Why You Want Adam Carriker on this Team (And Why You Won’t Get Him)
Happy Combine Day!
Today begins the first day of the annual combine and MSG’s Dan Leberfeld writes a short article on some of the potential droolworthy players at which the New York teams will be looking. Although he mentions a few players, he highlights Nebraska DE Adam Carriker:
The Jets will be spending a lot of time ogling Nebraska’s Adam Carriker while in Indy. At 6-5, 290 with good power, 4.8 speed and quickness, he has 3-4 end written all over him. There is a good chance he will be there when the Jets pick at 25.
I for one would love to see Carriker playing “bookend” to Shaun Ellis with an up and coming Bryan Thomas sealing the edge, but I just don’t know that Carriker will in fact be there at #25. He seems to have been getting noticed a lot, and depending on how he does in Indy, he might shoot up the charts to the teens. The good thing is, 4-3 teams might be hesitant to try and pick him for a tackle and the few 3-4 teams that pick in the teens and higher seem to have their ends locked up.
All in all, let’s hope Dan is right … but I’m not holding my breath for that.
He is one of the few mid to late first rounds projections that for which I would consider trading up. Fits this team like a glove.
I can’t believe I’m actually putting some validity in a Dan Leberfeld article, but he did make a few valid points. The draft is such a crap shoot, you never know whose going to rise and fall, especially on draft day. I would love Carriker, but like everyone has stated, he most likely be gone. I don’t know if it’s really worth moving up, the cost just may be too much. I’m under the impression that those two 2nd round picks will be very valuable, with a lot of quality players still on the board.
I’m surprised Leberfeld didn’t suggest that the Jets pick another left tackle in the first, because D-Brick is soo bad.
I know my ideas are retro, but try D’Brick as an end in the 3-4. He’s young and can play both ways. Might love it. As for trading up for a draft, my vote is to trade down, and stockpile some more number 2s. Those picks always work: Wesley Walker, Lance Mehl, etc. Moreover, only draft lthe best available player, regardless of postion. Tom Landry style. The rest just show up. Wasn’t that 7th rounder from Hofstra better than Reggie Bush this year?
As I’ve posted before, I’m here in Huskerland and keep in mind that I’m a huge fan, but I’m willing to stake my somewhat sober reputation on this Carriker being a standout d-lineman in the NFL for several years to come. A lot has been written in the Omaha rag about his ‘potential’ and his ‘desire’ to be a quality player in the NFL and I know Denver is wooing him with a passion (21st pick, I believe). He HAS expressed his desire recently that he would love to play in Denver (somewhat close to Utah, where he is from and Lincoln, which is about an 8 hour drive). A small part of me hopes he doesn’t dazzle at the combine like expectated so maybe he will slip a little but I don’t see that happening.
Some other players worth mentioning from NU, that in my opinion, will be decent players are:
Jay Moore-huge Senior bowl and his worth is going up. One knock though is he wasn’t an everyday player at NU and his durability is a question.
Stew Bradley-I’m reading articles about how he has just been a fiend in working out for this combine. Has dropped his forty time and increased his weight so maybe outside end may be an option. Was considered a hard-hitter at NU and made some bigtime plays in some big situations. Smart kid, like Moore.
Brandon Jackson-RB that I believe Kiper has rated as the 3rd rated back right now. Came out early and was probably the best back of the three that NU used all year. Physical speciman that can catch out of the backfield under the WCO offense that Callahan runs. Somebody here is going to get a quality back, in my opinion. Keep an eye on this guy. Decent numbers behind a very young and inexperienced o-line. He’d look good in green. Pounding back that can run outside as well.
Zac Taylor-QB. Smart kid. Let’s leave it at that. Not the physical ability and size that adds up to NFL QB. Had trouble throwing over his line several times this year because of his height. Does throw a good ’scripted’ ball, though, under the WCO and it’s short version.
