Carman At Guard- Consulted Willie Anderson

[BFritz21]

This article from The USA Today doesn't go into specifics, but it says that we want to start Carman inside at guard:

Quote:The Cincinnati Bengals want a big immediate impact from second-round pick Jackson Carman.

So much so, they aren’t hiding the fact they want him to start at guard right away.

Director of college scouting Mike Potts just said as much in an interview with Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

“He’s an AFC North physical, powerful offensive lineman who is very athletic. The way this division is set up, this is a physical line of scrimmage division. He’s got a lot of things going for him. He’s a tackle with guard flexibility. He’s extremely intelligent. People say, ‘You’ve never seen him play guard.’ But with all the research we did on him, we know he’s smart enough to do it.”
A fun nugget in that writeup? The Bengals sought out the opinion of Bengals legend Willie Anderson while weighing whether to make Carman the pick.

The Bengals actually traded back in the second round, picking up two extra fourth-round picks, before calling Carman’s name. They wanted him earlier and thought he would last, which he did.

This was always going to be the fate of a line pick by the Bengals this year with Jonah Williams and Riley Reiff manning the edges. Depending on how long the latter plays at a quality level, Carman might never have to kick outside.

And Carman, by the way, is a hometown kid who had an amazing reaction to going back home.

I love it because it means we're putting our best players on the field and having the best team possible. We started Whitworth at guard because of injuries and that turned out working out pretty well. When we kicked him back out to his natural left tackle position, he still was a star, so I don't fear that this will hinder Carman in any way and I'm excited that we're putting the best possible combination out there.

I'm starting to think that this team could surprise a lot of people!

[CJD]

Yea, I'm pretty sure Zac said this on Friday.

[BFritz21]

(05-04-2021, 11:33 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Yea, I'm pretty sure Zac said this on Friday.

Nice to have coaches with an actual plan and some intelligence!  

It's nice to know that the best players will be on the field!

[CJD]

(05-04-2021, 11:41 AM)BFritz21 Wrote: Nice to have coaches with an actual plan and some intelligence!  

It's nice to know that the best players will be on the field!

I am hopeful that Carman can do it.

New Stripe City did a Cut the Tape On for Carman and they came away with the basic evaluation that we've heard from the coaches. He won't get power rushed, but he can be beat on the outside. But if you move him into guard, that concern goes away for the most part, so he has a good chance of being a good guard in the NFL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nJ4gGvSU6Y&t=825s

[*pally*]

Thanks for allowing the old guy along for the ride! May GOD bless you ! #WillieAndersonLinemanAcademy https://t.co/PlKsXlhz5e

— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) May 4, 2021

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(05-04-2021, 11:13 AM)BFritz21 Wrote: This article from The USA Today doesn't go into specifics, but it says that we want to start Carman inside at guard:


I love it because it means we're putting our best players on the field and having the best team possible.  We started Whitworth at guard because of injuries and that turned out working out pretty well.  When we kicked him back out to his natural left tackle position, he still was a star, so I don't fear that this will hinder Carman in any way and I'm excited that we're putting the best possible combination out there.

I'm starting to think that this team could surprise a lot of people!

No surprise, thought so. Carman is a road grading, mauling, pancaking Guard all the way. This pick is going to have a lot of people
eating crow that didn't like it. Carman could end up being the best OL taken in this class. Only Guard I had rated above him was 
Vera-Tucker who also was a Tackle in college but didn't play in the SEC like Carman did.

I don't see Carman going back out to Tackle unless in emergency. His natural position is Guard, unlike Whit who was more of a 
Tackle. The question is which side of the Line Carman plays on, LG or RG?

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(05-04-2021, 12:14 PM)pally Wrote:

Thanks for allowing the old guy along for the ride! May GOD bless you ! #WillieAndersonLinemanAcademy https://t.co/PlKsXlhz5e

— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) May 4, 2021

Sweet, love this.

[Sled21]

(05-05-2021, 01:11 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: No surprise, thought so. Carman is a road grading, mauling, pancaking Guard all the way. This pick is going to have a lot of people
eating crow that didn't like it. Carman could end up being the best OL taken in this class. Only Guard I had rated above him was 
Vera-Tucker who also was a Tackle in college but didn't play in the SEC like Carman did.

I don't see Carman going back out to Tackle unless in emergency. His natural position is Guard, unlike Whit who was more of a 
Tackle. The question is which side of the Line Carman plays on, LG or RG?

