Why is Carpenter playing inside?

[AbeBeta]

Someone has already said it, but it needs to be repeated. The answer is blatantly obvious: Ellis wasn't expected to come along and become the full-time starting LOLB. This is part of the reason I think they went with Carp over Lawson. Carp could easily be moved inside if Ellis did well at LB.

and Carpenter is third string LOLB because?

right now we are looking at Carpenter playing pretty much exclusively in the nickel as an ILB. That's fine -- but with his versatility I would hope he could mix in some plays outside as well -- but that doesn't seem to be part of the deal right now.

 

[theogt]

and Carpenter is third string LOLB because?

right now we are looking at Carpenter playing pretty much exclusively in the nickel as an ILB. That's fine -- but with his versatility I would hope he could mix in some plays outside as well -- but that doesn't seem to be part of the deal right now.

Easily answered as well. Parcells would rather move Carp around than have 2 starting quality backups at LOLB.

 

[AbeBeta]

I doubt BP called Ware and told him he's going to play BC at SOLB. That was Ware's opinion.

And Carpenter's "opinion" -- his direct quote regarding what the staff had told him he'd be doing?

 

[InmanRoshi]

Not having to force a non top 15 pick rookie into your starting lineup is a good thing. If you thought he was going to start from Day 1, those were your expectations and your expectations alone.

 

[Alexander]

I have no problem with the BPA issue. As I've said 3 times in this thread, I like the pick.

I am curious how OLBs keep becoming ILBs though.

Because college outside linebackers are viewed as inside linebackers in the 3-4. Teams like New England and Cleveland (and quite possibly Dallas) prefer to take small defensive ends and convert them to outside linebackers, and take bigger outside linebackers and move them inside. Depending upon with inside position they play, they have different responsibilities in terms of pass and run responsibilities. Often the left inside position plays much like you would think a "Sam" would in a 4-3 and the right often plays like a "Will".

Look at Mike Vrabel in New England. Does he not pass rush? How about Bruschi?

 

[The Realist]

I have no problem with the BPA issue. As I've said 3 times in this thread, I like the pick.

I am curious how OLBs keep becoming ILBs though.

When you only have one prototype sized OLB (Ware), using natural ILB's (KB/BC) outside becomes mandatory until more troops arrive.

 

[AbeBeta]

When you only have one prototype sized OLB (Ware), using natural ILB's (KB/BC) outside becomes mandatory until more troops arrive.

Ok then, but why if we are waiting for more "troops" to arrive, do we bring in troops that aren't natural fits to the position?

 

[theogt]

Ok then, but why if we are waiting for more "troops" to arrive, do we bring in troops that aren't natural fits to the position?

Yeah, that was just a bad answer.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

Why is Carpenter playing inside?

cause his mom grounded him from going out and playing with the other kids?

 

[AtlCB]

Here's one for everyone.

Why did we draft Carpenter as an OLB if, as Bill stated, "he looks like an inside guy?"

Taking it back a year, same deal with Burnett.

I'm all for depth -- and I thought Carpenter was a good pick. But this is two years straight that we tried to fill OLB and ended up with ILB. It seemed that Bill had that in mind for Burnett coming in. But how did it happen again with Carpenter? Our need inside is not as great as the need outside. So what happened here?

Carpenter was drafted to play both ILB and OLB. Since Greg Ellis and Burnett have been playing so well at OLB, we now have a greater need at ILB. With Ellis, Ware, and Carpenter all on the field at the same time, you will also have three legitimate pass-rushing linebackers. I wouldn't want to be the opposing OC who had to deal with that!

 

[Concord]

Perhaps I missed the part where we had him slotted for the inside. Interviews with guys like Ware ("good, let someone else pick up the double teams") sure suggested that the team was looking to use Carpenter outside.

Also, here's an excerpt from an interview with Carpenter right after the draft - sounds like outside talk to me

I'm with you...I missed the Inside part too.

All I ever heard was him playing opposite Ware so he could pass rush off the edge like he did at Ohio St.

 

[Alexander]

Carpenter was drafted to play both ILB and OLB. Since Greg Ellis and Burnett have been playing so well at OLB, we now have a greater need at ILB. With Ellis, Ware, and Carpenter all on the field at the same time, you will also have three legitimate pass-rushing linebackers. I wouldn't want to be the opposing OC who had to deal with that!

That is the design and what you want optimally from the 3-4.

The flexibility to use any of the four to create mismatches and increase the chances for a negative play.

 

[AbeBeta]

Look at Mike Vrabel in New England. Does he not pass rush? How about Bruschi?

Sure. And those are great players.

However, they put up great #s because they are on the field a lot -- they both start.

 

[Alexander]

I'm with you...I missed the Inside part too.

All I ever heard was him playing opposite Ware so he could pass rush off the edge like he did at Ohio St.

We might not have seen him as Cleveland and New England did. They had him slotted inside.

We probably had every intention of using him and starting him at LOLB.

But this was pre-Ellis.

 

[AbeBeta]

Carpenter was drafted to play both ILB and OLB. Since Greg Ellis and Burnett have been playing so well at OLB, we now have a greater need at ILB. With Ellis, Ware, and Carpenter all on the field at the same time, you will also have three legitimate pass-rushing linebackers. I wouldn't want to be the opposing OC who had to deal with that!

re: Burnett.

I've read that Burnett has been playing inside as well as backing up Ware -- and as we know, Ware isn't going to be off the field much.

 

[The Realist]

And Carpenter's "opinion" -- his direct quote regarding what the staff had told him he'd be doing?

See my comments on the Ellis experiment.

If he pulls it off at SOLB should we be so stupid as to limit BC to mop-up duty at SOLB?

What staff says is irrelevant.

What BP does matters.

Prototypes for his 3-4 OLB's are 6-4 to 6-6.

You want big, smart, tough, athletic ILB's in his D.

Sounds like BC.

It doesn't really suck to have the Ellis experiment working so far along with having size, depth and talent inside.

If Ellis thing works we have a 3 dimensional pass rush from the LB spot.

 

[Alexander]

Sure. And those are great players.

However, they put up great #s because they are on the field a lot -- they both start.

And what makes you think that quite possibly Carpenter couldn't beat out Ayodele after a few weeks?

How are we sure that Ellis' role won't diminish as the season goes along and teams adjust to him? Could Carpenter not go back to the outside?

We are just doing what we can to get him in the packages and it might only be temporary.

 

[AbeBeta]

But this was pre-Ellis.

So what happens when we find out that Ellis can't really cover?

 

[Alexander]

re: Burnett.

I've read that Burnett has been playing inside as well as backing up Ware -- and as we know, Ware isn't going to be off the field much.

Burnett will play inside in the nickel only from everything I have heard.

I think everyone will be shocked at how many different looks we will throw at opposing teams.

We have an embarassing set of riches at the position, yet there is concern that one of the innovators of the 3-4 defense might not have a good idea what to do with them. Have a little faith.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think we will see Dallas move guys around in the LB core much like we see from the Pats. The fact that Carpenter can play both inside and outside is a plus for Dallas not a negitive.