DMN Blog (Breer): Wade on Carpenter

[Angus]

Wade on Carpenter
4:22 PM Sun, May 04, 2008 |
Albert Breer E-mail News tips

As was reported earlier in the weekend, former first-round pick Bobby Carpenter is set to make the switch from the "Mike" (strong-side inside) linebacker spot to the "Mo" (weak-side inside).

The obvious question, then, was just who would be the backup at the "Mike", behind Bradie James? It's a good one. Kevin Burnett, since he's not overly big for an inside 'backer, will likely stay at the "Mo", backing up Zach Thomas. My guess would be that if something were to happen to James, Thomas would slide over to the "Mike", with either Burnett or Carpenter filling his spot at the "Mo."

At least, that's the idea I got when Wade said this about who will be behind Zach Thomas at the "Mike": "We've got a rotation we're going to look at behind Bradie and we're going to look at some young guys there also."

Which young guys, I don't know. The Cowboy have the four aforementioned players that are capable of playing inside 'backer and, really, no one else with that ability who has a good shot at making the roster.

As for Carpenter, the Cowboys are doing their best now to see if they can squeeze something out of the old first-round pick. So for now, they'll see how he fits at the "Mo." Bear in mind, it's May, so this isn't exactly an experiment that you can't pull the plug on if it doesn't work.

"He's got ability," Phillips said of Carpenter. "And yeah, we'd like for him to be on the field some and certainly help us. He helped on special teams, obviously. With every player that has ability, we try to plug them in somewhere. In some cases, we dream up places to put them.

"We put (Anthony) Spencer and Greg Ellis and DeMarcus Ware on the field at the same time, because they're all really good pass rushers. Again, I like Bobby because of his attitude and ability. I'm hoping we can get a place for him to help us on defense too. "

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2008/05/wade-on-carpenter.html

 

[TheCount]

At least, that's the idea I got when Wade said this about who will be behind Zach Thomas at the "Mike": "We've got a rotation we're going to look at behind Bradie and we're going to look at some young guys there also."

Is that coach-speak for "We don't know yet?" Why not just say that.

I also love that the question is about Carptenter and instead of finding good things to say about him, he ends up talking about Ellis, Ware and Spencer.

 

[sago1]

I thought Carpenter was going to play behind Zach Thomas. Now Breer doesn't know what Wade meant or where Carpenter will be playing. Maybe it is too early for these kind of decisions & they'll see what happens in June minicamp. Also don't realize Burnett was viewed as too smallish a linebacker to play the "mike" and will stay at the "mo". Then why did Parcells draft Burnett & does that explain why Burnett got injuried in his first 2 years? Geez, we've sure spent a lot of high draft picks on defense & sparingly on offense, yet our offense was the strength for almost the entire season. Things sure seem unsettled at linebacker; thank God we now in better shape at CB. But sure doesn't sound like Carpenter has a long future ahead of him in Dallas. When you stack up the successful defensive players we drafted vs the unsuccessful we drafted, the numbers aren't looking so good anymore.

 

[junk]

I still wouldn't be surprised to see them try to convert Walden to ILB.

 

[sago1]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Or maybe Wade just lights to collect pass rusher, but we sure could use some inside pressure on opposing QBs along with outside pressure from our OLBs. I'm beginning to think we just have a mess at ILB positions other then Bradie James; Zach Thomas will be a good starter but for how long & how many downs will he play? Actually I thought Burnett played behind Ayodele & could challenge him for that job; so we planning move Carpentger behind James or Thomas. Don't answer cause it will be different by next week & then change again before June minicamp. Maybe Carpenter's going to be our WOW player on offense.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I thought Carpenter was going to play behind Zach Thomas. Now Breer doesn't know what Wade meant or where Carpenter will be playing. Maybe it is too early for these kind of decisions & they'll see what happens in June minicamp. Also don't realize Burnett was viewed as too smallish a linebacker to play the "mike" and will stay at the "mo". Then why did Parcells draft Burnett & does that explain why Burnett got injuried in his first 2 years? Geez, we've sure spent a lot of high draft picks on defense & sparingly on offense, yet our offense was the strength for almost the entire season. Things sure seem unsettled at linebacker; thank God we now in better shape at CB. But sure doesn't sound like Carpenter has a long future ahead of him in Dallas. When you stack up the successful defensive players we drafted vs the unsuccessful we drafted, the numbers aren't looking so good anymore.

We have crapped away so many high picks on defense it is not even funny.

 

[Nors]

Carpenter is best utilized on the bench.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I too am hoping for Bobby!

 

[noletime95]

I thought Carpenter was going to play behind Zach Thomas. Now Breer doesn't know what Wade meant or where Carpenter will be playing. Maybe it is too early for these kind of decisions & they'll see what happens in June minicamp. Also don't realize Burnett was viewed as too smallish a linebacker to play the "mike" and will stay at the "mo". Then why did Parcells draft Burnett & does that explain why Burnett got injuried in his first 2 years? Geez, we've sure spent a lot of high draft picks on defense & sparingly on offense, yet our offense was the strength for almost the entire season. Things sure seem unsettled at linebacker; thank God we now in better shape at CB. But sure doesn't sound like Carpenter has a long future ahead of him in Dallas. When you stack up the successful defensive players we drafted vs the unsuccessful we drafted, the numbers aren't looking so good anymore.