RG... they have stated he will be returning to his natural position at LG and he is penciled in starting there. Carman is penciled in at RG

[BigPapaKain]

(05-04-2021, 11:41 AM)BFritz21 Wrote: Nice to have coaches with an actual plan and some intelligence!  

It's nice to know that the best players will be on the field!

Not entirely sure I'd be commending this coaching staff for their football acumen.

Fwiw I can't imagine that it can be much worse than last season, so I guess kudos to them for trying.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(05-05-2021, 01:28 PM)Sled21 Wrote: RG... they have returning to his natural position at LG and he is penciled in starting there. Carman is penciled in at RG

Cool, thought he would be playing RG as Spain and XSF are much better on the left side.

[Sled21]

(05-05-2021, 01:33 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Cool, thought he would be playing RG as Spain and XSF are much better on the left side.

Yeah, I'm guessing unless he really brings it, XFS is the backup for either position.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(05-05-2021, 01:37 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Yeah, I'm guessing unless he really brings it, XFS is the backup for either position.

Thinking the same, believe Spain will win the LG position. Hopefully we bring in another vet at Guard for depth as well.

If MJ cannot get low he is a lost cause and we will have to cut the guy. 

Would like to hear what Willie thinks about MJ honestly. Heard he was working with him this Offseason...

[mrredneck]

(05-05-2021, 01:40 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Thinking the same, believe Spain will win the LG position. Hopefully we bring in another vet at Guard for depth as well.

If MJ cannot get low he is a lost cause and we will have to cut the guy. 

Would like to hear what Willie thinks about MJ honestly. Heard he was working with him this Offseason...

I am hopeful, he is what 23/24 he has basically got two years of NFL training, when he should have been in college, he was another he's got great potential pick,  maybe the biggest reason I preferred Chase over Sewell. Praying Carman, Shelvin, and D Smith > Jenkins or Barmore.  I was not happy at the time, however three players for one is a no brainer with the elite players off the board.

[Dr.Z]

(05-05-2021, 01:11 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: No surprise, thought so. Carman is a road grading, mauling, pancaking Guard all the way. This pick is going to have a lot of people
eating crow that didn't like it. Carman could end up being the best OL taken in this class. Only Guard I had rated above him was 
Vera-Tucker who also was a Tackle in college but didn't play in the SEC like Carman did.

I don't see Carman going back out to Tackle unless in emergency. His natural position is Guard, unlike Whit who was more of a 
Tackle. The question is which side of the Line Carman plays on, LG or RG?

I remember you mentioning Carman several times pre-draft, and respect you having your own opinion in evaluating him. Props, and I hope you’re right lol.

[Gdale_Bengal]

I hope a lot of people knew that when he was drafted he was playing guard. He has short arms and has trouble with speed rushers, but he can stand up bull rushers and fight them back. He is very athletic and gets to the 2nd level quickly, making him a very good pulling guard.

He has a lot to learn though, switching from tackle to guard means he has to learn more calls on the line. He has the makings of a quality nfl guard though.

[*SHRacerX*]

(05-04-2021, 11:13 AM)BFritz21 Wrote: This article from The USA Today doesn't go into specifics, but it says that we want to start Carman inside at guard:


I love it because it means we're putting our best players on the field and having the best team possible.  We started Whitworth at guard because of injuries and that turned out working out pretty well.  When we kicked him back out to his natural left tackle position, he still was a star, so I don't fear that this will hinder Carman in any way and I'm excited that we're putting the best possible combination out there.

I'm starting to think that this team could surprise a lot of people!

A couple podcasts (Hear that podcast Growlin, and Locked on Bengals...both excellent) had the Bengals Director of College Scouting, MIke Potts, on for an interview recently.

I was most interested to hear his opinions on Carman, and the details about the trade back.  He referred to Carman's play at LT as "violent", and that he was often punching his opponent first, rather than retreating and catching.  It was a perfect fit for the RPO that Clemson liked to run.  Jake Liscow asked about his ability to play guard, and mentioned that he felt like Carman "played Tackle like a Guard", in terms of the phone booth space and often met his opponent with a strike.  Potts laughed and said that they felt the same way and everyone in the Bengals room was very high on him, largely because of his physicality.  

