Andre Carter is going to work out...

HailSkins94 · Post by **HailSkins94** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:55 am

Well for the past 2 or 3 weeks I have really started to notice Andre Carter's play. It has definately elevated after a very slow start. At the beginning of the year he was bascially non existant.

Look at the first 7 games of the year: 13 tackles, 2 sacks

Mind you he went 2 games without a tackle.

Last 6 games he has elevated his game (sacks will come): 24 tackles, 1 sack

Has recorded at least a tackle in all 6, including 11 against Atlanta.

It appears as though he is starting to get a little more comfortable with the defense. I think if everyone else from this offseason are a bust (Lloyd still needs time, Randel El fitting in very well), Andre Carter will work out for the best. I understand he is still undersized for a DE but if we can put someone on the opposite end (Daniels getting up there), that will make him even more comfortable. The sacks will come from Carter, I can feel it.

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:47 pm

Funny, i was going to blog something very similar to this earlier this week, but with heading back from D.C. and all, I just didn't have enough time.

He played really well the last two weeks in my opinion as well... he's really starting to get more pressure. I think he's been decent against the run in most games this year (Minny not included), but he's really stepped up his pass rush the last few weeks.

He's actually getting decent penetration for a few weeks longer than that, but we haven't been getting much push up the middle this year. The QB can often just step up into the pocket and fire it regardless of whether or not Carter is getting a good push. Corny has been battling injury all year long and this defense seems to live and die by how he plays. Unfortunately for the Skins, he's had a tough season.

I've definitely observed the same improvement from A. Carter though and considering how badly he was pounded at the beginning of the year, he deserves the props for sure. Hopefully he can continue to grow into the defense and be more and more effective - more akin to what we were hoping for when we signed him.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:55 pm

This is why we don't call people busts after half a season.

Let's hope he continues to improve. Just a little patience can often be needed by new players, even if they are supposed megabucks free agents. I'm not flushing this year's free agent signings down the pan yet - I expect big things from them all (although AA might be beyond redemption).

Mursilis · Post by **Mursilis** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:38 pm

UK Skins Fan wrote:This is why we don't call people busts after half a season.

Let's hope he continues to improve. Just a little patience can often be needed by new players, even if they are supposed megabucks free agents. I'm not flushing this year's free agent signings down the pan yet - I expect big things from them all (although AA might be beyond redemption).

Such a good point, and then you go and spoil it with that last line! Sure, AA has been a disappointment, but 1) the season's not even done yet, and 2) they're just not using him right. He was never a cover guy.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:06 pm

Well, I did say "might". :wink:

It doesn't matter how much you pay a player - if you continue to put him in positions that don't allow him to use his particular skillset, then you're asking for trouble. Some players are good enough to succeed in any scheme - AA isn't one of those.

JPM36 · Post by **JPM36** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:22 pm

Mursilis is right. AA is definitely not a cover guy.

So why did we give him a $10M signing bonus to play in our SECONDARY????

Unbelievably bad move by the Redskins.

Good points about Carter tho. He looks like he's coming around. I hope we draft DT Alan Branch out of Michigan and start building a solid DL with those guys.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:27 pm

So why did we give him a $10M signing bonus to play in our SECONDARY????

We didn't.

Mursilis · Post by **Mursilis** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:29 pm

UK Skins Fan wrote:Well, I did say "might".

It doesn't matter how much you pay a player - if you continue to put him in positions that don't allow him to use his particular skillset, then you're asking for trouble. Some players are good enough to succeed in any scheme - AA isn't one of those.

Hopefully they can find a way to play to his skillset next season. Cutting him would be too much of a cap hit right now, I think. I'm sure 1niksder knows for sure.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:33 pm

Mursilis wrote:
UK Skins Fan wrote:This is why we don't call people busts after half a season.

Let's hope he continues to improve. Just a little patience can often be needed by new players, even if they are supposed megabucks free agents. I'm not flushing this year's free agent signings down the pan yet - I expect big things from them all (although AA might be beyond redemption).