Just my two cents worth. I’ll keep everybody up-to-date on the latest from here in the frozen tundra called Omaha. I am so ready for spring.
Carriker looks a little light, not a lower body strength guy. He looks like the kind of DL that you might convert to LB in a 3-4. If he loses 15 lbs., he’s Mike Vrabel. He has to gain 30 lbs. to be a run D first 3-4 DE.
Personally, I don’t understand why people think Denver will be so high on Carriker. It’s true that their position of greatest need is DE, but they need a pure pass-rushing presence at end and Carriker doesn’t seem to fit that mold. He’s more of a balanced end. Denver may be posturing to get a team like the Jets to trade away an extra pick to move up and take Carriker. More likely, they take a look at better fits in the 4-3 such as Charles Johnson-Jarvis Moss-Quentin Moses. Also, Carriker is definitely a pure Defensive Lineman. He is 6-5 or 6-6 too tall to be an effective LB and he currently weighs around 295 lbs. He would have to lose about 30 lbs to play linebacker and at 295 is perfectly suited to becoming a 3-4 end.
FWIW my own view is that Carriker’s best position is 3-4 end. I would say he fits the bill perfectly. Moss and Moses are perfect 3-4 OLBs and Johnson is best suited to the 4-3 end position. If anything, Moss and Moses are undersized to play as 4-3 ends. Johnson isn’t a fluid enough athlete to convert to OLB IMO, but would be a great fit in Denver.
I am certain the Jets are also interested in Moore and Bradley. All three of these Nebraska guys have smartness, versatility and athleticism together with the size to play in a 3-4 and some experience of a 3-4 defense.
Carriker’s rise is a bit depressing. He really is a literally a perfect fit for the Jets in that he is ideally suited to the team’s biggest need (plus all those intangibles that Mangini loves). I have read alot of stuff lately about DEN liking him at 21, if he’s is there. More recently, though, I have read that DEN may go the FA route for the end and draft a CB to replace Williams since (apparently) quality CBs are in abundance this year.
Anyway, if Carriker is gone then it means that another good player will fall to them at #25 – my second choice would be one of the hybrid DE/OLB edge rusher guys – they really could use some quality athletic depth at LB. I’m sure Blalock (G) will be a great pro for many years but I am hoping for something a bit more sexy this year. And CBs are too risky – plus I’m sure a good one will fall to the Jets at #38, if they wanna go that route.
Will, sexy doesn’t win games. I want three new starters with our first three picks and a FA addition would help too. With luck we could have one or two new OL, a new NT or DE, a new LB and/or a better CB opposite Dyson.
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Harlan, for once I completely agree, with the three current picks would love one offensive and defensive lineman and one line backer. I can live with the corners if they get a pass rush.
Think they will trade a few players with value that just do not fit the system (DRob, Vilma, McCarreins, Ramsey, Barrett, Barton) for extra picks or package with existing picks to move up.
Don’t know why people hate on D-Rob so much. He’s a average if not better player at his position and stil very young. I’d like to see the Jets go O-line, D-line (DE:that’s the greatest weakness on this team), RB/ILB with the first 3 picks in any combination. If they go DE with 25 it means we should be happy because Carriker probably fell.
One website has Carirker going at 11 to S.F. Another at 18 to Cincy and another at 13 to St. Louie. From the looks of it the Jets will have no shot at him.
I think the Jets may trade up in this their second draft. Pittsburgh may be ripe for a trade. Don’t think a trade down from 25 is in order.
Someone like Paul Posluszny, is thought to be available at 25. He’s a blue collar Mangini type I think.
A couple mocks have Aaron Ross but I don’t think CB needs to be addresses with 1st pick although if staff deem him best player at that spot it wouldn’t surprise me.
Also Jarvis Moss may be the guy if NE doesn’t take him right before Jets. Also LaMarr Woodley looks like a good option.
At least there are options. ‘Gini and T’baum will probably stay conservative but drafting a starter is the goal whatever position they fill.
