Captain Carter?
April 20th, 2015
New Bucs middle linebacker Bruce Carter expects to command the Tampa Bay defense and wear the infamous green-dot helmet.
Speaking to media today, Carter had big talk about his big new role.
Carter said he called the defense in Dallas many times and had the coach’s communication in his ear. It’s his nature to lead, he said, and he’s very comfortable taking the reins.
“It’s got to be somebody who can lead on and off the field. You know, he’s got to be somewhat of a captain. Offense having the quarterback, and defense having the middle linebacker,” Carter said. “And guys got to look up to him, not only vocally, but, you know, in your play and how you carry yourself. That’s something I’m going to work on, and hopefully I can do a good job at it.”
Among other takes, Carter went to say the Bucs need a force-turnover mentality from the opening whistle, not when the team is trailing or late in the game.
“It’s really got be drilled into each player’s head that, you know, our job out here is to go, take the ball away and score,” Carter said.
Joe like Carter’s confidence. He admits he has to work on his pass coverage and other details, but his cross-training at all linebacker positions in Dallas has him ready to roll.
You can hear all of Carter’s media session via the 620wdae.com audio player below.
April 20th, 2015 at 8:13 pm
Gotta love his attitude and I agree with this part of his take.
“And guys got to look up to him, not only vocally, but, you know, in your play and how you carry yourself.”
And this is how Fameis or Marcus will be judged as well. This is why all this talk about Fameis having an advantage because of his rah rah and MM being at a disadvantage is just BS.
Fameis may indeed be the better pick but it won’t be because he’s arrogant or cocky it will because he can PLAY. Same is true for Marcus. If he can PLAY his leadership will be fine.
At the end of the day the higher you get in sports the more you are judged by the results of your efforts and the less rah rah crap means.
April 20th, 2015 at 9:07 pm
If Carter can play MLB effectively that would be a major help to our defense. I’m going into “I’ll believe it when I see it” mode.
April 20th, 2015 at 9:17 pm
@Joe … ” Joe like Carter’s confidence.”
I do too Joe. I really believe that he’ll be a great addition to the Bucs defense.
He brings to mind an old instructor pilot I once had in the Air Force. Favorite saying to the newbies was ‘There’s a big difference between a cocky pilot and a confident pilot. The cocky pilot THINKS he’s good. The confident pilot KNOWS he’s good.’
Sounds to me like Bruce Carter is someone who came up through the ranks, and worked hard to move up the food chain. No cockiness there, just the confidence that comes from working hard and learning from mistakes. An excellent addition to our Bucs.
April 20th, 2015 at 9:33 pm
@BuccaneEric
After last year’s group of FA’s you have a right to be skeptical. I am the eternal optimist. I think they’re going to make the right decision with the first pick even though I have no idea what that decision might be.
But I feel even more encouraged by this years group of FA’s because they’ve all had a connection to Lovie’s defense. Unlike poor Alteraun Verner who apparently needed a half season to get up to speed and in fairness to him if I recall he lost most of the preseason due to injury…this new crop of guys have played in Lovie’s defense.
I think Carter could be our next Shelton Quarles. A jewel that finally is established with the Bucs. Remember Quarles was a free agent, cut by the Dolphins, played two years in the CFL before joining the Bucs and becoming a significant part of a SB defense. I hope Carter blossoms like Quarles.
April 20th, 2015 at 9:41 pm
You guys are so nice. this dude wasnt even the starting mlb. News flash carter we have a leader his name is LVD. Make a play first then open your mouth.
Oh wait my bad, let me try this again. Hey buddy welcome to tampa we’re excited to have you. Good luck with the season.
April 20th, 2015 at 9:55 pm
OK cool. Judging by this article Howard will expect Carter to play at
least as good as Shelton Quarles right out of the box on day one.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:00 pm
It’s not simply rah-rah. It’s about inspiring people to give their best. Even better than they may believe they can do. Look to their relationships with their former teammates. What do those teammates say and how did they perform when things got tough. Come from behind victories are one demonstration of inspired play. Winston excelled here.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:00 pm
I don’t see how this is an upgrade over Foster and given the track record of incompetent Lovie Smith and his bobblehead lapdog GM this is almost certainly a bad move.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:04 pm
Is Carter a SLB or MLB???? Is Lansanah going to start at SLB?
