FWST: Top pick Carpenter not an automatic starter

Sunday, Aug. 6

OXNARD, Calif. – Bobby Carpenter was a first-round pick of the Cowboys who was projected to start at outside linebacker, thereby relegating a veteran to a reserve role.

But don't pencil Carpenter in as the starter quite yet.

The former Ohio State star has seen extensive action as an inside linebacker, a position he is familiar with -- but one he wasn't necessarily drafted to play.

And that veteran, Al Singleton, may just win the outside linebacker job. The 10-year man from Temple doesn’t wow anybody, but he’s always there, Mr. Reliable.

Singleton is coming off an injured clavicle, which ended his season in an Oct. 30 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

He appeared in eight games last season and finished with 19 tackles.

“He’s a consummate pro,” Cowboys linebacker coach Vincent Brown said. “He’s bright, and he knows what’s going on.”

This isn’t to say Carpenter is clueless or can’t play the position.

It's just that he is trying to make the difficult transition from college to pro, even if he played in a similar 3-4 scheme.

“They have me moving around just to give me a feel for the whole defense and to see how I do in each spot,” Carpenter said. “Playing both spots gives me versatility to get on the field.”

Carpenter played a similar role – inside/outside – in his first three years at Ohio State. He said he played primarily as a rush outside linebacker in his last season for the Buckeyes.

“They figured I could do a little of both here, and I’m trying my hand at it,” Carpenter said.