I’d like to point out that RB was a position just last year that people were yearning for but it doesn’t seem so desperate a situation now.
fellas (harlan and wayne) – whats wrong with getting a superbly athletic OLB in the first round? its sexy and will help the team’s LB depth (or more, if they move Barton or Vilma). In any event, a fifth LB will make the projected starters better, increase the team’s flexibility and allow the team to deploy more varied defensive fronts with which to fool offenses. Most importantly, the guy (Moss, Woodley, Moses?) projects as a good pass rusher, a critical need for any NFL defense.
Still, I hold out hope for Carriker. No way Posluszny gets to #25.
more —> upon rereading your guys’ posts (Harlan and wayne) it seems we agree, more or less, on all fronts. I think the Jets should take a DE, a LB, an OL and/or a CB with the first three picks, depending on who’s available. I would, however, take a RB if the right one fell to the Jets at the end of the second round. Specifically, I think Brian Leonard would add a dimension to the Jets offense that is presently lacking – a hybrid FB/RB/TE to take minutes away from Askew/Hodkins and Ryan, none of whom I expect to be back with th Jets next season.
I think you all have the right idea. Hopefully the Jets are on the same page as us all!
I am yet to be convinced that Posluszny (and Patrick Willis for that matter) are big enough to pair with Vilma on the inside. Both are a little bit smaller than Barton and we ideally need someone bigger than that, otherwise we could be even more light up the middle. Maybe they can add weight (Poz seems to have the better frame for this) but both strike me as being better when operating in space. I’d put Willis at MLB in a 4-3 and Poz at WLB in a 4-3 ideally (or either of them in Vilma’s role in the 3-4).
Both would likely be too small to be a good fit on the outside too.
BTW I love both as NFL prospects and they have character.
If Vilma were to be traded, either one would be an ideal potential replacement.
Will,
Appears Moses will be there in the second round and would love to add him to this team. He was the TOP rated senior defensive prospect going into 2006, but had a disappointing year.
Supposedly a good egg and hard worker, he is said to be set on proving everyone wrong. Take him in a heart beat with our top number two pick.
Why oh why is everyone so high on the concept of trading Vilma. The judgements seem to be rolling in pretty quickly on a guy who just spent his first year in the 3-4, has had no character issues to speak of, and happened to be defensive rookie of the year not too long ago, and didn’t he make it to the Pro Bowl (albeit as a replacement) quite recently. Personally, I think Carriker is the dream pick here. The run D has been improving as the middle core familiarizes itself with the 3-4, and though Ellis has shown promise, adding a wrecking force opposite him in Carriker could act as a catalyst for further improvement against the run, while simultaneously improving our pass rush, in turn making our corners look better and live easier. It’s all one big game of dominoes and betting a second round chip to get into position to start the overall improvement of the D seems worth it. Please tell me if I’m hallucinating and Vilma truly is a hackney worth dumping off to the highest bidder.
I’m still not convinced that Carriker is the type of run-stopping DE that the Jets need and I stand by my Mike Vrabel comparison. Vrabel is 6′4″, Carriker is listed as 6′5″ (let’s see what how he measures out as at the Combine). Vrabel was a two-time All-American DE and all-time sack leader for OSU when he was drafted in the 3rd round by Pittsburgh in 1997. I’m betting that Vrabel played heavier in college than his current weight, which is listed as 261 lbs. I’m also betting that Carriker weighs less than his listed 295 lbs. As much as the Jets need a run-stopping DE (like Ty Warren or Seymour, who are both 300 pounders), they also need a run-stopping hole-plugger ILB next to Vilma. Carriker strikes me as the typical Cornhusker, great upper body strength, but it’s the lower body strength that helps in the trenches. Team needs are DL, OL, RB and LB. Parcells used to say that he built his teams from the middle out. Ben Grubbs (2d round?) would complete the middle of the OL, the middle of the DL needs an ILB (I like Willis, he’s a tackling machine). I would rate DE as the biggest need on the entire defense, but I would prefer a veteran. No rookie will step in and be a force at DE, especially at stopping the run. But, rookies can make an immediate impact at LB and OL. Also, let’s not forget RB, which is another position that a rookie can produce. If the Jets draft Carriker, don’t expect much of an impact and, if anything, he will, initially, be a liability against the run.
