The Silver Lining From Today's Cloud

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I hate to keep harping on the Andre Carter thing, but his 7 sacks, 3 FFs, and safety are even more impressive when one considers that we rarely blitz and Griffin is the only other D-lineman who sometimes draws double-teams.

Carter is miles and miles beyond last year, but I still can't just turn a blind eye to the glaring flaws in his game.

As far as sacks go, his production speaks for itself. I just feel that there is more a defensive end has to do than run up field all the time, and Carter is lacking that. I hold out hope that he can improve in run defense as well as develop a solid second pass move to ensure that QBs stay contained in the pocket.

For every sack, there's three plays where he is ten yards upfield doing no good, and that's the knock on him.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Carter is miles and miles beyond last year, but I still can't just turn a blind eye to the glaring flaws in his game.

As far as sacks go, his production speaks for itself. I just feel that there is more a defensive end has to do than run up field all the time, and Carter is lacking that. I hold out hope that he can improve in run defense as well as develop a solid second pass move to ensure that QBs stay contained in the pocket.

For every sack, there's three plays where he is ten yards upfield doing no good, and that's the knock on him.

It's definitely true that he has weaknessses and often runs himself out of the play, but it's not as though the guy doesn't have moves, strength, or agility. He's been getting better at tracking down backs and breaking up screens. His game against the Saints and Reggie Bush last year comes to mind. Even if he is a liability against the run, I'll take that significant flaw if it means that we get a guy who is on pace for double-digit sacks. When was the last time we had a DE get 10+ sacks? I could be wrong, but I think the last guy was Bruce Smith in 2000 (a crazy 7 years ago).

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

It's definitely true that he has weaknessses and often runs himself out of the play, but it's not as though the guy doesn't have moves, strength, or agility. He's been getting better at tracking down backs and breaking up screens. His game against the Saints and Reggie Bush last year comes to mind. Even if he is a liability against the run, I'll take that significant flaw if it means that we get a guy who is on pace for double-digit sacks. When was the last time we had a DE get 10+ sacks? I could be wrong, but I think the last guy was Bruce Smith in 2000 (a crazy 7 years ago).

The sacks are much appreciated. For what it's worth, he's probably the most prolific pass rusher this franchise has had in a decade.

I'm just worried that we can't stop any QB from running at all right now, lack of mobility be damned. Usually they escape to the left where they either get a clean throw off or run for 15 yards before Fletcher late hits to give 15 more. The big issue is, that these are designed passing plays and Carter is getting beaten by the run on them. If we can't stop the run when an offense is trying to throw on us, it seems to make sense that we can't stop it when they try to run on us.

Run defense is a big issue for me right now. Yeah, Romo is probably going to carve us up in the air this week, but when we have ST in there this pass D can stop anyone deep. Carter plays well into our pass defense because if you try to go down the field on us, Carter usually gets to you and makes you pay for it. I still have hope he can get to Romo this week and give us a fighting chance.

But I have been impressed with his (Carter) play diagnosing ability this year. It's a bit ironic in my opinion that AC seems the most confused when teams straight drop or run right at him, because he sure isn't fooled by draws or bootlegs or trick plays this season.