Such a good point, and then you go and spoil it with that last line! Sure, AA has been a disappointment, but 1) the season's not even done yet, and 2) they're just not using him right. He was never a cover guy.

Boy, I think you might be more optimistic about AA than I am, Mursilis. I want his play in Washington to turn around as much as anyone else, but it's hard to see it happening. I hope that I'm wrong, though.

As for 'the rest' of the free agents: Randel-El has been a good addition this year, and we will start seeing numbers from Lloyd that match his level of play soon. I've never thought those acquisitions were bad. I was pretty down about Carter for a while but it does appear as though he's starting to find his role.

The major objections to our presonnel moves were: Campbell (now playing), Carter (playing better), AA (we'll see. . .), McIntosh, Lloyd, Randel El, Wright, Rumph (back to his proper role, thanks to people getting healthy), and T.J. Duckett.

In my opinion, Gibbs and co. aren't looking as crazy as they were perceived to be a few weeks ago.

USAFSkinFan · Post by **USAFSkinFan** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:48 pm

I guess we'll never know if AA was going to get better... interesting that he was on pace, after 8 games and 54 tackles, to have his best year in the last 4 years... I'm telling you he was better his first 8 games in Washington than he was his last 3 years here in STL... makes you wonder what GW was looking at when he had to have him...

okay back on topic... Carter sure is looking better, but I still don't see the flashes of athletic pass rushing ability that I thought we were supposed to see... all summer I heard how we finally had a pass rushing defensive end...

Mursilis · Post by **Mursilis** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:02 pm

Irn-Bru wrote:
Mursilis wrote:
UK Skins Fan wrote:This is why we don't call people busts after half a season.

Let's hope he continues to improve. Just a little patience can often be needed by new players, even if they are supposed megabucks free agents. I'm not flushing this year's free agent signings down the pan yet - I expect big things from them all (although AA might be beyond redemption).

Such a good point, and then you go and spoil it with that last line! Sure, AA has been a disappointment, but 1) the season's not even done yet, and 2) they're just not using him right. He was never a cover guy.

Boy, I think you might be more optimistic about AA than I am, Mursilis. I want his play in Washington to turn around as much as anyone else, but it's hard to see it happening. I hope that I'm wrong, though.

All I've got to go on is this: Rumor has it Lovie Smith up in Chicago really wanted AA before we snatched him away for more $$$. Lovie Smith knows defense, and if he wanted AA, there had to be a pretty good reason. Before we signed him, I'd never even heard of the guy.

As for 'the rest' of the free agents: Randel-El has been a good addition this year, and we will start seeing numbers from Lloyd that match his level of play soon. I've never thought those acquisitions were bad. I was pretty down about Carter for a while but it does appear as though he's starting to find his role.

The major objections to our presonnel moves were: Campbell (now playing), Carter (playing better), AA (we'll see. . .), McIntosh, Lloyd, Randel El, Wright, Rumph (back to his proper role, thanks to people getting healthy), and T.J. Duckett.

In my opinion, Gibbs and co. aren't looking as crazy as they were perceived to be a few weeks ago.

Well, except part of the complaints were about the ones that got away, like Walt Harris, Pierce, Clark, etc., but that's all water under the bridge now, so it's pointless to debate it further. Plus, T.J. Duckett has hardly been used and likely won't be here next year anyway, so that's still not looking like too great a deal. But the others may yet pan out. I think Randle-El has been fine, and I think Lloyd has been as good as can be expected given the circumstances (QB switch, etc.). And I've always been a JC fan. As for McIntosh, I'd just like to see him play more. I keep hearing he's not 'ready', but so what? Play him anyway; we're obviously not going to the Super Bowl, so we might as well have him gain experience.

fireman · Post by **fireman** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:29 pm

remeber the dallas game aa could't even stay with Jason Whitten even most of our linebackers can do that.

roybus14 · Post by **roybus14** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:47 pm

I think that Carter should find help in the off-season to improve his pass rush techniques. Just speed rushing around the edge is not always going to get it and he needs to improve on his up-and-under and swim techniques.

