Spotlight #1: TCU MLB Tank Carder
Spotlight #2: Louisiana Tech MLB Adrien Cole
1st quarter
13:53: Carder comes up to hit the receiver in the backfield, forces the drop, could have been a tackle for loss if it had been caught.
12:54: Cole with a tackle on a short inside run.
11:04: Carder allows a completion.
9:36: Carder shoves the ball carrier out of bounds.
9:07: Carder in on a pile.
8:33: Carder in on an incomplete in coverage on a double team.
8:15: Cole just misses on a tackle.
7:31: Cole one of 4 or 5 guys helping take down a receiver, a bit timid before getting in on the pile.
6:59: Cole has trouble getting off a block, eventually gets the tackle downfield after a very long run.
5:26: Carder covers receivers against 4 or 5 wide receiver sets, doesn’t come off the field.
5:20: Carder stiff armed and knocked over after the catch.
4:57: Carder in on a short tackle on an inside run.
4:16: Carder pancaked over in the open field by a block.
2:27: Cole with a tackle after a catch.
1:22: Cole in on an open field tackle after a long gain.
2nd quarter
13:42: Carder has a back blow past him.
10:58: Cole in on a tackle up the middle.
9:39: Carder can’t get off a block on a run at him.
8:41: Carder in on a pile.
6:31: Carder explodes up, but just misses a tough off balanced tackle for loss. Slows ball carrier for a teammate to finish him off.
5:45: Cole disengages to get a shoestring tackle from behind.
4:19: Cole pushed back by a 2nd level blocker on a run.
2:44: Carder gets into the backfield and takes the ball carrier down from behind.
1:57: Carder misses a tackle on a quarterback run.
0:26: Cole blocked well off the play on an inside rushing touchdown.
3rd quarter
14:47: Cole misses a tackle on an off tackle run.
13:54: Cole can’t get off a block on an inside run.
13:36: Cole sheds a block up the middle on a blitz.
12:59: Cole in on a double team on a receiver over the middle, quarterback forced to put it in only possible spot, receiver can’t make play. Good coverage.
11:55: Cole gets a tackle finally after a very long run.
10:26: Cole gets a tackle after a completion in his space on 4th and 1, conversion.
9:59: Cole blocked off the play as TCU runs in for a goal line touchdown unblocked. Offense line manhandled them.
8:52: Carder almost allows a catch, too high a ball, incomplete right off receivers hands, but a tough catch.
8:49: Carder comes on a blitz and gets pressure unblocked.
8:41: Carder can’t change directions in the open field and slips.
7:39: Carder with a tackle right after allowing a catch, but not before allowing a first down after a nice move by the receiver to just convert the first.
7:18: Carder blocked off the play on a rushing touchdown.
5:20: Cole shows great sideline to sideline speed to get to the outside for a tackle on the quarterback after a short gain.
4:04: Carder a bit stumbly on an open field tackle, stiff armed, guy goes out of bounds. He was a bit off balanced here.
3:30: Cole with a poor effort, can’t disengage.
4th quarter
14:50: Cole allows a catch, lots of guys around the ball, makes no effort to tackle, leaves to someone else.
14:21: Cole gets over to the sideline and helps shove a guy out.
13:30: Cole disengages, gets a tackle.
9:04: Cole gets a big tackle for loss in the backfield on the goal line, big loss.
6:20: Cole struggles to take down a spinning ball carrier after a good gain. Not the surest tackle.
3:30: Cole with a tackle, again, could have been better.
3:22: Cole with a tackle after a run up the middle.
0:00: This game between two non-AQ teams featured two draftable middle linebackers, one on each side. This game gave me a good chance to compare the two. Carder had fewer tackles than Cole, 4 to 7, but I feel Carder had the bigger impact. Cole didn’t seem to be the surest tackle and got blocked off the play on two TCU goal line rushing touchdowns. Carder also did better in coverage and even stayed on the field against 4 and 5 receiver sets, lining up one on one with receivers in the slot and holding his own. He appears to be the better athlete.
On the season, Cole had 127 tackles, 13 for loss, 5 pass deflections and 2 sacks on the season. Carder had worse statistical production with 70 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and 3 deflections, but again appeared to be a better player in this one. He played tougher competition on a better defense and figures to be the better NFL player. The 6-3 237 pound Carder appears to be a mid round prospect, while the 5-11 250 Cole should go in the late rounds.
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