For the Rams, the second really interesting bit of off-season personnel news cropped up today. The first was Marc Bulger cleaning out his locker. The second is Jim Haslett {our former coach and now DC in DC} calling to inquire about the availability of Adam Carriker in a potential trade deal.
This is interesting. It is interesting because there is a strong minority report among Ram fans that Carriker is a busted 1st rounder. I want to make it clear that I do not believe that. I believe we have had a swiss cheese defensive line, and Carriker has been one of the focal points for offensive lines around the league. As a result, he has taken a beating and gotten hurt several times.
Those who read this blog know that I am very eager to see what happens when you place Ndamunkong Suh between Chris Long and Adam Carriker. I believe this is a pure overload situation where we simply have to many killers on the field. Offensive lines will not be able to contain them all. You can't double bracket three men in a four man line. The math doesn't work out.
I would like Carriker critics to ask themselves the following question: Why are the Redskins calling about Adam? Is it because he is an injury prone bum? Is it because was a favorite of Haslett, and Haslett knows he can do it as a 5 technique in a 3-4 defense? Which is the case?
I'll tell you what I think. I think Haslett believes he can use the negative vibes on Carriker to steal a gem. They think they can get our guy cheap. Put Albert Haynesworth at the NT, Carriker at the DE, and Orakpo on his outside shoulder and you will have a hell of a nasty situation in that 3-4 defense.
This begs the question: Why in the world would be interested in dealing him when we are on the verge of having one powerful DL unit? Now that Fred Robbins is joining our team, we may even play Carriker at the DE ourselves. If we can get Leonard Little back, we can platoon our defensive ends a bit.
Unless the Skins are willing to part with substantial chinchillas, I don't think we ought to entertain this offer. I think we ought to stick with Adam. We will be glad we did when our defensive line explodes this season.
