Jermaine Carter #56

[DaveThePanther2008]

Our defense looks a whole lot different with Carter as the MLB.  He seems to be the difference in our defense.  I don't think it is a coincidence that we have been playing much better since he was inserted into the defense.

I'm not saying he's the answer at MLB but it appears to me that our defense is much better with him at the helm.

I'm sure there are many that will say he's not much of an upgrade but he's had 2 starts and our defense seems to be much better.  Especially on 3rd down. 

[davos]

He had a notable presence.  Also liked seeing him throwing that sass/toughness at the Vikes after his bigger hits.  I liked his attitude and discipline.  Much better than Whitehead.  Though I wish this would have been something we noticed in practice and done sooner.  Carter was an early 5th rounder and he's playing for a second contract; looks pretty solid.  

[LinvilleGorge]

It's disappointing that it took the staff this long to put Whitehead on the bench.

[Panthercougar68]

4 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It's disappointing that it took the staff this long to put Whitehead on the bench.

But you have to give credit that they actually made the move.  Stoic Ron would have been stoic Ron.

[BlazeCarolina]

14 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It's disappointing that it took the staff this long to put Whitehead on the bench.

Not an easy decision to bench a player voted team captain when you are the new guy around town.  I think fans get too far from the picture and forget these are people too.  If I were in Rhule's shoes, I would be very cautious abut what I did in these early days.  It isn't easy to get the locker room back once you lose it.

Not saying something like this would have caused that, but you have to think about these type of things.  I am just glad to see improvement throughout the year.  Felt like with Ron he was shrugging his shoulders with us like what do you want me to do?

[Carolina Cajun]

Carter is a guy that we need to keep around, if not to be a starter, he's definitely great depth.

[davos]

1 hour ago, Carolina Cajun said:

Carter is a guy that we need to keep around, if not to be a starter, he's definitely great depth.

We said that for a while with AJ Klein and he turned out to be a pretty good starter.  Having a career year this season for Buffalo.

Carter will be a guy to watch the rest of the year along with Burns and Chinn.  They make the games fun to watch when we're on defense. 

[Carolina Cajun]

10 minutes ago, davos said:

We said that for a while with AJ Klein and he turned out to be a pretty good starter.  Having a career year this season for Buffalo.

Carter will be a guy to watch the rest of the year along with Burns and Chinn.  They make the games fun to watch when we're on defense. 

I remember his draft profile being that he was a high IQ guy, just a step slower and an inch shorter, which essentially is what was said about Klein when we got him.  High football IQ is the most essential part of a MLBs game, he needs to make sure everyone is in the right place.

[Basbear]

Should have been week one starter. But Whitehead is leader and rah rah rah, but struggles on the field. Hire him as a coach and stop forcing a wasted roster spot. 

If Chinn is a "LB", add in Shaq and Carter....... its no longer a big need.

[musicman]

Without a preseason it takes time to evaluate guys and the new system and how they play in it. This was going to be a "throw it on the wall and see if it sticks" year. I like Cater and hope he keeps progressing. 

Funny thing is you never know when I player will start the decline or just needed a change of scenery/system. Whitehead was an unknown except we needed a starting MLB when Luke left and when we didn't draft one, he got the start. Now Carter has excelled enough to jump him in the starting role and we've seen better results. 

[TheCasillas]

This is the process of a rebuilding team...

[DaveThePanther2008]

On 12/1/2020 at 6:45 PM, BlazeCarolina said:

Not an easy decision to bench a player voted team captain when you are the new guy around town.  I think fans get too far from the picture and forget these are people too.  If I were in Rhule's shoes, I would be very cautious abut what I did in these early days.  It isn't easy to get the locker room back once you lose it.

Not saying something like this would have caused that, but you have to think about these type of things.  I am just glad to see improvement throughout the year.  Felt like with Ron he was shrugging his shoulders with us like what do you want me to do?

This is why you have a roster of 53.  Everyone is subject to being replaced by the next guy up.  I don't think one member of the team is going to question a decision to take a team captain out if he's not performing.  (Especially when that player is only on a one year deal)  A coach is not going to lose a locker room because they put a better player in.   Now if it was Luke or some other solid starter.  Maybe but that's not the case. 

Carter stepped in and has EARNED the right to continue to play.

 

[BlazeCarolina]

1 hour ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

This is why you have a roster of 53.  Everyone is subject to being replaced by the next guy up.  I don't think one member of the team is going to question a decision to take a team captain out if he's not performing.  (Especially when that player is only on a one year deal)  A coach is not going to lose a locker room because they put a better player in.   Now if it was Luke or some other solid starter.  Maybe but that's not the case. 

Carter stepped in and has EARNED the right to continue to play.

 

We would have to assume that the players see it the same way we do, and he was voted a captain for a reason.  I just don't think it is always as black and white as people make it seem.  A lot goes into these decisions.

[DaveThePanther2008]

1 minute ago, BlazeCarolina said:

We would have to assume that the players see it the same way we do, and he was voted a captain for a reason.  I just don't think it is always as black and white as people make it seem.  A lot goes into these decisions.

As a Captain if he really is a Captain he will support the decision and show it.  It's a peculiar situation but as a coach you put the best 11 men you can on the field.  Whitehead was just not doing his job.  Carter seems to get the jest of the defense.