Chicago Bears Draft Scout: Lorenzo Carter

Parker Hurley

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 16: Lorenzo Carter

After a strong combine performance, is Lorenzo Carter a player the Chicago Bears should have their eyes on?

Lorenzo Carter was one of the top athletes in the nation coming out of high school. He was a big signing for Georgia and saw playing time as a freshman, putting up seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. After a less than stellar sophomore year, Carter bounced back as a Junior to put up five sacks and six tackles for loss. As a senior, he improved upon those numbers and was named second-team All-SEC while compiling 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. Carter made noise with his combine and shot himself up draft boards. How high should he be drafted and does he fit on the Chicago Bears?

Measurables:

Strengths

Carter is a solid mover who brings strength and speed to the field. He can be used on the line with his hand down, on the line with a hand up and even off of the ball, moving in coverage and in space. The ability to move Carter around helps his pass rush as versatile blitzes can be created. In the running game, he has athleticism and strength to hold off blockers and set the edge. Watch his lateral movement in the play below. He is able to make the read on a misdirection play, branch out to the sideline and tackle Kerryon Johnson, an NFL prospect.

In the play below he does an excellent job of holding off his blocks while maintaining the edge. He does not let the run get outside of him and is able to shed the block to make the play at the line.

While Carter is not the greatest pass rushing threat, there are situations where is able to use his speed and length to create separation and force pressures. His ability in the play below forces an incompletion. He shows the bend and has the length, speed and explosion to make you think he can refine his game even more.

Weakness

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The question is how exactly he can be used in the NFL. He has never posted over five sacks in a year despite four seasons on the edge. Carter does not have much of a pass rushing plan and most of his sacks were on free releases from well drawn up blitzes. His scheme was not reliant on him having sacks, as his off-ball value near the line of scrimmage was a priority. Still, his pass rush is a question as is his playing strength near the line of scrimmage. In the play below, a tackle from Kentucky is able to stand him up and hold him off for a run to go right through his gap. Carter is going to have to put on some more muscle if he wants to live on the edge in the NFL.

Still, it would be a shame to leave his talent as an off-ball linebacker. On top of that, it is not like he would have a seamless transition to that spot either, you can see his lack of instincts below as he gets caught in no man’s land. Carter is dropping into zone with a running back out to the right. He sees the quarterback look away from his side and decides to press towards the quarterback. However, the running back is able to cut upfield, now free from Carter and is able to catch the quarterbacks eye. The lack of instincts and decisiveness cost Georgia a reception.

Lorenzo Carter is a rock full of athleticism. However, filling it out and molding into an NFL player who can make an impact is something that is going to limit anything he can do in year one, and bring question to what his upside presents.

Pro Comparison

Bud Dupree

Dupree can be compared to Lorenzo Carter in the idea that both are more of an athlete than a football player. The idea will be getting the football player out of him and finding the best role for him at the next level.

He is going to show ups that make you want to continue to buy into him. However, the downs, especially without much experience are going to cost him much needed playing time. Do you live with the downs on the field to take the chance at the high ups?

A team will have to draft him with a vision of how to use him in a variety of ways. Last season, the Steelers were more creative in using Dupree off of the ball more. He still was not instinctive in that area, but his athleticism and length were still effective against the run, and jamming tight ends at the line of scrimmage.

That is the idea of what you can get out of Lorenzo Carter. Looking at just sack totals with him will not do what he can provide overall justice. He has to be used in a variety of ways, and may not be the best pure pass rusher.

A fit for the Chicago Bears

Before the combine, Lorenzo Carter would have been a great mid round project for the team to take on. He has tremendous upside, and his ability in space can rival Leonard Floyd, another Georgia Bull Dog. He could be a special teams demon who would have been able to rotate in at multiple spots, making the defense more versatile. With an added ceiling of a starter, he is the perfect mid round shot.

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However, with a strong combine, Carter is going to shoot himself into late first, early second round consideration. It is going to make it a much tougher question for the team. How much could they deal with the struggles as a pass rusher while they wait for him to grow into his upside?

They would really need Carter to get on the field early if he were to fall into the second round and to the Bears spot. He does not bring enough yet as a pass rusher to put in major snaps as a starter, so finding value in him in space and in drawn up blitzes will need to be in mind before going all-in on his potential upside.

Parker Hurley

IUP Alum. Pittsburgh native. Follows NFL, NCAAB, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Steelers and Pirates critic, Penguins homer. Write about the Chicago Bears and other relevant NFL news