Could Jerome Carter do a Bob Sanders?

[RamsFan16]

Do you think he can come back this year after an injury and be a big star on the D? What are your thoughts on it? I think he can do it. Just improve coverage slightly and I think he can be a pretty big force as a Strong Safety.

[jsramer]

I think he will have time to hone his skills this year because my understanding is Chavous is going to be the starting SS and Atogwe with the starting FS. Most likey his main contribution will be on special teams. However I do like J. Carter and I think he is a part of the puzzle for the Rams D.

[Varg6]

anything can happen, hopefully this happens though, we need this guy, he's got talent and everything

[RamsFan16]

And hits like a rock.

[Rampage39]

I have yet to see Jerome Carter "hit like a rock" in the NFL. the only tackling i've seen him do was to go low all the time.

[Nick]

Do you think he can come back this year after an injury and be a big star on the D? What are your thoughts on it? I think he can do it. Just improve coverage slightly and I think he can be a pretty big force as a Strong Safety.

I don't like the odds. I really think Carter has to do more than slightly improve his coverage. His tackling and hitting were not quite as advertised coming out of college, at least not in year one. I hope he develops, but at this point, I don't see him unseating Chavous at strong safety. So unless an injury forces him into the line-up, I don't think he'll play a big enough role to be a big star on D this year.

[Rip32]

Ya he hit like a rock in college like alot of people do but I have not seen him hit like a rock in the pro's yet.

I saw him miss alot of tackles though,first he needs to learn how to tackle consistantly before he starts trying to lay people out

[CanadianRam!]

agreed...he was great at tackling in college but left a lot to be wanted in terms of coverage and tackling last year. anything could happen in training camp...but for now, all i remember from him is all the missed tackles from last year and isn't too optimistic about him yet.
just my two cents...

[bruce4life]

i honestly think that carter could come in and compete for playing time this year. he has the skills he just needs to tackle a bit better

[RamsFan16]

I believe that Haslett will work with our squad very hard on tackling this offseason/training camp/mini camp. Its what we need!

[chiguy]

You have to admit that RF16's youthful hubris is something to behold.

[general counsel]

I agree with nick. I think he needs a lot of work on his tackling along with the coverage issues. I saw as many whiffs as tackles last year.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[HUbison]

Do you think he can come back this year after an injury and be a big star on the D? What are your thoughts on it? I think he can do it. Just improve coverage slightly and I think he can be a pretty big force as a Strong Safety.

You're asking two different questions here, RF.

1. Can he do a Bob Sanders?

A. Yes, he can. As Carter becomes more comfortable with the speed and angles of the NFL, he will get better. Also, assuming Haslett's defense will be more simplistic (as advertised), it will work to his advantage just as the Tampa-2 works to the advantage of Sanders.


2. Can he be a big star?

A. No, I don't think so. He doesn't appear to have the coverage skills or (at this point) the open field tackling skills to become a big star.


Bottomline: He could match Sanders, but he ain't gonna be a star.

[RamsFan16]

I didn't mean to make it sound like that I meant do what Sanders did come back from an injury make a Pro Bowl and be the Star on the D. I'm sorry I meant it sound diffrent thn I planned.

[HUbison]

I didn't mean to make it sound like that I meant do what Sanders did come back from an injury make a Pro Bowl and be the Star on the D. I'm sorry I meant it sound diffrent thn I planned.

Don't be sorry, RF. Carter could be as good as Sanders. Carter could make a Pro Bowl in his career, it ain't that hard to do. But I don't think Carter (or Sanders for that matter) can be a Star. Of course, this is all relevant as to how each of us would define "star". However, I don't see either one of them being a "star" as I define it.