April 20th, 2015 at 10:05 pm
I’m the same way, “I’ll believe it when I see it” mode, because last year I was so hyped up, telling everyone how good we will be and we became the suckiest.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:09 pm
I still can’t understand why they wouldn’t keep Foster for the SAM. Somebody help me on this one.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:22 pm
@DB55
LMFAO. Exactly. The YUCS already have enough talkers (Aunt Geraldine).
April 20th, 2015 at 10:29 pm
finally an article about someone actually on the bucs team instead of the crabby leg thief.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:35 pm
He admits he has to work on his pass coverage!!!! Oh boy!!!
April 20th, 2015 at 10:35 pm
Ray Rice,
Gerald is much more than a talker. Buccaneer opponents wish he was all talk.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:41 pm
He should be captain. he is a monster. i just hope can stay healthy
April 20th, 2015 at 11:23 pm
The three each rank in the bottom five in Total QBR among those who started at least 30 games over the last five seasons. Tebow ranks lowest with a 33.4 Total QBR. Sanchez is fourth-worst (40.4) and Bradford ranks fifth from the bottom (40.7).
…………………..
What a Horrible attempt to Troll Tebow. TT has only started 16 games NOT 30. And he is 9 and 7 in said starts. But hey……trolling is Media right , er , um , some media outlets?
April 21st, 2015 at 12:05 am
I learned my lesson and I’m getting smarter, so I’m with the “ill believe it once i see it crowd’
Last year, we brought in back-ups that had both starter pay checks + starter game talk… and they played like backups.
Carter, Johnson, and the other depth additions will (going by years past) blow up if put in a role that’s above their play.
…. and didn’t Foster not make the cut because he had trouble with coverage?
Are we chasing our tails?
April 21st, 2015 at 1:53 am
Carter excels at what Foster couldn’t do.
Carter is very good in coverage.
I’ve written it a million times. But I’m sure no one still gets it.
In the Tampa 2, MLB is a coverage guy 70% of the the time.
That’s why Barrett Rudd was a good fit.
Carter will be able to do a 8-12 yard drop, and cover the soft center of the field.
Soon, idiots will start saying that he isn’t a “big Hitter”, or doesn’t punish Running backs.
And it will be true- because that isn’t what he’s supposed to do.
But he should be great at what we need him to do.
I liked this guy in college, and in the pros.
Perfect fit- really excited we got him
April 21st, 2015 at 2:31 am
Cappy, he says himself he’s gotta work on his coverage…
April 21st, 2015 at 6:54 am
He’s an upgrade over Mason Foster.
April 21st, 2015 at 7:50 am
I absolutely love this signing and I believe by far it is the best FA acquisition this offseason. However, as Joe and other pundits have repeatedly said that teams typically do not let good players walk, especially at that reasonable contract. So this either defies that logic or Rod Marinelli was doing his buddy a favor.
The next point being that teams obviously let players walk in Free agency and as we all know Dallas was in pretty decent shape regarding the cap. Especially, considering they gave a player with a big question mark in Hardy a $13 million contract.
Though, I firmly believe that good teams don’t mind letting higher priced free agents walk in, because they are typically rewarded with valuable compensatory draft picks. This is how the big boys build dynasties. When players get too expensive they let them walk and then get draft compensation and draft a much cheaper rookie.
Now lets get Back to the original point. I still don’t’ see why Dallas would let him walk so easily. Especially when he isn’t being over paid and making average starter money. However, I truly believe it’s a great signing and a big upgrade over Foster, and now won’t have to address the position really at all in the draft.
April 21st, 2015 at 10:15 am
Of course he said he had to work on his coverage! That’s because that’s all he’ll do here.
If he signed here, knowing our MLB mainly is a coverage job- what did you expect him to say.
” fortunately- I’m perfect at coverage! No need to work on it at all- even though il be doing it twice as much!”
Really? He didn’t say he sucked at coverage! Recognizing that that will be his primary job- he knows he needs to focus on it.
Gawd!!!
April 21st, 2015 at 11:04 am
I LOVE IT! P.S. LOVIE: PLEASE! Take Mariota NOT Winston! PLEASE!@!!!
April 21st, 2015 at 9:40 pm
Carter had 6 INT’s last year, more than all the Bucs LB’s combined.
For those who think he might not be an upgrade over slowafoot Foster, I believe our ex-starting MLB has still not signed with anyone.
In fact, I haven’t even heard of him getting any offers.
This was a starting MLB on an NFL team and no is even interested.
Not even the Niners who lost their starter and his backup.
What does that say.