Potts also mentioned how impressed they were about Carman's desire to finish the season the last 5 games with a herniated disc in his back, rather than opting out and having the surgery to have time to prepare for the draft.  

I think Carman is our RG for a long time, and I'm very excited about that.  My only wish was instead of Ossai, they took Spencer Brown to develop at RT behind Reiff, but I am very happy about Carman.  

[XenoMorph]

(05-05-2021, 01:11 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: No surprise, thought so. Carman is a road grading, mauling, pancaking Guard all the way. This pick is going to have a lot of people
eating crow that didn't like it. Carman could end up being the best OL taken in this class. Only Guard I had rated above him was 
Vera-Tucker who also was a Tackle in college but didn't play in the SEC like Carman did.

I don't see Carman going back out to Tackle unless in emergency. His natural position is Guard, unlike Whit who was more of a 
Tackle. The question is which side of the Line Carman plays on, LG or RG?

based on your description RG would be the place for those talents.

I like the Talent. But thought an OT would be more valuable.  Most OTs can slide inside.  Not Every OG can slide out. (and depth is still an issue)

If he comes anywhere close to having a career like Willie then its a damn good pick

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(05-05-2021, 02:14 PM)mrredneck Wrote: I am hopeful, he is what 23/24 he has basically got two years of NFL training, when he should have been in college, he was another he's got great potential pick,  maybe the biggest reason I preferred Chase over Sewell. Praying Carman, Shelvin, and D Smith > Jenkins or Barmore.  I was not happy at the time, however three players for one is a no brainer with the elite players off the board.

Trading back getting Carman while adding two more 4th rounders is huge no doubt.

If we just stayed put and took Carman I think I could understand some people questioning the pick.

But I wouldn't of, I liked him at 38 before we picked him. I did have Eichenberg rated above him though.

(05-05-2021, 02:19 PM)Dr.Z Wrote: I remember you mentioning Carman several times pre-draft, and respect you having your own opinion in evaluating him.  Props, and I hope you’re right lol.

Thank you Dr.Z.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(05-05-2021, 02:25 PM)Gdale_Bengal Wrote: I hope a lot of people knew that when he was drafted he was playing guard. He has short arms and has trouble with speed rushers, but he can stand up bull rushers and fight them back. He is very athletic and gets to the 2nd level quickly, making him a very good pulling guard.

He has a lot to learn though, switching from tackle to guard means he has to learn more calls on the line. He has the makings of a quality nfl guard though.

Yes, some just looked at OT then looked him up and saw that he CAN struggle against speed rushers on the outside.

Moving him to Guard is perfect as once he gets his hands on you it is over. Dude eats and makes more pancakes than Ihop.

(05-05-2021, 02:38 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: based on your description RG would be the place for those talents.

I like the Talent. But thought an OT would be more valuable.  Most OTs can slide inside.  Not Every OG can slide out. (and depth is still an issue)

If he comes anywhere close to having a career like Willie then its a damn good pick

For sure RG is where I envisioned him and that seems to be the way Pollack is thinking as well. That is what is nice about 
Carman, if Jonah or Riley go down Jackson is much better than say Fred Johnson to fill in. Hope Carman has a career like 
Bobbie Williams, that would be fantastic. Willie is a tall order.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(05-05-2021, 02:38 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: A couple podcasts (Hear that podcast Growlin, and Locked on Bengals...both excellent) had the Bengals Director of College Scouting, MIke Potts, on for an interview recently.

I was most interested to hear his opinions on Carman, and the details about the trade back.  He referred to Carman's play at LT as "violent", and that he was often punching his opponent first, rather than retreating and catching.  It was a perfect fit for the RPO that Clemson liked to run.  Jake Liscow asked about his ability to play guard, and mentioned that he felt like Carman "played Tackle like a Guard", in terms of the phone booth space and often met his opponent with a strike.  Potts laughed and said that they felt the same way and everyone in the Bengals room was very high on him, largely because of his physicality.  

Potts also mentioned how impressed they were about Carman's desire to finish the season the last 5 games with a herniated disc in his back, rather than opting out and having the surgery to have time to prepare for the draft.  

I think Carman is our RG for a long time, and I'm very excited about that.  My only wish was instead of Ossai, they took Spencer Brown to develop at RT behind Reiff, but I am very happy about Carman.  

I loved Spencer Brown as you know SHRacer but Ossai was a major steal in the 3rd, you will see.