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Most NFL teams play their best pass-blocking offensive lineman at the left tackle position. That's because most NFL quarterbacks are righthanded...and, in setting up to pass, leave their left sides exposed to oncoming right defensive ends.
So, on the defensive side, most teams put their best pass rusher at right defensive end.
Last year, the Rams played Kevin Carter ar right DE and at left DE. By most accounts, Carter, the sixth pick of the '95 draft, had a fair-to-middlin' rookie season...nothing special, but actually not a bust, either.
This year, the Rams signed sackmaster Leslie O'Neal to play right DE...and moved Carter to the "less important" left DE spot, where he has resided for the first portion of the '96 season.
The Rams recent game vs. Jacksonville, though, provided an excellent opportunity to watch Kevin Carter at left DE, because Jags QB Mark Brunell is lefthanded. Against Brunell, the left DE has the advantage of rushing from Brunell's blind side.
Knowing that, Jaguars execs felt so strongly about protecting Brunell that they made free agent Leon Searcy the highest paid offensive lineman in the league...and asked the former Steeler to play right tackle.
So the battle was set. Could Kevin Carter make his presence felt vs. the Jaguars?
Here are the facts.
*The Rams defeated the Jags...17-14. LB Roman Phifer recorded the team's only sack of Brunell, and the defense as a whole FAILED TO FORCE A SINGLE JAGUAR PUNT.
*Carter was credited with two tackles and two assists, and appeared to be totally dominated by Leon Searcy. In a telling piece of strategy, the Jaguars found it necessary to double-team Carter only one time during the entire game.
*Kevin Carter's performance, analyzed drive-by-drive by a portion of the StLSO staff:
--Jaguar Drive #1: Carter was on the field for ten of eleven plays (replaced by James Harris on the eighth play of the drive)...and MADE ONE PLAY.
--Jaguar Drive #2: ...on the field for nine of 14 plays (again replaced by Harris)...made his PRESENCE FELT AT MOST ON TWO of those 14 plays.
--Jaguar Drive #3:...on the field for ten of 13 plays...made one nice tackle on a running play but HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON THE JAGS PASSING GAME...some of which was due to elements of the run-and-shoot offense executed by Brunell.
--Jaguar Drive #4:...on the field for six of nine plays (replaced by Alberto White, who appeared to be a more effective pass rusher than Carter)...HAD LITTLE IMPACT ON ANY OF THOSE SIX PLAYS.
--Jaguar Drive #5:...last seven plays of the first half...Carter was on the field for the first five of these plays...rather significantly, when it was clear that Brunell was going to pass (i.e. the last two plays of the half), Carter was replaced by White. Carter had VIRTUALLY NO IMPACT on the first five plays of the drive.
--Jaguars Drive #6:...four play TD drive for Jax...Carter in for all four plays and HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON ANY OF THE FOUR PLAYS.
--Jaguars Drive #7:...twelve play drive; Carter in for nine of those plays and probably played his best football of the game, making one tackle on a 9-yard running play, beating Searcy once on a running play and once on a passing play...but Brunell eluded him as Carter flushed him out of the pocket. Jacksonville utilized short quick passes nicely in this drive...virtually nullifying any chance to get significant pressure on Brunell. Summary: NINE PLAYS FOR CARTER, WAS BUSY ON THREE OF THOSE PLAYS.
--Jaguars Drive #8:...a nine play Jaguar drive; Carter was on the field for seven of those plays (replaced by Harris in the other two). CARTER HAD AS MUCH EFFECT ON THE SEVEN PLAYS THAT HE PLAYED AS THE TWO THAT HE DIDN'T...
--Jaguars Drive #9: ten play drive; Carter on the field for seven of those plays. Carter made one tackle on a running play but HAD LITTLE OR NO PASS RUSH ON THE FIVE PASSES of those seven plays
In summary, the Jaguars executed about 90 offensive snaps in nine separate drives. Kevin Carter played left end for about 70 of those plays. Carter's impact was felt on about eight of those 70 snaps.
No wonder that Jacksonville had 36 first downs, and converted on eleven of 14 third down situations. A force at left DE would tilt those numbers a bit more in the Rams favor.
Much more was expected from Kevin Carter, whose selection as the sixth pick in the '95 draft was, in the words of John Becker, the Rams college draft head honcho, "a no-brainer".
Rams execs better start using their brains: Sunday's announced attendance at the TWA Dome included 5,373 unused tickets among the 65,439 "distributed".
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