Everybody loves a Penn State hybrid edge linebacker — besides perhaps NFC East offensive linemen.
Micah Parsons has made a case to be acknowledged as one of the best defensive participant within the NFL as a linebacker and edge rusher with the Dallas Cowboys.
There’s nothing NFL groups love greater than replicating each other.
However how related are the 2 Nittany Lions?
Abdul Carter is 6-foot-3, 250 kilos — solely 4 greater than his Penn State counterpart. He performs the vast majority of his snaps on the rush linebacker place, however is ready to drop right down to play stand-up edge or drop again into protection if mandatory, because of spectacular athletic chops. Parsons and Carter share the identical go off the sting, tracing to their linebacker background.
They will explode in any path and preserve the pure fluidity to shut and stuff the stat sheet with sacks.
Perhaps it is a sizzling take, however I’d moderately have my edge rushers come from a linebacker background than a defensive deal with background ( you, Shemar Stewart).
There’s nothing improper with having immense pure energy in your recreation, however energy may be constructed. It’s more durable to realize pace and burst for those who aren’t ranging from a robust flooring. It’s a part of what makes Parsons persistently profitable. He outclasses each offensive lineman athletically and will lap a few of them in a observe meet.
Carter shares that very same explosiveness and agility, and his angles to pursue the quarterback are tight and exact.
Penn State go rushers have usually been technically sound. Even guys like Arnold Ebiketie — who isn’t fairly of Parsons’ and Carter’s caliber — have made names for themselves based mostly on technical refinement and a bag of pass-rush strikes.
Carter has that in spades. Beginning with a very soiled spin transfer that leaves tackles dizzy and infrequently on the bottom, he makes use of a fast chop and bend off the nook. Penn State coach James Franklin emphasizes agility and technical refinement together with his edge rushers, which predates Parsons. Take into consideration Shaka Toney — whereas not a prime NFL participant — whose edge speeding skill on the faculty stage was derived virtually fully from lateral motion. That’s what you’re getting with a Penn State edge man.
Carter makes a case for one of the best defensive participant within the class. His spectacular athleticism and polished technical abilities make for a whole edge rusher prospect who nonetheless has a wide-open ceiling. Is he the following Micah Parsons? I’m undecided how a lot Carter would respect me placing him in a Nittany Lion–formed field, however he may very effectively be the following star of a protection in the best way Parsons is for the Cowboys. They play equally and helped flip the Nittany Lions’ protection right into a drive of nature.
Carter deserves the excessive draft decide he’ll seemingly garner, and we are able to count on to see him stacking sacks for years to return.