Well, Roy Williams was successful at one point and time, so hard to put him in the bad draft category. Newman is a stud. Ware is a stud. I like Spencer. Ratliff was a steal. Spears wasn't worth a 1st rounder, but he contributes. Hatcher is still developing and has shown flashes. B. James was a good pick. Certainly the Carp pick doesn't look good at this point, but I would disagree with the notion that Dallas hasn't drafted well.

 

[theogt]

Bradie plays every 1st and 2nd down.

Carpenter rotates in with Thomas on 1st and 2nd down.

Burnett and Roy play the linebacker spots on 3rd down.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

Again, I like Bobby because of his attitude and ability. I'm hoping we can get a place for him to help us on defense too. "

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2008/05/wade-on-carpenter.html

My attitude's AWESOME! Can I get a first round contract, too?


:bang2:

That's coach-speak for "Hey, I didn't pick him. Go talk to Man-Boobs"!

 

[theogt]

My attitude' AWESOME! Can I get a first round contract, too?


:bang2:

That's coach-speak for "Hey, I didn't pick him. Go talk to Man-Boobs"!

Actually, if you listen to the question, he was really emphasizing that he was trying to get him on field because of his ability. He said with guys that have ability, you need to find a way to get them on the field.

My impression was that he has the ability and works hard. His only problem is that he just hasn't "got it" yet, and he's hoping he "gets it." Strange for a guy that was supposedly drafted because he was a "football player" that could start immediately.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

Actually, if you listen to the question, he was really emphasizing that he was trying to get him on field because of his ability. He said with guys that have ability, you need to find a way to get them on the field.

Well, clearly, he has less "ability" in the Mo position than the 2 people penciled in to start AHEAD of him. And we saw how often he hit the field in the Mike position last year. If he had so much "ability" he'd be on the field already.

Am I mistaken here? Because it seems like we'd have people starting who were most "able" to get the job done.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I just don't see Zach Thomas starting for the Cowboys over an extended period. One concussion and he sits for 4+ weeks. I'm not expecting much from Zach. Zach is starting to worry me like Aikman at the end with his concussions and bad back. It wouldn't surprise me to see Zach not make it through training camp.

I'm also getting a feeling that Walden may show something special and outplay Carpenter.

The good news: barring injury, the Cowboys should be pretty deep at LB.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It appeared right along that Carpenter's best position would be as a 4-3, strong-side, outside backer. Now, which position in the 3-4 most closely resembles a 4-3, strong-side, outside backer? Probably the weakside, ILB position. So where have the Cowboys tried playing this guy?

3-4 strong-side, outside linebacker, where he doesn't have the pass-rush ability to excel at the position. Then we had...

3-4 strong-side, inside backer, where he doesn't have the muscle to play that position.

So now he's being tried in really the only spot that makes sense.

Yeah, you can blame Carpenter for some of his lack of progress, but I don't think the coaching staff has put him in the best possible position to succeed (up till now) either.

 

[theogt]

Well, clearly, he has less "ability" in the Mo position than the 2 people penciled in to start AHEAD of him. And we saw how often he hit the field in the Mike position last year. If he had so much "ability" he'd be on the field already.

Am I mistaken here? Because it seems like we'd have people starting who were most "able" to get the job done.

Yes, I think you're mistaken here. He mentioned that he was "demoted" last year (because of the preseason game in which he was injured). Now, apparently he's being promoted to a position where he'll see time on the field.

I think he's being put ahead of Burnett, at least in terms of Mo linebacker on 1st and 2nd down. The only guy that's ahead of him is Zach, who is only going to be a part-time player.

 

[big dog cowboy]

As for Carpenter, the Cowboys are doing their best now to see if they can squeeze something out of the old first-round pick.

"Old" first round pick?

 

[MONT17]

when guys cant earn a job, you cut em... unless he is a first round draft pick... u create a job 4 him!!!

 

[dmq]

It appeared right along that Carpenter's best position would be as a 4-3, strong-side, outside backer. Now, which position in the 3-4 most closely resembles a 4-3, strong-side, outside backer? Probably the weakside, ILB position. So where have the Cowboys tried playing this guy?

3-4 strong-side, outside linebacker, where he doesn't have the pass-rush ability to excel at the position. Then we had...

3-4 strong-side, inside backer, where he doesn't have the muscle to play that position.

So now he's being tried in really the only spot that makes sense.

Yeah, you can blame Carpenter for some of his lack of progress, but I don't think the coaching staff has put him in the best possible position to succeed (up till now) either.

good post

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, about a month ago, I posted something to the effect that I thougth ILB was a real need for us. I felt like Ayodele would be gone, Burnett would soon follow because he could not start and it was not cost effective to sign him to another contract (which we will have to do if we keep him) and same deal with Carp. Can't pay that kind of money for a guy who plays special teams. We will see how this experiment ends up but to me, Carp is a 43 OLB. Put him in Tampa and he would be a star IMO.

I really wanted to draft a real good ILB prospect. I guess there's always next year.