News: Miller: Cowboys LB Bruce Carter on Why He Struggled in 2013

[WoodysGirl]

Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter had a disappointing 2013 season. He knows it AND he knows you know it.


Barry Church, me and Bruce Carter

Carter addressed why the adjustment to a 4-3 defense was a struggle for him (and more) when I recently shot a story with him and safety Barry Church at Bowl & Barrel in Dallas.

http://www.thatsportsgirl.com/2014/04/why-bruce-carter-struggle-in-2013.html

 

[WoodysGirl]

“I think that was it for me,” Carter recently told ThatSportsGirl.com’s Gina Miller, “just being more comfortable with the system and going from the previous year in the 3-4, playing Mike (inside linebacker), to the outside, playing Will (weakside linebacker), which is kind of like night and day. But in the same sense it’s still playing linebacker. I think for me, just getting more comfortable at that position and knowing my role and just going from there.”

More: http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...defenses-caused-him-to-struggle-in-2013.html/

 

[DBOY3141]

he and Mo need to reallly step up this year, if the defense is to have a chance

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Church is a big dude for a safety. Looks like a LB.

 

[Nightman]

I got high hopes for our D this year, especially the LBers.

 

[AsthmaField]

Church is a big dude for a safety. Looks like a LB.

I said last offseason before we had switched to Kiffin's 43 that I would move Church to WOLB. I think he'd be very, very good there. He would go from being one of the slower players at his position (safety) to one of the fastest LB's in the league. Not just that though. The guy has great instincts, toughness and is a tackling machine.

If Dallas has two viable players at safety, I would hope that they made that move. He's as big as some of the guys in this year's draft that will be picked as OLB. He would be all over the place, and he'd be great in coverage.

I still think it would be a very good move.

 

[The Natural]

Folks will bring up the fact that he played in a 4-3 in college (I believe), but the change from playing inside to 3-4 and now playing weakside in the 4-3 absolutely had to have an impact on his play. I'm sure it also didnt help to have a defensive coach who couldnt seem to adjust to prevent him from landing on an island 20 yards down field with a running back but maybe this year will be different.

Not to let Bruce completely off the hook, there were times last year this guy didnt seem to want any part of contact. Which is again very puzzling considering his play in 2012

 

[J_Allen]

The play where he let the Giants reciever run in for a touchdown untouched was sickening. He should have been benched after that.

 

[The Natural]

The play where he let the Giants reciever run in for a touchdown untouched was sickening. He should have been benched after that.

So you just gonna forget that Jeff Heath was right there too?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Geez... one good question and then... nonsense.

Anyway the kid sounds bright.

 

[BigStar]

I understand the burden is on the players, but I thought we were told as fans, that one of the reasons for the switch was the flexibity and the burden being lifted off of the players in terms of complexity, overthinking on the field, etc. Lee wasn't the same impact player as previous seasons as well. Is a 4-3 Cover 2 that hard to pick up or has that defense been exposed as a result of the more athletic TEs down the seam, and backs being incorporated underneath in the passing game, etc? Doesn't help that our CBs were asked to play zone with terrible/inexperienced S play?

 

[ShiningStar]

So you just gonna forget that Jeff Heath was right there too?

to be fair, jeff heath wasnt supposed to start, probably ever. Carter played to be a starter, he got his job, Heath was just there.

 

[The Natural]

to be fair, jeff heath wasnt supposed to start, probably ever. Carter played to be a starter, he got his job, Heath was just there.

It was inexcusable regardless of whether he was "supposed" to start. They're supposed to be football players and supposed to have some presence of mind on the field.

 

[egn22]

Gina Miller is not my type but there's something about her....

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I understand the burden is on the players, but I thought we were told as fans, that one of the reasons for the switch was the flexibity and the burden being lifted off of the players in terms of complexity, overthinking on the field, etc. Lee wasn't the same impact player as previous seasons as well. Is a 4-3 Cover 2 that hard to pick up or has that defense been exposed as a result of the more athletic TEs down the seam, and backs being incorporated underneath in the passing game, etc? Doesn't help that our CBs were asked to play zone with terrible/inexperienced S play?

I agree. I didn't really understand the switch to the 4-3. Not only that, but that switch to zone coverage. We had Ware and Spencer, possibly the best 3-4 OLB combo in the league, and just spent a 1st and 2nd and big free agency money on two man corners.

 

[BigStar]

Gina Miller is not my type but there's something about her....

https://encrypted-tbn3.***NOT-ALLOWED***/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSXBYw1YHNltk1D46jYqzpAmSncqYHaC2Zy7IRQbPBW-wqpoNXNZhApIx0H

Cougar Effect

 

[DFWJC]

Being out for a year, then coming into the league raw and after inujury rehab as a rookie, then switching to a new scheme the very next year just as you were starting to get it....that's a tough combination.
He's one of the several players that I'm assuming will get better in this scheme and with NFL maturity.
How much better is the question. If it's from a D+ to a C-, that's not good enough. We'll see!

 

[TrailBlazer]

Not being able to shed blockers is a problem for carter. That's a fundamental skill he needs to work on. Regardless of scheme.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Carter needs to be part of the answer not a part of the problem.

 

[BigStar]

Not being able to shed blockers is a problem for carter. That's a fundamental skill he needs to work on. Regardless of scheme.

Bobby Carpenter flashback