Can Chiefs contain Jalen Carter in Super Bowl LIX? An ex-NFL lineman explains how

A highlight of the Philadelphia Eagles' success during this playoff run has been its defense. For all the praise Saquon Barkley gets for electrifying the offense, the defense has been just as much of a factor in getting them to Super Bowl LIX to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

And one of the players who has been an absolute rock star for that Philly D is Jalen Carter.

So what do the Chiefs need to do to contain the big man and impede his effectiveness?

Well, speaking from my eight years playing in the NFL as a lineman, I know personally that there are a few ways to stop a defensive beast like Carter. 

The first step is using the scheme to target Carter in the run game and building in help in the passing game. The Chiefs will have both of these built into the game plan. With Carter playing nearly exclusively on the left side of the defense — which puts him primarily over the right guard for the game — an offense can plan for where he will be each snap. This allows the scheme to attempt to take advantage of that, but the menu is limited with Carter playing inside against a defensive end on the edge who is more exposed.

The two styles of run plays that can help an offense against Carter are an inside zone with a tight end "slicing" back or a trap-type run. The goal of these runs is hitting Carter from different angles, which in theory will slow him down if he’s looking around for where he’s getting hit post-snap. Also, these plays are potential body-blow opportunities that you hope are cumulative throughout the game and slow Carter down later. 

Both of the Eagles' playoff opponents have tried these plays with some success. 

The Rams opened the game with a wham play where Carter was subject to a trap block by the Rams left