What if Bobby lights it up next year?

[TheCount]

Big "What If", I know.

But allow your imagination to wander. Imagine Bobby plays very well next year in a limited roll. What do you do? Do you hang on to him and hope he's finally showing something and will continue to improve and can start in 2009, OR do you trade him now that his value is actually up.

My gut would be to keep him, you're already paying him and he's cheap but imagine we can get a 3rd or even a 2nd for him, do you take the money and run?

 

[Natedawg44]

That ranks right up there with "What if I hit the powerball, what do I do?"

 

[tomson75]

I think if he plays well....say like as well as he did towards the end of 2006, you keep him. His cost will be low as he hasn't done anything for any extended amount of time, and he'll probably be able to continue to improve.

 

[theogt]

Give him the starting Mo backer spot for the next 7-8 years.

I think he's just the type of player that needs to get on the field and stay on the field before he really gets going. By the end of his rookie season he looked like he was finally "getting" the OLB spot. He played quick and aggressive. I think he overthinks things for awhile until he can play instinctual.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

That ranks right up there with "What if I hit the powerball, what do I do?"

I was going to say what if i hit the lottery.

 

[TheCount]

I was going to say what if i hit the lottery.

That's because it's the most obvious, tired joke that could have been made based on the topic, hence my "Big 'What If', I know."

Give him the starting Mo backer spot for the next 7-8 years.

I think he's just the type of player that needs to get on the field and stay on the field before he really gets going. By the end of his rookie season he looked like he was finally "getting" the OLB spot. He played quick and aggressive. I think he overthinks things for awhile until he can play instinctual.

I think you're right, I think he got too caught up in trying to impress the coaches and be perfect. I've actually rooted for Carp from day 1, and I (like you) did see him play well at the end of his first year which is why I was so surprised he got such few looks afterwards.

 

[InmanRoshi]

It means we've got Zach Thomas' replacement in place in case we don't feel like giving Kevin Burnett a big tender as a RFA next year.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Funny, just earlier today I was trying to look up Bobby's workout numbers to compare them to some of this year's LBs. He was hurt pre-draft of course, but his junior Pro Day numbers were supposedly pretty outstanding -- even correcting for Pro Day foolishness.

I think this Mo position will be the closest yet to what he played at Ohio State, so maybe the light will come on for him. He's definitely a good enough athlete to be a very good player.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

he might have to go to rehab

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'd be happy

 

[burmafrd]

Bobby did not play well in preseason when it mattered last year and the coaches pretty much gave up on him= a clear mistake as they have admitted.
Moving him around like they have also frankly has not been a smart move.
Overall I would say the blame is about 50/50.
Fair or not he has to make an impact this preseason or he is done here.

 

[KDWilliams85]

Carpenter evolving into a great player isn't exactly unheard of or implausible.

Some players just need to time to adapt to the style of play. Some players pick up the curve faster than others.

If I recall correctly, Terrell Owens didn't exactly emerge into the threat he is right away. It took him a couple of years.

Give Carpenter time. He is in the last year of his three year evaluation period. After this period, yeah... I can see this question becoming slightly more abusive toward him.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Yea KD makes a lot of sense I never want to see a cowboys 1st round draft pick bust like Spears.

However the TO comparison falls shot because TO wasn't a 1st round pick and didn't go to a perennial power house like OSU

 

[theogt]

Funny, just earlier today I was trying to look up Bobby's workout numbers to compare them to some of this year's LBs. He was hurt pre-draft of course, but his junior Pro Day numbers were supposedly pretty outstanding -- even correcting for Pro Day foolishness.

I think this Mo position will be the closest yet to what he played at Ohio State, so maybe the light will come on for him. He's definitely a good enough athlete to be a very good player.

He ran at his senior pro day.

40 Yrd Dash: 4.65
Bench Reps: 20
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.31
3-Cone Drill: 6.88

Really good numbers. Athleticism is definitely not his problem.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Yeah, but he supposedly wasn't fully recovered from the ankle yet. I saw in searching that he participated as a junior and supposedly ran in the 4.5s at 256 lbs.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Carpenter will play well this season. He just needs a chance to get on the field.

 

[UVAwahoos]

I'm not sure if Carpenter does drugs, but if he does, that will be the only thing he "lights up" next year.

 

[the kid 05]

That ranks right up there with "What if I hit the powerball, what do I do?"

buy cars, pay off cc debt, pay off familys house mortages...stuff like that

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

We saw this guy play pretty darn good in Seattle playoff game. THAT is what I would like to see again.

 

[KDWilliams85]

Yea KD makes a lot of sense I never want to see a cowboys 1st round draft pick bust like Spears.

However the TO comparison falls shot because TO wasn't a 1st round pick and didn't go to a perennial power house like OSU

This is true.

But, if you break it down like this:

Skill positions are just that, skill.

You don't need to go to LSU or Oklahoma to know that it takes the right combination of agility, power, and elusiveness to get away from a guy. You can't teach a running back speed, elusiveness, or agility. You can't teach a defensive back instincts.

The draft is a faulty measuring stick because logic would dictate that players from bigger schools would be better players. Since that clearly isn't the case, this brand of logic is fallible. Especially when you're seeing more players that don't come from powerhouses making larger impacts than their powerhouse counterparts. A few comparisons include:

Randy Moss over Torry Holt
Tony Romo over Carson Palmer
DeMarcus Ware over Shawne Merriman

Smaller schools can generate as much gifted athletes than the bigger ones. It's just that the bigger ones get more exposure.

That's why you're seeing all of these small time players having a chip on their shoulder.