08-11-2015, 02:19 PM
(08-09-2015, 03:07 PM)fredtoast Wrote: http://www.bengals.c...8b-3da2204b2765
GUYS TO WATCH: Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has been overseeing an impressive camp and he’s been getting some interesting play from veteran linebacker Chris Carter.
The 6-1, 240-pound Carter, a fifth round pick of the 2011 Stealers, has played 33 NFL games, three for the Bengals late last season. A linebacker who was a college defensive end, Carter has been virtually unblockable this camp pass rushing off the edge.
“I told (Carter) in the meeting this morning he’s got a chance,” Gunether said. “He’s got some juice off the edge. He’s got good bend. If he continues to play at this level, I’ll put him against some of the first-team tackles (in the preseason games), if he continues to improve he’s got a chance.”
But where do you put him? He’s been a 3-4 backer and he’s trying to adjust to the WILL spot. There are too many defensive linemen to stash him on the 53-man roster there and would he be able to play backer well enough to be what is probably one of the six?
“Where he has value of us is in the rush,” Guenther said. “If we could get (Carter) to learn a linebacker in case someone goes down, he could go in and be both things.”
Carter could conceivably do what another former Stealers outside backer did for the Bengals in 2013 when they put James Harrison as an outside linebacker in base and pass-rushing end in nickel. Except Harrison didn’t rush as much as he probably thought he was going to do and probably played more backer than he thought.
“The more of those guys you can swing in there on Sundays the better you’re going to be,” Guenther said.
This guy has great speed (4.62 forty),quickness (6.88 three cone drill), explosiveness (36 inch vertica), and strength (27 bench reps). He was the WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 when he had 11 sacks, 16 TFL, and 4 FF. He has bounced around the NFL for a few years now so I don't expect him to suddenly become a star. But then again look at what Dan Skuta was able to do when he finally found the right system for him in San Francisco.
I doubt Carter becomes a star, but the bottom rung of our LB corps is wide open. And you know a guy like this could be great on special teams. So I wouldn't be shocked to see him make the team and play very limited snaps as a pass rush specialist.
Interesting. I love that Geunther is open to such a thing. I think we have been too cautious in the past
with letting our Linebackers rush the passer or using pass rushing Linebackers as Ends. Good to know.
I will be watching for the guy, what is his number again?
