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Unproven Carpenter gets his first shot starting at linebacker Outside chance
By Clarence E. Hill Jr.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM/BILL JANSCHA
Cowboys rookie linebacker Bobby Carpenter told the media Wednesday, "I hope to prove to everyone I can play."
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IRVING -- On Monday, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells didn't even want to talk about the thought of facing quarterback Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts' offense Sunday without linebacker Greg Ellis, arguably the team's best pass rusher
Two days later, Parcells acknowledged he has a couple of contingency plans in mind, but still no firm answers.
Veteran Al Singleton and little-used rookie Bobby Carpenter are the leading candidates to replace Ellis in the regular defense, with the Cowboys considering Junior Glymph and end Jason Hatcher in his place in passing situations. Linebacker Kevin Burnett is another option in what is expected to be a committee approach to replacing Ellis, who had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon suffered Sunday against Arizona.
"It's not really what I want to do, but sometimes you don't have a choice," Parcells said.
Really?
Flashing back to last April's NFL Draft, the Cowboys did have a choice -- Carpenter. They took him with the 18th overall pick with the express intention of his playing the right outside linebacker spot that Ellis now has vacated.
"I like the player as an athlete. He is a pure linebacker. You could see him do everything you wanted him to see," Parcells said of Carpenter at the time.
But Carpenter's stat line with the Cowboys to date reads: inactive for three of the first five games, no tackles on defense, and only two tackles on special teams.
According to team owner Jerry Jones, there are $7.5 million reasons -- guaranteed money included in Carpenter's $12.5 million contract -- why the Cowboys shouldn't be facing this conundrum.
Jones says it's time for Carpenter to step up and give the team a return on its investment.
The former Ohio State star acknowledges there is pressure on him to make the most of this opportunity.
"I'm not trying to make this the be-all and end-all by any means," Carpenter said. "But it's my first big opportunity to showcase what I can do. Obviously, I want to be out there playing every down and make this a permanent situation. Hopefully, I can make the most of it."
Although Singleton might be the safer choice, the Cowboys admit they would like Carpenter to take control of the position.
Optimism aside, the Cowboys are going to do what's best for the Cowboys, while readily acknowledging that Carpenter remains more of a question mark than a solid answer at this point.
Blame for Carpenter's minimal impact includes Ellis being moved from end to outside linebacker in training camp and Carpenter's subsequent move to an unfamiliar inside linebacker position. He's also been criticized for a lack of aggression.
Carpenter (6-foot-2, 257 pounds) thought he was ready for the NFL and the Cowboys because his dad, Rob, played for Parcells with the New York Giants and tried to prepare him as best as possible. He says it's been a tougher transition than he expected.
"You get down by not playing," Carpenter said. "Early on, it was tough. Being inactive, active and inactive. The coaches were hard on me. They wanted to see production, and I wanted see that out of myself. It was no fun sitting the bench. That's disappointing to me."
Carpenter said he has been able to remain positive because of twice-weekly talks with his dad about his own experiences in the NFL and the understanding that players develop at different paces.
Carpenter and the Cowboys are encouraged by the improvement he's shown recently on special teams and believe he might be ready to contribute on the regular defense. His special-teams tackles have come in the past two games against Washington and Arizona.
And to those who already have labeled him a draft bust, Carpenter said, "This thing is a long way from being over. I have had a difficult road, but I am reaching some dividends here. I hope to prove to everyone I can play."
Replacing GREG ELLIS
Although the Cowboys would like Bobby
Carpenter to step up and take control of the position left open by the season-ending injury to veteran outside linebacker Greg Ellis, they will likely use the committee approach to replace Ellis. They'll use different players on the regular defense and others in obvious pass situations.
The candidates:
Bobby Carpenter:
This is the rookie's opportunity to prove his worth as a first-round draft pick. Will he make the most of it?
Al Singleton: He is steady and dependable, which is one reason the Cowboys kept the savvy veteran on the roster.
Kevin Burnett: He
is the next best linebacker, but coach Bill
Parcells likes his current role as a nickel linebacker and special-teams demon.
Junior Glymph: The little-used third-year player is the best rusher of the linebackers and could get snaps in the nickel defense in place of Ellis.
Jason Hatcher: The rookie likely will take Ellis' outside rush role opposite DeMarcus Ware when the Cowboys go to a four-man line.
Cowboys Vs. Colts, 3:15 p.m. Sunday, KTVT/Ch. 11
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