Why is Carpenter playing inside?

[The Realist]

as I've said throughout the thread -- I'm not arguing that we should have taken someone else.

Although I would have loved to get Merriman in round 2 of the 2005 draft since you asked.

Great so we've discovered that we needed to add both ILB's and OLB's since deciding to go 3-4 somewhere around the 2005 draft.

Since then we've added Ware, KB, BC, Akin, Boiman and perhaps Ellis inside and out to go along with James.


Talent, size, depth, versatile, smart.

Ellis gets this SOLB thing down and we're scary good at LB with everyone in their early 20's except Ellis.

 

[AbeBeta]

Parcells makes mistakes...he's not God.

I don't think we can say having an abundance of good players is a mistake. But I remain curious to see how we are going to get young studs enough snaps.

 

[AbeBeta]

Ellis gets this SOLB thing down and we're scary good at LB

Big big big if.

And it is way too early to even hope this will work out.

 

[Alexander]

Parcells makes mistakes...he's not God.

Why is this always a response when basically someone has virtually nothing else?

"Oh yeah? Well he's not God, you know."

Yes, this is understood. But he knows more than anyone on a message board does about the defense he runs and the game of football in general.

 

[Concord]

I don't think we can say having an abundance of good players is a mistake. But I remain curious to see how we are going to get young studs enough snaps.

I'm just saying that when people say well Parcells say so...We are just supposed to buy it without any questions...I don't go for that.

Parcells has put together a good team and hopefully it will continue...but he can and has made mistakes...as everyone does.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

abersonc - I don't think it's a bad question at all. You expect a top-20 player to start, or at least be a big contributor.

Like others have said, I think Carp is there simply because Ellis has done so unexpectedly well at OLB. I think Carp only got moved inside because he looks good and we want him on the field.

Maybe it's just fixing the weakest link... Before camp, we thought it was Singleton/whoever. Now, it might be Ayodele.

But at any rate, he's not being moved because he looks bad at OLB, and that's the important thing. I expect Carp to still eventually wind up at OLB.

 

[Alexander]

abersonc - I don't think it's a bad question at all. You expect a top-20 player to start, or at least be a big contributor.

Like others have said, I think Carp is there simply because Ellis has done so unexpectedly well at OLB. I think Carp only got moved inside because he looks good and we want him on the field.

Maybe it's just fixing the weakest link... Before camp, we thought it was Singleton/whoever. Now, it might be Ayodele.

But at any rate, he's not being moved because he looks bad at OLB, and that's the important thing. I expect Carp to still eventually wind up at OLB.

Excellent post.

I don't think he stays inside. He might not even finish the year there. But that is the temporary plan for now because of the two monkeywrenches.

 

[Concord]

Why is this always a response when basically someone has virtually nothing else?

"Oh yeah? Well he's not God, you know."

Yes, this is understood. But he knows more than anyone on a message board does about the defense he runs and the game of football in general.

I have a opinion and I don't agree with moving Carpenter outside that's all.

Parcells may be right or wrong as I my be...We'll see...Myself I like him outside.

 

[Doomsday101]

abersonc - I don't think it's a bad question at all. You expect a top-20 player to start, or at least be a big contributor.

Like others have said, I think Carp is there simply because Ellis has done so unexpectedly well at OLB. I think Carp only got moved inside because he looks good and we want him on the field.

Maybe it's just fixing the weakest link... Before camp, we thought it was Singleton/whoever. Now, it might be Ayodele.

But at any rate, he's not being moved because he looks bad at OLB, and that's the important thing. I expect Carp to still eventually wind up at OLB.

I agree and I think there are going to be times this season where Carpenter will lineup to the outside. I expect Dallas is going to give offenses many different looks this season.

 

[AbeBeta]

But he knows more than anyone on a message board does about the defense he runs and the game of football in general.

Actually I think this would be a good topic for a poll. I'm sure we'd find a surprising number of folks on the board who at least think that they know as much if not more.

Your point about Bill having some great tools to make magic with the 3-4 is a good one -- and highlights what is sure to be one of the more interesting stories of the season for those of us who are sick of TO talk.

 

[The Realist]

Big big big if.

And it is way too early to even hope this will work out.

Everything in the draft and FA is a big, big, big if as well.

