Is scheme the difference for LB Bobby Carpenter?

by Ryan Van Bibber on May 17, 2010 2:09 PM CDT in 2010 St. Louis Rams offseason

Not every one liked the St. Louis Rams decision to trade oft-penalized OT Alex Barron to Dallas for LB Bobby Carpenter, with many of the national pundits having already written off Carpenter as a bust.

However, there were a few that felt like he'd be a better fit in the Rams' 4-3 system, at the very least giving the Rams a role player in the nickel package. Jeremy Green at Scouts Inc. agrees with that assessment. His thoughts on why Carpenter will be better off playing in St. Louis after the jump.

He was not a true outside linebacker who could get after the quarterback, and he struggled to adapt to reading and reacting when playing inside in the 3-4 scheme. Getting him back to a traditional 4-3 defense where he can just read and react on the weak side will be a huge help. Carpenter is player who needs to be covered up and allowed to run, and the Rams' defensive front can do that. He will be playing next to second-year MLB (and former Ohio State teammate) James Laurinaitis, who did a nice job taking on blocks last season. That will keep Carpenter free to flow to the ball. He was not asked to cover much as an inside linebacker in the 3-4 defense and this is an area he is going to have to improve in quickly if he is going to be an every-down player. This defense will allow him to run and hit, and that is what he was asked to do in college.

If you buy into what Green is saying here, then Carpenter could be an important link in bolstering the Rams run defense on the weakside.

Of course, his assessment of Carpenter in coverage differs from other pundit talk of him being a fit as a nickel LB...which shows you the vast differences in how pundits assess players and teams.

A more interesting story heading into this season is how James Laurinaitis will look in his sophomore season.

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Comments

He will benefit from the 4-3

Question is; will he be a good player? or still just serviceable?

The name's Rams, St. Louis Rams.

by Bond_007x on May 17, 2010 2:51 PM CDT reply actions

Carpenter

I think in time this kid will become a steady LB. We need football players and thats what this kid is. I watched him play for Ohio state and he has the ability.

Chris

by chrisrmsfn on May 17, 2010 2:55 PM CDT reply actions

Linebackers

Our coaches know what to do with linebackers. If he really did have the cred to be a 1st round pick, maybe something will click with these coaches.

I’ve also been known to be overly optimistic as well.

by JTPirate on May 17, 2010 3:37 PM CDT reply actions

I'm always confused by draft picks like this

or Aaron Curry. Why do teams continue to draft people that don’t fit their system? Maybe it’s a LB-specific thing. Everyone knew you couldn’t draft Terrence Cody for a 4-3 defense. Just thinking out loud.

You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.

by 3k on May 17, 2010 4:22 PM CDT reply actions

It says he needs to be covered. Hm.

“Carpenter is player who needs to be covered up and allowed to run, and the Rams’ defensive front can do that.”

I don’t know whether this scout of him is accurate or not, but I actually don’t think the part about the Rams Defensive front being able to covering up for him is accurate. At least it wasn’t last year. I watched plenty of line play where blockers were getting to the second level often enough. I think Carpenter will end up seeing see his share, just as JL does. Thinking JL will soak up blocks and allow Carp to flow to the ball carrier is … well, to me sounds more like best case hope.

Last year, opposing TE’s killed us. Now I know he’s a Will, and theoretically shouldn’t be covering TE routes, but I know there will be times where they’re looking at 2 TE sets and he will need to cover, which they say “is an area he is going to have to improve in quickly if he is going to be an every-down player”.

I’m cautiously optimistic.

by CoachConnors on May 17, 2010 4:29 PM CDT reply actions

Right on Coach

I do like the risks the front office is taking at this point in time. Eventually someone somewhere will pan out for the rams. We have seen some small flashes from players we picked up last year (Gibson, Robinson, DT Gibson as well.) Stay healthy boys and show us what you got!!!

If we get through the season and Bradford did not get injured due to lack of O-Line depth or Talent, I will be happy with the move regardless of how Capenter performs. Barron was gone in a year, maybe Carp will be worth it.

by ramsrule on May 17, 2010 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions

He can cover well I heard though. In fact they say he was in alot of nickel packages last year while he was a cowboy

by Tevin T. Broner on May 17, 2010 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions

sauce?

do you happen to have a link to who says he covers well?

by CoachConnors on May 18, 2010 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Look at VanRams story on the possible trade back on May 6.

That story contained this quote from the Dallas paper. “He was credited by the coaches with 48 tackles, two sacks, one tackle for loss, four quarterback pressures and a pass deflection last season. He did solidly against tight ends last season in pass defense, but many believe he will be a better fit as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme, which the Rams run.”

That seems to say he is pretty good in coverage, although there have been other quotes that weren’t as positive. I guess we’ll find out as this year moves along.

by andyrose on May 18, 2010 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

same here can only hope for the best i hope at least he can cover well

cause like Coach said the TE’s killed us last year

by Ram-on on May 18, 2010 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions

I may be a negative person but i can’t help but think that Carpenter will end up injured or just won’t pan out for us and then to make it all like a typical Rams season, Barron will make the pro bowl playing in Dallas, lol i can see it now

If practice makes perfect....
Yet nobodies perfect.....
Then why practice ???

by peteyweestro on May 17, 2010 6:39 PM CDT reply actions

Sounds pretty negative.

by kswiss on May 17, 2010 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Barron will never be all-pro

With that permanent blank stare.

by Thomas W on May 17, 2010 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I see a lot to look forward to this season

1) Seeing our new offense work. With injuries healed (outside of SJax), cancers removed, talent infused (Bradford, Gilyard, and Mr. Hotdog Onobun), and maybe a more wide open playbook from Shurmur. Hopefully they can at least hold the ball longer so the Defense can work without getting tired.

2) Letting our defense progress. Our defense wasn’t exactly intimidating but I think it was verging on annoying at the very least. James Laurinaitis progressing in his second year (though LB’s don’t have the biggest learning curve), getting to see how a first rounder looks at our weakest spot on the D (WLB), bringing in young blood on the DLine and letting Chris Long carry some momentum into this season. Seeing how Big K.Payne does at smashing opposing players (much like the pins he traumatized in that six bagger).

3) Watching Josh Brown dominate the special teams world.

I’m starting to like this team already and the games haven’t even started. I kinda liked last years team too (thought 6 wins was reasonable) but at least the moves the FO has made has got my mood recovered from last years dose of harsh reality. Who knows how we finish this year but I think I see some much needed improvement already and that’s really all I can hope for in the offseason. Gimme 3 wins over the Redskins, SeaHags, and Cardinals and I’ll be buying a Bradford jersey. Let’s Go Rams!!

Julio Jones for Rams 2011

by kinzav29 on May 17, 2010 11:06 PM CDT reply actions

Carpenter is the real deal

I watched almost every game Carpenter played in at Ohio State. I understand that he had a talented team around him in college, but he was a beast. Im sure he will be comming in trying to get some pride back, after getting blasted by all the talking heads the last couple of weeks. He already has chemistry with a fellow linbacker, which is a huge thing for his position.
There are many question marks with this years team, Carpenter is the least of my concerns.Hopefully Bradford can establish himself as the quarterback we all want him to be. Go Rams

by truche on May 17, 2010 11:41 PM CDT reply actions