NEW ORLEANS – The snow event that ended with the NFC divisional round game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams on January 19th – 28-22 Eagles victory, almost brought about the Eagles’ collapse. The way the Eagles’ second-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter blocked it by dismissing Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had an open receiver in the end zone, is well documented .
Clint Hart, the Eagles senior defensive assistant and defensive line coach, likes to talk about another Carter moment in this postseason run, showing Carter’s football intelligence, but “first take” We do not emphasize or guarantee the discussion of “.
I came a week ago against the wildcard round Green Bay Packers. In the first quarter, Carter warned teammate Nolan Smith that Green Bay called a pass play based on the way right tackle Zack Tom placed his right foot. He was right, so Smith loved Packers quarterback Jordan’s loss of 14 yards on second down.
“His intelligence level…people don’t understand how sharp this guy is. Hart said Wednesday before the Eagles played Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. But on the field, the game was The ability to juggle and adjust within. But even just common sense.
“He’s fun coaching from that aspect.”
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Carter fought the illness during Super Bowl week but practiced on Thursday, according to the participation report. By providing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes with interior pressure coming Sunday, he could become one of the biggest differences makers in the Super Bowl.
His journey to the most epic stage of football was not smooth.
From the uncertain NFL to potential stardom
On March 1, 2023, he was supposed to address reporters at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Carter instead went on to play his role in crash where authorities killed a teammate. He surrendered himself to the Athens (Georgia) police after accusing him of the police. The recruiting staff were driving at more than twice the legal blood alcohol content. Carter didn’t suicidal the contest for two reckless driving fees. Clash avoided prison time following a driving pattern consistent with the race for each authorities, but took 12 months of probation, paid a $1,000 fine and provided 80 hours of community service.
Suddenly, Carter went from a potential top pick to a massive question mark. His motivation and commitment to conditioning appeared as question marks in leading the draft.
The franchise with a locker room, which had veteran leadership, was seen as a need for Carter’s landing site.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman knew it along with a craving for top 10 picks and talent (and as the six Eagles from the 2024 team played in college, The Georgia Bulldog is obvious).
“That’s how beautiful the Eagles are,” Eagles Edge Rusher Josh Sweatt told USA Today Sports. “You’re always an add. It’s good when you’ve been good before, but when you can actually add to it and make us better, it’s about the Eagles, guys. They’re Only choose you when you think you can help.
“We know how much he loves football. When he plays, you can see how passionate he is.”
Philadelphia went from 10th to 9th to 9th overall with the Chicago Bears, submitting a draft card with Carter’s name on it.
He hadn’t coached the Eagles yet, but Hart actually spent plenty of time with Carter during the pre-draft process. As defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, he recommended the team do their defense on the fifth overall pick, eventually earning cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Hart observed a modest outlook, and that’s the type of person that Carter is in his position coach’s eyes.
“You come to realize that he is actually a really quiet and shy kid,” Hart said. “He’s not this explosive (sic) flashy personality. It’s not who Jalen is. He’s so quiet, very shy and (keeps) into himself. But A wonderful child.”
Despite playing 50.6% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps during his rookie season, Carter still ranks second in Rookie of the Year (Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. won the award ).
The 6-foot-3, 315-pound giant from Apopka, Florida, played much more in 2024, earning the second-team All-Pro honours with 16 quarterback hits and 12 tackles.
This year’s progress was even more pronounced, “In everything he’s doing, it’s just taking it to the next level.” That includes embracing him that he is on the field for the overwhelming majority of snaps and that he could dominate in each play, and that he would accept that he is on the field. Includes:
“I think when he plays, it’s making him grow every week, because now he thinks he can be terrified in this league,” Graham said. “But that’s going to be a price, because now you have a target (on your back) so you have to keep your body right, eat right, and be a good guy. He checks all those boxes and I’m proud of him.”
After the divisional round victory, Silianni said that Carter did the right thing to become a successful pro “from his conditioning to his weight to his body style.”
“Jaylen Carter,” Syriani said. “He’s special.
“I can’t say enough about his development as a player. It doesn’t happen because of talent. He’s talented – you guys see it. He’s very talented. But this There are a lot of talent in the league. You need more than talent to reach your potential, and he continues to rise. That tells Jalen Carter a lot. ”
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Eagles cornerback Kellyling, part of the Bulldog Eagle condition in the Super Bowl, does not remember much of the details or when this particular practice occurred in Georgia. But memory is to completely encapsulate how Carter plays.
“Once upon a time he had just got off the ball, literally grabbed the man’s shoulder pads and threw him with one arm and the man flew,” Ringo told USA Today Sports.
It sounds like Carter’s “Club Maube.” This is a move that acts as a hayman to the offensive lineman in the interior and quickly places him on the quarterback’s lap.
“He’s just taking linemen off guard,” defensive lineman Milton Williams told USA Today Sports. “They don’t know what he’s going to do.
“I’ve seen his club look at the couple guys and get pretty on the quarterback. …If he gets here first it’s like ‘He’s going to be a special player’. It was. ”
In his second season, Carter is exposed to more blocking schemes and has a better understanding of how the team tries to neutralize it.
But try hard. Going forward, Hart expects Carter to insert himself into this year’s defensive player’s conversation.
“I don’t like putting timetables on things like that,” Hart said anyway. “If it didn’t start next year, it would be disappointing. He has all the abilities. He has been shown to do his job.”
And all the natural abilities of the world.
“I always tell people. I feel like he was born to play football. He was born to play football,” Williams said. “I don’t know if I was born to play football. I took off my ass so I could do that. I feel like he can wake up and put on a helmet, he I’m ready to go.”