I was one of those who thought Carpenter would be a great addition to the Pats last year. So count me as one of those. But I think the Boys play a little different scheme. He excels in coverage and he has shown he can rush the passer. He is a top tier ST guy and still young and fast. Sometimes change of scenery works. Working with Pep and the Pats "D" coaches might perk him up. He is supposedly very smart. I thing BB values smarts more than ultimate physical superiority. In Dallas it is athletic ability first and smarts second. Here it is "do your job". You are not expected to dominate anything but what is your responsibility. It is know and get ready for the situation first.
I will make the perfect example. James Sanders. He is slow and not very gifted athletically, nor does he make plays but as the experts say on this forum, BB values his intelligence. Another example is TBC. Mediocre in physical traits but has something BB likes and can work with. Hence he is back. Didn't we also bring back Yates? Most of us would say why?
Nobody's perfect. He missed on Biesel and Gabriel. In the draft, he missed on Jackson or perhaps it was Jackson who missed.
I think Carpenter might be a player here in this scheme. I could see him as a project for BB. Let him back up Teddy for this year to get our system down. Yes, I think the kid has the talent and speed but is in the wrong situation. BB can make him more physical to fit what the Pats do. There was an LB we had by the name of Vrabel that BB made into an All Pro because he was used wrong by another team.
Look at the Dallas deal to Miami last year. Ayodele and Fassano were given away for a single fourth rounder. Ayodele was behind Carpenter on the Boys depth chart. He had 75 tackles and 2 INTs for the Dolphins as a starter and Fassano had 34 catches and 7 TDs as compared to the Pats Watson at 22 catches and 2 TDs. Point is that the Cowboys are not the perfect gauge to talent like they were ten years ago. This leads me to believe perhaps they are not using Carpenter right either. Yep I see a value.
DW Toys