2002-2005 OLB - Bobby Carpenter

Dallas

Dallas Cowboys' Carpenter sees big chance ahead

10:50 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News | dmoore@dallasnews.com

It's human nature to focus on what Bobby Carpenter hasn't done.

He will share his thoughts on that topic in a moment.

But if you can, put away the knives. The start of training camp is time to project what a player can be, not dwell on promise that has yet to be fulfilled.

Carpenter hasn't lived up to his expectations or yours in three seasons with the Cowboys. That doesn't mean he's stopped trying. When camp opens in San Antonio next week, Carpenter will report in a good frame of mind with the belief that the coaching staff has finally carved a niche that will allow him to contribute.

"I'm excited at this point," Carpenter said during the team's last minicamp. "If you're a little kid and you go to Six Flags for the first time, do you worry about having a good time or do you go out there and have good time? That's the way I'm looking at it.

"There are a lot of players in various sports that, for some reason or another, didn't have success early. Then they are granted an opportunity to be able to get better, and come in and play well again. Was it that they were a good player at one point and a bad player the next, or that they didn't have the opportunity?"

It's a metaphysical quandary. Here's another: If a first-round pick falls in the forest and no one is there to hear him, does he make a sound?

Carpenter has started only one regular-season game since being taken with the 18th pick of the 2006 draft. He has 35 solo tackles in 42 games from the linebacker position.

The former Ohio State star has yet to force a fumble or pick off a pass and hasn't recorded a sack since his rookie season. Other than a strong playoff game against Seattle two-and-a-half years ago, Carpenter's credentials are sparse.

He knows what people say. He's a bust.

"It's something that has been brought up a lot the past couple of years, and probably deservedly so," Carpenter said. "But no one is tougher on me than myself. I come out every day with the desire and motivation to get better so that I can prove I'm a good player, because I know I am."

The knock is that Carpenter lacks the physical ability to take on an offensive lineman and shed him to make the tackle. Defensive coordinator Brian Stewart was never a big fan of Carpenter's work.

He's gone. So is Kevin Burnett, who was ahead of Carpenter on the depth chart.

Now, Carpenter is part of the team's third-down packages. He enters camp as one of the inside linebackers in nickel and dime situations, a role that could put him on the field up to 40 percent of the game.

This is the opportunity he didn't receive his first three seasons. It's his responsibility to hold off third-round pick Jason Williams and do something with it.

"You're always fighting for your spot," said Carpenter, who began his Cowboys career as an outside linebacker. "But I think the position is mine to lose.

"I'm not trying to lose it. I'm trying to advance it and hopefully make our team better."

Head coach Wade Phillips has been complimentary of the linebacker's work this off-season. But then, Carpenter looked good in training camp and preseason games last year, and it didn't translate into regular-season success.

"He's done everything we've asked, and more," Phillips said. "He's looked really good when he's gone in there and done things.

"For Bobby, he's just got to do it in the ballgames for us. We'll see what happens, but I have a good feeling about it because partly, it's how you practice. He's gotten better."

The time is now for Carpenter to step up and perform. He accurately points out the same can be said for the entire team. And while his role on this defense is limited, it's larger than any he's held his first three seasons.

"You always want more," Carpenter said. "You're never satisfied. If someone gives you $100, you want $200. That's the nature of people.

"But right now, I'm happy with what I'm doing. I'm trying to get better. Hopefully, I'll get to play more and more throughout the season, but that remains to be seen."

Dallas

Cowboys' Carpenter finds niche on defense

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bobby Carpenter wants to dive into best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell's latest book, but training camp keeps getting in the way.

“I'm so tired at night, I look at it, and then it looks back at me, and then I put my head back down on the pillow,” Carpenter said Monday of “Outliers: The Story of Success.”

Carpenter is a big fan of Gladwell's books. His favorite is “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.”

“It's an internal look at yourself to see how things subconsciously affect you,” Carpenter said. “You have to believe what you see ... You know what to do most of the time, you just have to trust yourself.”

As a pro, Carpenter's challenge has been to gain his coaches' trust. Labeled a first-round bust after three lackluster seasons, he appears to finally be succeeding.

With Kevin Burnett gone, Carpenter seems poised for a breakthrough season as the inside linebacker in nickel and dime situations.

“Bobby Carpenter's done well,” coach Wade Phillips said. “(His) pass coverage looks good. We put him in one position for a while. He's been physical, athletic, all the things you're looking for in a linebacker, so I look for Bobby to have a good year.”

Continued................

Scout.com$

Ready to Disappoint his Doubters...................

i would like to see him have a big year. i was a fan of BC. hopefully, this will be the year he comes out strong.

Dispatch

Bobby Carpenter LB, Dallas: Had three solo tackles and two assists in a 37-21 win over Atlanta

Dispatch

Bobby Carpenter LB, Dallas: Had three solo tackles, one assist and a sack in a 38-17 win over Seattle.

FYI

Linebacker Bobby Carpenter, a first-round pick in 2006, will be hard-pressed to earn a role with the Dallas Cowboys this season.

The Cowboys consider Sean Lee, their second-round pick in this draft, a three-down inside linebacker. With veterans Keith Brooking and Bradie James set for the first two downs, Lee's initial role could be as a third-down linebacker in the ``nickel'' pass defense. At Penn State, Lee was deeply involved in pass coverage. He had one interception and was credited with 15 passes defended.

Carpenter handled the role last season and performed well, but that may not be enough to save his spot. Lee is the new darling for the Cowboys, and he will get every chance to play a significant role on the defense.

Wanted the Bengals to trade for him this off-season, we need a linebacker to take over after Dhani Jones is gone.

Happy to see he's still determined to start, best of luck to him!

Originally Posted by BRB

Wanted the Bengals to trade for him this off-season, we need a linebacker to take over after Dhani Jones is gone.

Happy to see he's still determined to start, best of luck to him!

Yeah I thought he was gone for sure. Hopefully he leaves the Cowboys soon, I hate that franchise and their fans.

Not sure if this is common knowledge yet, but...

Bobby Carpenter was traded to the Rams, pending physicals. This gives the Rams 4 Buckeye linebackers... Which is pretty cool. Carpenter/Animal/Diggs/Grant.