thought.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Yes, Carp showed potential towards the end of the season, but did he show any improvement in his pass-rush ability? I didn't see any.

Seriously, go back and watch the games with Ellis and see what it's like having OLBs that can both crush the pocket. It's a thing of beauty.

Put Carp inside where he's better suited.

Carp got some heat in the Detroit and Seattle game, but couldn't close the deal and get the sack. Given time and an offseason in the weight program, he can develop.

 

[theogt]

Carp got some heat in the Detroit and Seattle game, but couldn't close the deal and get the sack. Given time and an offseason in the weight program, he can develop.

Well, in the Detroit game he didn't play 3-4 OLB.

In the Seattle game, I don't recall him getting much heat in the 3-4 OLB position. He made some plays, but he wasn't pressuring the QB. Interestingly, several of the times he did make plays he was in the center of the field (where he'd be if he took over James's spot).

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Well, in the Detroit game he didn't play 3-4 OLB.

In the Seattle game, I don't recall him getting much heat in the 3-4 OLB position. He made some plays, but he wasn't pressuring the QB. Interestingly, several of the times he did make plays he was in the center of the field (where he'd be if he took over James's spot).

He was all over the place in the Seattle game and was one of the best defensive players on the field. Point is, he hasn't been provided the opportunity to show his skills that much due to Ellis's unbelievable transition, his needing to learn the inside, then the outside, plus his slower than expected development. Slow transition in the NFL is not uncommon for OSU players given their having to miss the spring due to their classroom requirements and he was a beast at OSU. If the coaches decide to move him inside, then I'm all for it, but he was starting to show some promise and some burst at the end of the season. I would suspect, due to his versatiliy, he will certainly man the middle in the nickel next year.

 

[neosapien23]

How big can Burnett get before the start of training camp? He was getting over a torn ACL so I would imagine that his offseason conditioning lst year was mainly done for rehab purposes. If Burnett can put on a solid 10 pounds this offseason, he should be able to man either the OLB spot or the MLB spot. I would rather have Carpenter start on the outside since he just got it down. Let Burnett fight it our with James for the starting spot. James can play the running downs and Burnett can come in on passing downs. Burnett has good cover skills so why not let him showcase them. No more picks at LB though. Dallas has much bigger needs at WR, OG, OT, and CB.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

How big can Burnett get before the start of training camp? He was getting over a torn ACL so I would imagine that his offseason conditioning lst year was mainly done for rehab purposes. If Burnett can put on a solid 10 pounds this offseason, he should be able to man either the OLB spot or the MLB spot. I would rather have Carpenter start on the outside since he just got it down. Let Burnett fight it our with James for the starting spot. James can play the running downs and Burnett can come in on passing downs. Burnett has good cover skills so why not let him showcase them. No more picks at LB though. Dallas has much bigger needs at WR, OG, OT, and CB.

Amen Brother! Put some of those picks towards the Offense this year before our Receivers get too old or Flo/Rivera break down!

 

[dogberry]

Any down with James in should be a passing down for an offense.