Secret Superstar: David Carter, NT, Arizona Cardinals

[BullheadCardFan]

Some positions and some players are simply destined to never get any column inches. 3-4 nose tackles get very little in the way of love from the media and it takes a very special player–who tends to be of a more disruptive nature–to get anything in the way of ink. Combine that with sharing a defensive line with two players like Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell, two disruptive upfield atypical 3-4 defensive ends, and you know that you’re unlikely to get much of a look in for any credit. Further that by playing as a backup and it is almost a dead certainty that your performances will be overlooked.

That is the fate that befell our Secret Superstar for the Arizona Cardinals in his rookie season of 2011. The pairing of Dockett and Campbell are known league-wide for being forces in getting upfield, but their run defense is lacking and, without the aid of other players doing some grunt work, is destined to be the Achilles Heel of a defense. That is the work that David Carter quietly put in during his debut season in the NFL, backing up two players that he outperformed this season. A second-year nose tackle was our Secret Superstar for Arizona last season but hopefully Carter will fare a little better than Dan Williams did in 2011.

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/06/18/secret-superstar-david-carter-nt-arizona-cardinals/

Good article to read.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Not surprising.

Even though your will get 101 reasons not to put Carter at NT.

I personally don't see the problem with putting Carter at NT. If he gets the job done, the rest is just nitpicking.

 

[Stout]

Not surprising.

Even though your will get 101 reasons not to put Carter at NT.

I personally don't see the problem with putting Carter at NT. If he gets the job done, the rest is just nitpicking.

He can play NT in spells, and do it quite well, absolutely. More often than not, that would be in passing situations. He's just not built to be a full-time NT. But that's okay--that's why we have Dumpster Dan. I'm still really worried about our depth there, though.

 

[kerouac9]

More balderdash based on small sample size from Pro Football Focus.

Carter's a nice little player. Nothing more. Good 7th round pick, but you don't want him on the field more than he is.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

More balderdash based on small sample size from Pro Football Focus.

Carter's a nice little player. Nothing more. Good 7th round pick, but you don't want him on the field more than he is.

What do you mean by 'little'? Carter 6'5", 300lbs vs Wiliams 6'2", 327lbs according to azcardinals.com...

 

[Duckjake]

What do you mean by 'little'? Carter 6'5", 300lbs vs Wiliams 6'2", 327lbs according to azcardinals.com...

Of course we all know that what makes Dumpster Dan such a good 3-4 NT is he is that he has such a huge base.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

More balderdash based on small sample size from Pro Football Focus.

Carter's a nice little player. Nothing more. Good 7th round pick, but you don't want him on the field more than he is.

No smaller than Jay Ratliff a Pro Bowl late round pick.

 

[kerouac9]

No smaller than Jay Ratliff a Pro Bowl late round pick.

And Jay Ratliff is the closest comp. He also played in a very different style of 3-4 defense than Carter would be expected to if he were to become an every-down player. Ratliff is protected by true 2-gap DEs on either side and is asked to disrupt the middle of the pocket instead of holding the point of attack.

 

[seesred]

I don't know how much a secret he is, but, when he was in IMO he played very well. A big body in space, with a solid learning curve, could become an every down player. I like him!

GBR
40

 

[Mitch]

If Carter can develop as an inside pass rusher in our 4 man rush---wow! The play he made on Eli Manning was outstanding and might be a taste of what's to come.

 

[Stout]

I don't know how much a secret he is, but, when he was in IMO he played very well. A big body in space, with a solid learning curve, could become an every down player. I like him!

GBR
40

He can't become an every down player as a NT in our system, no. An every down DE in our system, after DD is done, perhaps.

 

[Unsterblich856]

Dan Williams was our secret superstar last year. They love our NT group I guess. It really is a nice combo and the two compliment each other well.

I would've said Daryl Washington is our secret superstar, though. Picking Carter seems a bit like outsmarting themselves since Carter isn't an impact player yet but rather a nifty spell guy who impressed for a 6th round rookie.