News: Bruce Carter benching explained

[Alexander]

After the Eberflus quote -- "coach Jason Garrett explained why Carter didn't at least start."

Even Eberflus didn't really explain the situation, he talked around it with generalities. I don't expect him to call out a player, but I came in here expecting specifics and I got, "because Sims is better on some plays and Carter is better on other." That's not an explanation. That's an excuse.

I am not questioning the decisions, I would just like to hear what they're actually seeing. I know I saw Bruce bite very hard on play action a few times yesterday. Ernie Sims on the other hand, over-pursued on almost every opportunity, running himself completely out of plays. So, from what I can gather, they both have the same problem at the moment--they're playing to aggressively and it causes them to leave gaps on the field. Which in turn exposes Lee and Durant who have to cover extra ground.

I like Sims a lot. I liked him out of college. I liked him with the Lions. I even liked him with the Eagles. I just don't see the upside in him that I see with Bruce Carter. I think this is one position where we just have to choose one and go through the growing pains and know if we have a player there.

Eberflus clearly spoke in generalities as you stated.

Todd Archer's blurb here might explain things a little better:

Garrett wants players to show passion, emotion and enthusiasm. Some players show that outwardly. Some players don’t. Bruce Carter is the former, but I wonder if that’s why the coaches have not taken kindly to the linebacker’s play this year. He was benched in favor of Ernie Sims against the Vikings and only got on the field for the bulk of the second half because Sims was so bad. Carter has immense athleticism, but I wonder if the coaches want to see some fire on the field. When he gave up the touchdowns to San Diego’s Danny Woodhead earlier in the season, he didn’t have any real reaction. He found himself on the bench in that game. In the second half against the Vikings, Carter was better and showed emotion after making a nice play in the flat. You don’t have to have Sean Lee-like emotions, but you can’t make it seem like you’re just going through the motions either.

Apparently they want to see more fire in the belly, so it stands to reason if they take a shot at his pride by benching him that he might come around.

Honestly, he just does not look as comfortable out on an island in the 4-3. In the 3-4, he could be covered up to an extent or at least not find himself in a position to be targeted. He has said so himself he is unsure and finds it hard to play fast thinking too much. He looked good blitzing earlier in the year and had a bad drop for a pick six against the Chiefs. It might just be a case where if he makes a big play he gets his confidence back.

 

[Aven8]

This guy needs to rush the passer more IMO. There isn't a QB in the league that can run away from him.

 

[Doomsday101]

I hope Carter starts but I'm not going to kid myself and think I know what is going on at Valley Ranch. When the staff feels he has earned his way back to the starting lineup he will start and hopefully be better off because of this move the staff has made.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

This guy needs to rush the passer more IMO. There isn't a QB in the league that can run away from him.

This. And why not consider moving him and Lee around; both can play the Mike, I think, so why not switch them around. I'd love to see Carter blitzing from the Mike position.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I think the key might be in this quote from Jason Garrett from above: "We saw a little of Bruce Carter out there today, which is good. Flying around, making plays, having an impact on the game." Apparently, when Carter has started, Garrett doesn't feel he gets the kind of effort from him for 60 minutes he feels Carter should be capable of providing. Garrett also said, "The best thing about him is his demeanor and his spirit." That eliminates attitude as an issue. If I had to take a guess, I would say Carter is having a problem with situational awareness.

What's your point? His head coach has a LOT of problems when it comes to "situational awareness".

 

[CooterBrown]

I don't think Carter has fully grasped Kiffin's defense. I think that's what he meant when he said he was over analyzing instead of just playing. He started last season and he was great at ILB, but he had been studying to play there in the 3-4 his whole brief career. Now he is on the outside and it is a learning process. I think that by the end of the season he will be stellar, but there is some learning curve here. I think the coaches are trying to push him to work harder at learning the nuances of the new position.

 

[CooterBrown]

Speaking of Carter, I think he has the speed to pull a Hollywood Henderson on a kickoff return. Oh, wait, that would require some deception and apparently Garrett doesn't believe in that.

 

[Corso]

Maybe they're trying to make Carter the Ginobili of the defense? *shrug*

Good one.

I chuckled at that.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Good one.

I chuckled at that.

It took a couple days, but I'm glad somebody got it. lol

 

[Corso]

I don't think Carter has fully grasped Kiffin's defense. I think that's what he meant when he said he was over analyzing instead of just playing. He started last season and he was great at ILB, but he had been studying to play there in the 3-4 his whole brief career. Now he is on the outside and it is a learning process. I think that by the end of the season he will be stellar, but there is some learning curve here. I think the coaches are trying to push him to work harder at learning the nuances of the new position.

I don't disagree with you here.

I think- like has been said about Dez: he needs to perfect his craft.
He'll do it a lot faster on the field. They don't have much to lose, really.

 

[CooterBrown]

He'll do it a lot faster on the field. They don't have much to lose, really.

I think so too. Let him play and live with an occasional mistake. He will get better faster by playing than he will by watching.

 

[Deep_South]

What's your point? His head coach has a LOT of problems when it comes to "situational awareness".

It sounds like you want to argue, and I really don't want to do that. I'm talking about Bruce Carter and you're talking about Jason Garrett, so it just isn't going to go anywhere.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Let us take a walk down mamory lane. Carters was benched because he suked.
Now we want to resurrect him as a good player on one of the NFL's worst defenses.

But I agree: Let Carter have another chance but don't make him out to be another Ken Norton Jr.

 

[JohnsKey19]

i find it hard to believe that anyone on the team has played a worst half of football than what Sims displayed in the 1st half on Sunday. Carter admittedly had a difficult time with Woodhead, who can be a tough matchup, but nothing close to the debacle from Sims we just witnessed. Let the talented youngin play. Sims is what he is - a JAG.

 

[texbumthelife]

In Carter's defense, it's hard to show a whole lot of emotion when you're getting absolutely lit up by another player. So Carter internalizes when he is making mistakes, hopefully in an attempt to rectify them, I have seen him show plenty of thunder when he makes big plays.

In other words this was a "send a message" benching...

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

This guy needs to rush the passer more IMO. There isn't a QB in the league that can run away from him.

I am no expert on the 4-3 but our LB's only have two sacks among them and both are Carter's. Is it normal for the LB in this def to not get many sacks?

 

[SportsGuru80]

This is total B.S. EVERYONE knows Carter is way better than Sims!!!!!

 

[BourbonBalz]

It sounds like you want to argue, and I really don't want to do that. I'm talking about Bruce Carter and you're talking about Jason Garrett, so it just isn't going to go anywhere.

No, I was actually joking around, which is very easy to do where Jason Garrett is concerned.

 

[Picksix]

This is carter's second benching already this season...eventually it does have a negative effect. no one can deny that.

If it's deserved, then it should happen. If he can't respond to this, he's not cut out for the NFL. Sure, if you keep messing with a guy, you can screw him up. Don't think that's happening here. We're talking, what? 9 games? That's nothing. It's about setting a standard, and expecting him to achieve it. If he doesn't, he has to be held accountable.

 

[Picksix]

This is total B.S. EVERYONE knows Carter is way better than Sims!!!!!

Danny Woodhead sure thinks so