In the mean time we have a 6-6/270 SOLB/DE who is a proven pass rusher and from all reports is doing well in his transition.

Should he fail at the transition we have options as to who we go to next at SOLB.

As unbelievable as it may seem Singleton outperformed everyone else who we tried their last year, and the D fell off when he went on IR.

 

[Alexander]

Parcells may be right or wrong as I my be...We'll see...Myself I like him outside.

And who is jumping up and down about him being inside? I don't think he is a bad fit there and I certainly liked what I saw of him outside with the Buckeyes as I am certain you did.

But at least we are reacting and getting him some playing time. This is a positive, not a negative. I don't see how anyone can see it otherwise. Would it be better just to have him as a third string than a second and playing often in the nickel?

I think we will see him rotate heavily with Ayodele in the base defense and then play in the nickel. That's not a bad thing, just not what we all expected.

 

[VACowboy]

Perhaps I missed the part where we had him slotted for the inside...

I guess I was a little vague with my "they" reference. I meant just about everyone but Dallas. I read a post, somewhere on the board, quoting Carpenter saying that most teams had him scouted as a WILB in the 3-4. So sorry for the confusion.

I'll add, though, that Carp played every position in the front seven in college, except for DT. He's smart. He's versatile. He's tough. He's a coach's son.... He's a mouth puncher. Bill may have been looking at Carp to play the LOLB spot but I doubt that that is the only position the coach envisioned him playing. If Ellis plays the LOLB position well and Carpenter is an upgrade inside, I don't see the problem at all.

Some people act like a linebacker taken in the first round who doesn't start or play the exact position he was drafted for is a bust. I don't see it that way at all, especially in a 3-4 defense. I see it as getting more linebacking talent on the field while avoiding the waste that would have been an Ellis trade. Carp can have just as much effect on a game from the WILB spot as he can from LOLB. He'll see significant time whether he starts or not, and if he's that good, he'll eventually start anyway.

 

[Alexander]

Actually I think this would be a good topic for a poll. I'm sure we'd find a surprising number of folks on the board who at least think that they know as much if not more.

I would be interested to see who exactly is arrogant enough to not only think it, but especially admit it.

Your point about Bill having some great tools to make magic with the 3-4 is a good one -- and highlights what is sure to be one of the more interesting stories of the season for those of us who are sick of TO talk.

And this is a good thread with a legitimate question that started it. Sound football talk isn't common these days.

 

[Alexander]

Some people act like a linebacker taken in the first round who doesn't start or play the exact position he was drafted for is a bust. I don't see it that way at all, especially in a 3-4 defense. I see it as getting more linebacking talent on the field while avoiding the waste that would have been an Ellis trade. Carp can have just as much effect on a game from the WILB spot as he can from LOLB. He'll see significant time whether he starts or not, and if he's that good, he'll eventually start anyway.

I agree 100%.

 

[AbeBeta]

Everything in the draft and FA is a big, big, big if as well.

Duh.

But I can't think of anything that is a bigger if than moving a veteran to a new position with new responsibilities.

This is the sort of move that younger players make. You rarely see the old fellers do it.

 

[Hostile]

abersonc - I don't think it's a bad question at all. You expect a top-20 player to start, or at least be a big contributor.

Like others have said, I think Carp is there simply because Ellis has done so unexpectedly well at OLB. I think Carp only got moved inside because he looks good and we want him on the field.

Maybe it's just fixing the weakest link... Before camp, we thought it was Singleton/whoever. Now, it might be Ayodele.

But at any rate, he's not being moved because he looks bad at OLB, and that's the important thing. I expect Carp to still eventually wind up at OLB.

Great post CL. As always.

 

[AbeBeta]

Some people act like a linebacker taken in the first round who doesn't start or play the exact position he was drafted for is a bust.

Hey now, not me.

Remember, I'm the guy who refuses to label Ekuban a bust.

 

[Alexander]

This is the sort of move that younger players make. You rarely see the old fellers do it.

Which brings us full circle.

We never in our wildest dreams thought Ellis could do it. That's why Carpenter is playing inside now.

 

[aikemirv]

As long as we don't have offenses setting up their offensive gameplan by killing us with the power sweep (like KC did and a few others at the end of the year) I don't care where they play!

That said, if Ellis does well and Carp plays inside then Ayodele was a bit of an unnecessary expense IMO.