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Rookie Preview Report: LB Lorenzo Carter

The Giants used the 66th overall pick in the third round to draft Lorenzo Carter out of Georgia. Carter played a traditional 4-3 outside linebacker role with the Bulldogs with responsibilities as a run stopper, in coverage, and as a blitzer. He blew up the combine with some of the best athletic testing anyone as ever seen.

For the Giants, he will be asked to play on the line of scrimmage. In base defense he will be a stand up linebacker and in passing situations he'll likely be a traditional hand in the dirt defensive end. It will mean a reduction in coverage responsibilities for Carter, but an added importance in setting the edge against the run and rushing the quarterback.

Here's what I saw from him during spring workouts:

• Carter looks like a pass rusher. He is tall, lithe, and long. His build reminds a lot of Mathias Kiwanuka. He is also a very twitchy and explosive athlete. He screams edge rusher to me much more than he does linebacker. 

• Though he was asked to cover a bit during the spring (and did fine when he was asked to), he was asked to rush the passer far more with the second unit. He stood up in base defense and put his hand in the dirt in sub-packages. 

• With no pads and contact allowed in the spring, it is hard to judge pass rush technique. You did see great explosion and athleticism in drills, but there didn't seem to be a wide variety of moves. As he relies more on technique and less on raw skills to get home he will be more consistent player rushing the passer. 

• I'm anxious to see how Carter's athleticism translates once offensive lineman can get their hands on him and try to be physical with him. Everything changes for players up front once you are allowed to hit people. 

• Carter has been very easy to deal with off the field and much like the rest of the rookie class, seems like a high character guy that should bring a positive presence to the locker room. 

• The Giants need as many pass rushers as they can, and Carter has the skills in him to be one of those guys. It is going to take some time for him to transition to the NFL, but the faster it happens the better off Carter and the Giants will be.

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