I've seen improvement in him too but he now needs to take to the next level like Strahan, Jason Taylor, Umenyora, and the other lean pass rushing DEs. It wouldn't hurt to get help from those guys or even some former DE greats, including Dexter....

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:42 am

Mursilis wrote:Such a good point, and then you go and spoil it with that last line! Sure, AA has been a disappointment, but 1) the season's not even done yet, and 2) they're just not using him right. He was never a cover guy.

Yeah but from what I've heard, he's in the Williams' doghouse. He's not even getting the chance to play his way out of the doghouse...he's just rotting away on our bench.

jru37726 · Post by **jru37726** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:02 pm

Carter is playing better yet we are still losing and when the D needs to get a stop at the end of a game (a la Philly), Westbrook goes right thru AC side of the line and picks up the dagger first down. It'd be nice to see his better play carry over to the end of games.....i see a little progress, but we are 4-9 guys....and the D gave up 20 pts to Tampa! Thats like giving up 90 to Indy.....or 70 to Dallas....Tampa hasnt scored 20 combined in like 6 games..... They oughta give their paychecks back from that week.

Also, isn't improved play = wins? The Skins defense was not on the field that much vs Philly yet got on the field with 5:10 left in the 4th and could never get off the field to allow the offense to drive for the winning FG. I guess the offense didnt do its job with 1ST AND GOAL FROM THE 3 and ending up with a 38 yd FG attempt but still.......AT HOME...... WITH 5 MINUTES LEFT......the D has gotta get that ball back for us and make one last stand....

Can someone send me a knife? Maybe a sharp object of some sort? Having to watch this week in and week out can drive you into a looney bin.

HailSkins94 · Post by **HailSkins94** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:14 pm

Yet another solid game from Carter today. Led the team with 7 tackles and 1 sack. Simply playing his ass off. They are really starting to find ways to best utilize his talent.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:21 pm

The first 10 games: 19 tackles 2 sacks.

The last 4 games: 26 tackles, 2 sacks.

He's definitely stepped his game up. Big props to Carter. :rock:

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:22 pm

HailSkins94 wrote:Yet another solid game from Carter today. Led the team with 7 tackles and 1 sack. Simply playing his ass off. They are really starting to find ways to best utilize his talent.

You've got to be joking. Sean taylor looked like he was in on 2/5ths of the plays.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:25 pm

Carter and Taylor both had 8 tackles.

USAFSkinFan · Post by **USAFSkinFan** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:36 am

Smithian wrote:
HailSkins94 wrote:Yet another solid game from Carter today. Led the team with 7 tackles and 1 sack. Simply playing his ass off. They are really starting to find ways to best utilize his talent.
You've got to be joking. Sean taylor looked like he was in on 2/5ths of the plays.

I don't know how they tabulate the results, but after watching that game I would have thought Taylor had about 6 solo and 20 total tackles... Carter palyed well again but I would have given him 2 solo, and about 7 total...

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:43 pm

Whatever. This guy is clearly stepping it up, and looks to be a far better signing right now than he did earlier in the season. What he needs is a lot more disruption from the whole d-line alongside him. With more help, I see no reason why he can't be the double-digit sack guy that we've been waiting for.

fredp45 · Post by **fredp45** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:57 pm

I agree, plus he's just now remembering how to play DE again -- remember, last year Nolan had him playing LB in a 3-4.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:05 pm

Jake wrote:The first 10 games: 19 tackles 2 sacks.

The last 4 games: 26 tackles, 2 sacks.

He's definitely stepped his game up. Big props to Carter.

Now leads all DL in tackles (45) and the team in sacks (4)

crazyhorse1 · Post by **crazyhorse1** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:26 pm

Jake wrote:The first 10 games: 19 tackles 2 sacks.

The last 4 games: 26 tackles, 2 sacks.

He's definitely stepped his game up. Big props to Carter.

Looks like most of us buried this guy prematurely. Our bad.