Packers have special plans for Tariq Carpenter
The Green Bay Packers' offseason has been full of change and second-year defender Tariq Carpenter has arguably seen the biggest degree of change after switching from safety to inside linebacker. The former seventh-rounder played just 16 defensive snaps last year, but found himself on the field for 122 special teams snaps. Packers coaches noticed the […]
The Green Bay Packers' offseason has been full of change and second-year defender Tariq Carpenter has arguably seen the biggest degree of change after switching from safety to inside linebacker.
The former seventh-rounder played just 16 defensive snaps last year, but found himself on the field for 122 special teams snaps. Packers coaches noticed the impact he made on teams, therefore they want him to get out of the crowded safety room and into the less-crowded inside linebacker room.
The move to linebacker is also something many scouts forecasted for Carpenter ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, so it's not like this is an idea completely out of left field.
"He's a hybrid, he's kind of a freak athletically," Packers safeties coach Ryan Downard told reporters before OTAs. "He gives us some options to do some more exotic things with him just because he can rush the passer. We're going to see if he can do that. We're going to see if he can cover. … I think he can do both, but we'll see where we put him."
Carpenter's chances of making the 53-man roster are much better because as mentioned earlier, there are far fewer bodies to compete with at inside linebacker. Carpenter is also a better fit for the position, but it's the available opportunity that matters most.
"'Riq is a pretty special talent in the fact that he can really run," head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters Tuesday. "We saw his contributions [last year] on special teams and [we're] just trying to put him in a position where he can help contribute in whatever package we put together for him in order to make him as versatile as possible."
It's pretty interesting the Packers are coming up with special ways to get Carpenter on the field more – whether it be on defense or special teams. In fact, it's intriguing enough to the point where it totally makes sense if he ends up on the 53-man roster come September.
“Coach said they’d use me to my strengths,” said Carpenter. “I’m willing to do whatever I need to do. I trust the coaches here. If they see me being a great linebacker, I’m going to go in the meeting room every day and try to be who I am.”
De'Vondre Campbell and last year's first-round pick, Quay Walker, are the starters at ILB. Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson are the two incumbent backups from last year, but it's clear their roster spots are far from safe as Carpenter breathes down their collective neck.
Featured image via Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