Evil E-
For the record, I want to see Vilma succeed in this system, and I agree he needs more time. He has been above reproach in trying to get himself ready for this system. I think to see that happen the Jets have to upgrade the line specifically KVO. If they help him on either side with an upgrade over Barton or Hobson, that would work well also.
I have said in the past that he needs to add some bulk though … but as I think about it. I wonder what 10 pounds would help if he is still dealing with 300 pound guards…
Evil…If that was in response to my mention of trading Vilma, I have already stated I am strongly against the idea. I merely mentioned it because we had been discussing it here and it better demonstrated where such a player would fit in our scheme.
Check the thread a few days ago about gullible Redskin fans for my view on the matter.
I think the Jets view Hobson as a keeper. Barton’s days as a Jet may be soon done. Hobson played alot last year, and played very well. Barton played well at times but disappeared at times, and he spent time on the bench in favor of – gulp – Chatham and Kassell.
This has been written here before but I think it belongs in this conversation: DE was a black hole for the Jets but so was SS. There seems to be a wide range of opinion about Griffin but I think he will be there at #25. I wonder if anyone here has a strong feeling about him. If the Jets were to draft him then he’d be an immediate starter (by default, not unlike Carriker).
I would not be surprised if NE picks Carriker ahead of the Jets’ pick.
I have a feeling the Pats will draft Willis ahead of the Jets. He’s basically the same size as Bruschi, who has lost a step, and they need to groom a replacement at ILB.
The Pats seem to be more “their guy” than “best player available” type drafters… but maybe I am wrong about that. Coupling that with Warren, Seymour and Wilfork, the Pats are set with some younger players on their line so drafting Carriker might not meet their needs.
I like Hobson too, but could be be moved inside if necessary? The Pats have been pretty fluid in terms of moving around their linebackers.
Although Bruschi is back this year, SackDance’s point about filling their serious ILB deficiencies is well stated. Bruschi had some rough games in the playoffs.
The Niners might even pick up Carriker earlier than that. (And they’ll end up with Adalius too).
Will, Griffin is talented and an awesome special teamer. The safety pool goes quite deep though, so I might be inclined to see who drops rather than use my first pick.
It should be noted that Bruschi plays the MIKE role (Vilma) and Vrabel plays the TED role (Barton). So this does not necessarily answer the question of whether Vilma and Willis would be good together, but it would concern me.
The Pats switched their LB’s around a lot this season. Bruschi used to be the RILB and Seau was signed to be the LILB (Vilma’s position). Then, when Seau went down, Vrabel, who was the ROLB, switched to RILB, Bruschi moved over to LILB and Banta-Cain took over as ROLB. Willis would probably play LILB for the Pats and Bruschi and Vrabel would probably move back to RILB and ROLB. I always thought that Vilma should be the RILB because most teams run right and he would have better pursuit angles from the left side. Having Willis take the heavy lifting at LILB might be the best thing for Vilma. But, like I said, he’s Bruschi’s size (Willis is listed at 6′2″, 240 lbs, which makes him allegedly an inch taller) and I don’t see why he couldn’t play RILB. Although, in theory, the bigger ILB should be the LILB and Willis is bigger than Vilma.
As an aside, I’ll take everything that I said about Carriker back if he really is 6′6″ and 298 lbs., which is what Kiper lists him at. That makes him a big boy, who could fill out. But, he still doesn’t look all that big, but neither does Seymour. I suspect, if he really is that big and really can run a 4.8 40, he’ll be long gone when the Jets pick.
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