DMN: Carpenter can show he has the tools
Labels or not, Carpenter can go from draft bust to a player
11:43 PM CST on Monday, November 13, 2006
IRVING – After nine games, you'd have to label Bobby Carpenter a bust. There wasn't any statistical evidence he even played the first seven games.
Last week, the 18th player taken in last April's NFL draft made his first tackle.
More than once, the Cowboys have questioned his toughness and desire to compete at the level it takes to succeed in the NFL.
Has Carpenter made a play yet that showed you why the Cowboys used a first-round pick on him?
None comes to mind.
Not in training camp, the preseason or the regular season. (This seems like a good time to disclose that before the draft, I told everyone and anyone that Carpenter would be a great fit in the Cowboys' scheme.)
So he's been labeled a bust. Of course, we label draft picks all the time. The quicker, the better.
This guy is great. That guy is a scrub. This dude is just a guy. General managers can't stand it. Neither can coaches. They say it takes at least three years to determine whether a guy can play.
We can agree to disagree about that, but the good news is we throw labels around so quickly that players can go through several in a career.
Look at Bradie James, who recently signed a long-term deal with the Cowboys that included an $8 million signing bonus. The former fourth-round pick was labeled a bust as a rookie after making one tackle.
After his second season, he was labeled as a guy who wasn't even good enough to take Dexter Coakley's job when coach Bill Parcells tried his best to give it to him. By the end of his third season, James led the team in tackles and was labeled as a key player Jerry needed to sign to a long-term deal.
So just because Carpenter has been labeled a bust doesn't mean he has to keep the moniker forever. His performance will determine if he gets a new label.
Circumstance, though, has given Carpenter an opportunity to change his label quickly.
Greg Ellis, the Cowboys' defensive captain and their best defensive player, is gone. A ruptured Achilles' tendon has ended his season and thrust Carpenter into the spotlight.
Parcells can talk publicly about using a combination of Carpenter, Kevin Burnett, Al Singleton and Junior Glymph to replace Ellis, but Carpenter needs to end the discussion with a great week of practice.
Let's not forget, Parcells hand-picked the former Ohio State star. He coached Carpenter's father, Rob, and drafted Carpenter to start at left outside linebacker in the Cowboys' 3-4 defense. Carpenter didn't start because Ellis, a converted defensive end, adapted so well to linebacker that Parcells moved Carpenter to inside linebacker, where he struggled.
In college, Carpenter played outside linebacker in the 4-3, and defensive ends protected him from offensive tackles and guards so he could run to the ball and make plays. The 3-4 requires Carpenter to have violent collisions with 330-pound guards every play because he is not protected. Carpenter has struggled with the physical aspect of the defense, thus retarding his progress and leading to questions about his toughness.
The Cowboys no longer have the luxury of bringing Carpenter along slowly. They need him to make plays now.
A few weeks ago, Carpenter wondered about his role. Good players don't worry about their roles. Make enough plays and the coaches will find you a role.
According to his teammates and Parcells, Carpenter is improving. His teammates say he's studying more diligently. Parcells says the rookie is being more aggressive and playing with added confidence.
On Sunday, he fought through a block on kickoff coverage and made a solo tackle. A month ago, he wouldn't have made that tackle. He might not have even been active for the game.
When Drew Bledsoe's poor performance created an opportunity for Tony Romo, Romo took advantage. Now this is his team.
When Terry Glenn missed Sunday's game, Sam Hurd and Patrick Crayton took advantage of the opportunity, combining for nine catches, 146 yards and a touchdown against Arizona.
Carpenter finally has the opportunity he's craved.
What he does with it will determine whether he's labeled a bust when the season ends.
E-mail jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
COWBOYS' CLASS OF '06
The Cowboys' picks in the 2006 NFL draft and columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor's comments:
Rd. Player Pos. Comment
1 Bobby Carpenter LB Needs to prove he's worth first-round selection with Ellis out for the year
2 Anthony Fasano TE Has 10 catches and nine starts
3 Jason Hatcher DE Has shown flashes of being good pass rusher
4 Skyler Green RB If he's not returning kicks or punts, his time in Dallas could be nearing an end
5 Pat Watkins FS Marcus Coleman's release after a DUI is the only reason he played Sunday
6 Montavious Stanley NT Released prior to the season
7 Pat McQuistan LT Parcells raves about his ability but hasn't played yet
E.J. Whitley RT On injured reserve with knee injury
11:43 PM CST on Monday, November 13, 2006
IRVING – After nine games, you'd have to label Bobby Carpenter a bust. There wasn't any statistical evidence he even played the first seven games.
