The Green Bay Packers have played with the idea of using the daring Tariq Carpenter as a linebacker, but he has impressed the team with his size and movement skills from the start.
“Looking at him in the Rookie Minicamp, he can really move, no matter how big he is. For me, the biggest impression he made on me was his movement skills just for his size, ”safety coach Ryan Downard said Wednesday.
The Packers used the 228th overall pick on the Carpenter, which weighs 6-3 and weighs 230 pounds – much larger than most conventional safety – but ran a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and jumped both vertically and wide during Georgia Tech’s Pro Day. . Due to its size and athleticism, it can be a hybrid safety-linebacker that clearly lands in the box.
Downard said Carpenter is “asking good questions in the meeting” because he tries to learn the playbook. But it’s the mobility that keeps the Packers excited.
“It’s rare. It’s labeled a lot of different things. It’s labeled a hybrid. It brings a great set of tools,” Downer said. “I just go back to the movement skills. Generally, when players are so big, because of the size, whether it is height or weight, they just don’t have fluidity and movement skills. With him, he has no shortage. I look forward to working with him. “
The Packers think Carpenter, who started 41 games for safety for Georgia Tech, could play in the box or deep or even in man coverage.
“He can check a lot of boxes. Near the line of scrimmage. In the deep zone. Man coverage, we saw it in Rookie MiniCamp, “Downard said.” Really curious about it. “
The Packers have an opening at the third safety post entering the summer. Henry Black, who played more than 200 Snaps roles last season, has not been retained. There is no clear shift to defense, although Vernon Scott, Shawn Davis and Inis Gains will all have the opportunity to compete with Carpenter for the job.
