Round 7 - Pick #228, Tariq Carpenter, LB/S, Georgia Tech

[paco]

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[salmar80]

Make Special Teams Great Again!

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[Labrev]

Nice speed and explosion, looks to be a pretty straight-line guy from the agility tests. Should be a nice 'Teams candidate, that alone is well worth a 7th. Childhood Packer fandom is a nice bonus! ^^

[Pckfn23]

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Draft Scouting Report:

Rating: 58.37 (Roster depth)

Strengths:

Intimidating, chiseled frame and impressive burst and closing speed to the football.

Weaknesses:

Missed tackles galore on film and not someone who can flip his hips and cover.

Accolades:

2021: Career-high 65 tackles (second among team's DBs)
50 straight starts to close career

Carpenter's mother is a retired Army officer who served multiple tours of duty, so Carpenter often finds a member of the military in the stands before Tech's games to shake their hand and thank them for their service. The three-star recruit from Long County High School in Georgia began his career playing in six games as a reserve in 2017 (two tackles) and then ascended to a starring role as a sophomore, tying for the team lead with two interceptions and starting all 13 games (55 tackles, 1.5 for loss, five pass breakups). Carpenter started 10 of 11 games played in 2019 (62 tackles, two for loss, one interception, four pass breakups) and nine of 10 appearances in 2020 (39 tackles, two for loss, one interception, five pass breakups). He started nine of 12 games played in 2021, posting a career-high 65 tackles and breaking up three passes. -- by Chad Reuter


Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Round 5
Overview
The four-year starting safety is making the move to linebacker, where his size, speed and aggressive demeanor should help him fit more cleanly than at safety. Carpenter is a natural in run support with clear eyes and a physical approach in the box. Taking on blockers in a faster-paced game could cause bumps in the road early on. He has good pursuit range, average body control and the potential to guard tight ends. Carpenter was an excellent pro-day tester, so the traits and special teams talent could buy him an early opportunity on a roster as he learns the linebacker position.
Strengths
Four seasons as a starter.
Tough enough for position switch to linebacker.
Possesses sideline-to-sideline range.
Gets downhill quickly to cut off runner's angles.
Cover background to match against tight ends.
Runs all the way through pass-catchers with good force.
Face-up tackler who lands pads on pads before wrapping.
Should step into an immediate special-teams role.
Weaknesses
Requires additional time for schooling at linebacker.
Long legs preclude efficient change of direction in space.
Needs to learn how to attack blockers near the line.
Eyes get caught lingering against play-action.
Sticky hips make transitioning in coverage a chore.
Slashing runners leave him lunging as open-field tackler.

Tariq Carpenter came to Georgia Tech after starring in football, track, and basketball. He has nine siblings and his mother played college basketball while his uncle played college football at Missouri. Carpenter is an oversized safety that the Yellow Jackets featured in deep alignments, the slot, and in the box. At the next level, a transition to weakside linebacker or serving as a hybrid defender is likely necessary. He has the frame needed to play on the second level and features outstanding length. He is a physical defender that is a sound tackler. When it comes to concerns outside of the likely need to embrace a position change, Carpenter is a fairly tight athlete that lacks lateral movement skills. He’s a modest processor that as a safety, could not be trusted in deeper alignments while featuring matchup restrictions in man coverage. Carpenter’s best chance to prove himself is on special teams and by providing value in subpackages on defense.

Ideal Role: Developmental safety/linebacker hybrid and special teams

Scheme Fit: Any

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Joe Marino

Games watched: Duke (2021), Clemson (2021), Georgia (2021)

Best Game Studied: Duke (2021)

Worst Game Studied: Georgia (2021)

Football IQ: Carpenter is a sufficient processor that generally keeps things in front of him. He is assertive when playing closer to the line of scrimmage and playing downhill. His coverage instincts leave something to be desired in terms of anticipatory skills.

Tackling: Carpenter is a big, physical tackler that can trigger from deep alignments and make tackles. He has good hitting power and contact balance. He tackles more like a linebacker than a safety.

Versatility: To his credit, Carpenter played in deep alignments, in the slot, and in the box with regularity. That said, I do not expect the same to be true for Carpenter in the NFL as he’s an oversized safety that will need to embrace a full-time role at linebacker.

Range: As a safety, Carpenter isn’t a candidate for playing in deep zones or as a one-high defender. He doesn’t have the speed, quickness, or fluidity to cover ground in deep alignments. As a linebacker, he has sufficient range.

Ball Skills: Carpenter had modest ball production in college and didn’t get his hands on many footballs in the air. His lack of anticipatory skills and athleticism takes away from his opportunities to disrupt at the catch point. He does have a background at wide receiver and as a kick returner in high school.

Run Defending: Carpenter thrives as a plus-one defender in the box as a safety to defend the run. That said, he’ll need to prove his ability to play full-time on the second level in the NFL should he be tasked with a position change. He has the size and length to take on blocks and play the run.

Functional Athleticism: Carpenter doesn’t have ideal athleticism for a safety but can get by at linebacker. He doesn’t showcase above average twitch or agility and his most explosive moments come in a straight line. There will be matchup restrictions in man coverage.

Competitive Toughness: Carpenter is a physical and competitive player that executes with a hot motor. He battles to be around the football and is never passive when it comes to contact or taking on blocks.

Flexibility: Carpenter lacks fluidity. His hips are tight and he’s a linear athlete. He has some short-area burst and can close from deep alignments, but I am concerned about him in coverage down the field.

Special Teams Ability: Carpenter projects well to a special teams role in the NFL. He has good size, functional strength, and length with the temperament needed to be featured covering kicks and punts. His ability to transition to linebacker and prove himself on special teams will be critical to his ability to stick in the NFL.

SCOUT GRADES

TDN Consensus: 69.25/100 (Sixth Round Value)

Crabbs Grade: 71.50/100

Marino Grade: 67.00/100

[NCF]

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AFC scout: “He’s an oversized guy lacking a little coverage skills that you really want.”

NFC scout: “Like him, a lot. He’s a run-and-hit Jesse. Ran 4.4. Very talented. This kid is freakish. You see enough bad plays that are the reason he’s not being talked about. Not smart. But he has the skill set that you need. I hope we take him in the fourth round.”

NFC scout: “An enticing talent but needs development. You question whether he’ll ever be more instinctive or cut it loose. In theory, he should be a versatile player but he lacks innate football feel … Has a ton of upside to match up with tight ends with his size and length (32 5/8 arms), but he lacks confidence to trigger. Lacks route anticipation, will bust occasionally. Doesn’t trust what he sees. Bad eye discipline. Needs to play faster mentally. Not a violent player. Comes to balance but hesitates to trigger and tackle. Well-liked and nice, but like many people with a stutter lacks confidence. Not a leader. Good kid, just a timid personality. A tic late to react to everything. Has some learning concerns.”

NFC scout: “He’s a linebacker. That’s where everybody will project him. Late fourth round.”

AFC scout: “Take him and develop him into your safety stack. Liked him. He’ll be a core (special) teamer because of the height-weight-speed. You’ve just got to develop him as a fourth or fifth safety. He’s talented. He isn’t really that (a big hitter). He’s more wrap-guys-up-and-get-them-down. I don’t see him as a hitter.”