Last week, the 18th player taken in last April's NFL draft made his first tackle.
More than once, the Cowboys have questioned his toughness and desire to compete at the level it takes to succeed in the NFL.
Has Carpenter made a play yet that showed you why the Cowboys used a first-round pick on him?
None comes to mind.
Not in training camp, the preseason or the regular season. (This seems like a good time to disclose that before the draft, I told everyone and anyone that Carpenter would be a great fit in the Cowboys' scheme.)
So he's been labeled a bust. Of course, we label draft picks all the time. The quicker, the better.
This guy is great. That guy is a scrub. This dude is just a guy. General managers can't stand it. Neither can coaches. They say it takes at least three years to determine whether a guy can play.
We can agree to disagree about that, but the good news is we throw labels around so quickly that players can go through several in a career.
Look at Bradie James, who recently signed a long-term deal with the Cowboys that included an $8 million signing bonus. The former fourth-round pick was labeled a bust as a rookie after making one tackle.
After his second season, he was labeled as a guy who wasn't even good enough to take Dexter Coakley's job when coach Bill Parcells tried his best to give it to him. By the end of his third season, James led the team in tackles and was labeled as a key player Jerry needed to sign to a long-term deal.
So just because Carpenter has been labeled a bust doesn't mean he has to keep the moniker forever. His performance will determine if he gets a new label.
Circumstance, though, has given Carpenter an opportunity to change his label quickly.
Greg Ellis, the Cowboys' defensive captain and their best defensive player, is gone. A ruptured Achilles' tendon has ended his season and thrust Carpenter into the spotlight.
Parcells can talk publicly about using a combination of Carpenter, Kevin Burnett, Al Singleton and Junior Glymph to replace Ellis, but Carpenter needs to end the discussion with a great week of practice.
Let's not forget, Parcells hand-picked the former Ohio State star. He coached Carpenter's father, Rob, and drafted Carpenter to start at left outside linebacker in the Cowboys' 3-4 defense. Carpenter didn't start because Ellis, a converted defensive end, adapted so well to linebacker that Parcells moved Carpenter to inside linebacker, where he struggled.
In college, Carpenter played outside linebacker in the 4-3, and defensive ends protected him from offensive tackles and guards so he could run to the ball and make plays. The 3-4 requires Carpenter to have violent collisions with 330-pound guards every play because he is not protected. Carpenter has struggled with the physical aspect of the defense, thus retarding his progress and leading to questions about his toughness.
The Cowboys no longer have the luxury of bringing Carpenter along slowly. They need him to make plays now.
A few weeks ago, Carpenter wondered about his role. Good players don't worry about their roles. Make enough plays and the coaches will find you a role.
According to his teammates and Parcells, Carpenter is improving. His teammates say he's studying more diligently. Parcells says the rookie is being more aggressive and playing with added confidence.
On Sunday, he fought through a block on kickoff coverage and made a solo tackle. A month ago, he wouldn't have made that tackle. He might not have even been active for the game.
When Drew Bledsoe's poor performance created an opportunity for Tony Romo, Romo took advantage. Now this is his team.
When Terry Glenn missed Sunday's game, Sam Hurd and Patrick Crayton took advantage of the opportunity, combining for nine catches, 146 yards and a touchdown against Arizona.
Carpenter finally has the opportunity he's craved.
What he does with it will determine whether he's labeled a bust when the season ends.
E-mail jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
COWBOYS' CLASS OF '06
The Cowboys' picks in the 2006 NFL draft and columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor's comments:
Rd. Player Pos. Comment
1 Bobby Carpenter LB Needs to prove he's worth first-round selection with Ellis out for the year
2 Anthony Fasano TE Has 10 catches and nine starts
3 Jason Hatcher DE Has shown flashes of being good pass rusher
4 Skyler Green RB If he's not returning kicks or punts, his time in Dallas could be nearing an end
5 Pat Watkins FS Marcus Coleman's release after a DUI is the only reason he played Sunday
6 Montavious Stanley NT Released prior to the season
7 Pat McQuistan LT Parcells raves about his ability but hasn't played yet
E.J. Whitley RT On injured reserve with knee injury
posted by The Gryphon at 6:26 PM
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