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Georgia Rookies Fit, Concerns and Predictions: Defense

By Savannah McCoy

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Lorenzo Carter #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates after blocking the field goal attempt from Austin Seibert #43 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Lorenzo Carter #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates after blocking the field goal attempt from Austin Seibert #43 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TN – DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver John Diarse #9 of the TCU Horned Frogs carries the ball by linebacker Lorenzo Carter #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Memphis, Tennessee. At halftime the TCU Horned Frogs leads the Georgia Bulldogs 16-14. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver John Diarse #9 of the TCU Horned Frogs carries the ball by linebacker Lorenzo Carter #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Memphis, Tennessee. At halftime the TCU Horned Frogs leads the Georgia Bulldogs 16-14. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Lorenzo Carter

Pick: Round 3- Pick 2

Team: New York Giants

Fit:

Physically Lorenzo Carter is everything a defensive coach could want in a linebacker. He’s tall with long arms. He’s fast enough to keep up with elite running backs on the edge and to blitz on third downs. He’s strong and athletic.

That’s exactly what Georgia saw when they brought him in as the nation’s top recruit in 2014. While Carter was one of the best players on Georgia’s vaunted defense in his senior season, he never quite reached the potential over his four seasons that Bulldog fans had hoped for.

Carter has the potential to be a terror in coverage in the middle of the defense. Last season he recorded career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and forced fumbles.

The Giants lack depth at the linebacker position. More so, they lack a pass rush. The Giants traded Jason Pierre Paul earlier this offseason, leaving Olivier Vernon as only proven pass rusher on their roster.

New general manager Dave Gettelman believes the Giants can tap into Carter’s potential as behind the line of scrimmage. “He’s an edge pass rusher,” said Gettleman at a press conference following the 3rd round of the draft. “He’s a solid run player. He’s big, he can run.”

Carter will have the opportunity to prove himself in training camp as he battles for a starting position.

Concerns:

What the Giants are asking if Carter doesn’t line up with his statistics from Georgia.

In his collegiate career, Carter never amassed more than 5.5 sacks in a season. Most of his plays were in coverage, not on the pass rush.

As an edge player in the NFL, Carter is lean at 250 pounds. His long arms and speed helped him evade the top offensive linemen in games against Notre Dame and Oklahoma. Against less notable Vanderbilt and South Carolina Carter struggled to remain involved in the game.

When tackles are quick enough to negate Carter’s speed, he simply doesn’t have the strength yet to power through blocks.

The Giants will ask him to bulk up and build his arm strength to battle against the NFL’s elite offensive linemen. Carter will have to do so without losing any of the speed that makes him so effective in the open field.

Prediction:

Carter won’t be the starter by game one, but he’ll still see plenty of action on the field. Expect Carter to be the first sub in when the starters need a rest early in the season.

Carter will likely show flashes of what made him such an exciting player at Georgia. He won’t have too many sacks as a rookie but with proper coaching and motivation, Carter could be a very good starting linebacker, perhaps a pro bowler, in a couple seasons.

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