In this week’s edition of Leftovers, Andre Carter talks about if he could possibly return to defensive end, how the defense countered Peyton Manning and the Redskins Alumni homecoming.
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Extras
THN: How did you like the Redskins Alumni Homecoming? Did you get to meet with any of the players from years past?
AC: [In the past] I have met Charles Mann, Dexter Manley, Darrell Green, so many players who represent the tradition of Redskin football. It was great being in the presence of the gridiron greats.
THN: Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett admitted to adjusting your role recently. Are you getting closer to being moved to a 3-4 defensive end and removing the linebacker role from your responsibilities?
AC: I can’t play the typical 3-4 defensive end. I don’t weigh 300 plus pounds similar to [Adam] Carriker and [Phillip] Daniels. I am still learning the linebacker position just in case there is a situation where one of our players goes down. I do my best to contribute any way I can.
Coming Together
THN: Another difference from this team to Redskins teams of the past, even before the Zorn and Gibbs 2.0 era is that you are all playing better in prime time games. Playing on nationally televised games used to be an Achilles heel in the past so what has changed?
AC: We have become more of a cohesive unit this year. It’s not about individuals this year. Our head coach emphasizes team camaraderie and great work ethic which is displayed in practice and on game day. It’s a great experience knowing we have each other’s backs.
On Peyton Manning
THN: Why was it that, despite the turnovers and opportunities created by the defense, the offense only seemed to be responding to what the Colts offense was doing as opposed to creating their own tempo and dictating the flow of the game against an average Colts defense?
AC: You can’t compare our offense to Manning’s offense. Peyton is in a league of his own. He’s known for the no huddle offense. That’s his style and no offense can mimic his style. I feel our offense moved the ball well and despite a variety of series not going as planned, they kept their poise and made plays when it was needed.
THN: Talk about Peyton Manning’s performance and how the defense tried to counter him.
AC: We tried to move around and show different coverages in the back end. He’s known for keying the weakness of each defensive scheme so by moving around we tried to confuse him. He’s a smart player and I have a lot of respect for him.
THN: Yet again, the defense faces another big-name quarterback. Based on how the season has gone so far, it’s probably a safe assumption that he will pass for a lot of yards. But what will it take to keep Jay Cutler from tossing TD passes?
AC: Same goals. Similar to last week. Great pressure and great coverage on the back end.