‘No place I’d rather be’

Other highlights and excerpts from the episode…

Abdul Carter Combine Interview – 59 days before the draft

Outside Linebackers Coach Charlie Bullen: Tell us a little bit just kind of your pass rush mindset. What are you thinking? I’m rushing the passer, it’s third down, let’s go. What’s going through your mind?

Carter: My mindset is I try to control every rush. I’m attacking. I’m setting the pace. I’m setting the tone. I’m going to make him react off of me.

Daboll: Do you feel you can play off the ball and on the edge?

Carter: I can play wherever y’all need me.

Daboll. You’re a good football player, man. Fun to watch.

Bullen: Do you prefer playing one or the other?

Carter: Off the edge, definitely. My money spot. That’s where I feel like I’m at my best, (where) I can impact the team the most. Just my pass rush ability, kind of there’s no way you can block me one-on-one, especially for a whole game. Just knowing that, it was the best decision for me.”

Daboll: What do you like least about playing football?

Carter: There’s nothing I don’t like about it. It’s really just a blessing.

Bullen: What’s your goal as a rookie?

Carter: Well, I’m not there yet. I’m still trying to get there. I ain’t there yet, but once I do, I’ll get my goals down.

Bullen: That’s being where your feet are. I like it. … I think in addition to your physical gifts, your ability to finish really sets you apart from your draft class this year and even draft classes in the past.

Schoen: We have (former Penn State tight end) Theo (Johnson) on our team. What would he say about you?

Carter: He would say I’m competitive, but we got into it a lot just being on different sides of the ball. My last game, he just came up to me and said like he gave me his respect. He has my respect. I like Theo.

Carter: “… Wait until I see him again, though. We’ve got some unfinished business.”

Abdul Carter “30” Visit – 13 days before the draft

Bullen in front of the whiteboard in the outside linebackers room: All you can ask for as a rusher is what? What type of matchup?

Bullen: You obviously can win on the edge. You obviously can beat guards, and you can beat a center. So you have to learn all five spots. You good with that?

Carter: You can add more if you want.

Inside linebackers coach John Egorugwu and defensive assistant Grant Morgan walk into the room and…