Carter and Lloyd Looking Promising

Actually, I blame those pesky offensive linemen for getting in his way. If they weren't there he'd get a couple of sacks.

I wholeheartedly agree. I was sarcastically repeating one of the more mystifying excuses that some at this message board have actually used to defend Carter.

I wholeheartedly agree. I was sarcastically repeating one of the more mystifying excuses that some at this message board have actually used to defend Carter.

I think you're completely twisting the thread that SGG had started. I don't think he was absolving AC of blame entirely. He was just saying, correctly, that healthy DTs could help relieve pressure, draw double teams and free Carter up.

I agree that more is expected of Carter but strong play from the interior would go a long way toward helping him.

Carter has shown no real pass rushing skills to speak of, it looks as if he's a guy who would fly off the charts at a combine workout but really has no football savey.

Lloyd on the other hand has had only one problem so far and that is Brunell, I constantly see him beating his man deep, he runs real nice routes and sucks the defenders in with his fakes, unfortuantly that doesn't matter if the
QB can't get the ball to you. I to believe Lloyd will be a favorite of Campbell.

I think you're completely twisting the thread that SGG had started. I don't think he was absolving AC of blame entirely. He was just saying, correctly, that healthy DTs could help relieve pressure, draw double teams and free Carter up.

I agree that more is expected of Carter but strong play from the interior would go a long way toward helping him.

Bravo Sierra. It's not often that offensive tackles take part in a double team on a D-tackle while leaving the defensive end free in a passing situation. In the rare instances that it does happen, a tight end is usually left to block -- something that even adequate defensive ends are supposed to be able to exploit. In Carter's case, we've yet to see it.

In any case, defensive tackles are generally tied up with three interior lineman anyway (meaning someone's getting double-teamed on just about every play), leaving one-on-one battles between ends and tackles. As I said before, defensive tackles getting the kind of penetration you and SGG are talking about would result in THEM getting the sacks -- making Carter, and every other defensive end useless, or in our case blameless in not being able to get to the quarterback.

Sure, it'd be great if Griffin and Salave'a were blowing up the middle and getting in the QBs face before he has time to think. But that has nothing to do with Carter's complete inability apply any sort of pressure to the passer.

If you had the power to go back and sign just one of the two, which one would you choose?Randle El. Although you lose the ability to make plays in 1 v 1 situations, you need the punt returning ability and the versatility to break the game wide open.

Since the new CBA was agreed upon, I think that the most important thing for roster building is no longer managing the salary cap (because over the next few years, the cap is going to increase at a ridiculous rate), its managing the active roster. Espicially at the WR position, with guys who don't touch the ball all that much, you are in today's game hurting your team by having a guy who can do nothing but play WR taking up a roster spot. Now if you are Santana Moss, and can do things on a football field others can only dream of, that's another thing.

There is really nothing versatile about Brandon Lloyd, per say. Over the last few games, he's been helping the offense by making catches in tight coverage. Of course, over his career, he really hasn't been good at getting seperation, so it's a good thing he can make those catches in traffic. I expect him to improve over the rest of the year.

But if we could only have had one, it should have been Randle El.

As far as Carter, I'm really not sure what we saw in him that made us think he would be the next great pass rusher in this league. I mean, he is getting pressure on the QB. Mario Williams is also getting some pressure on the QB for Houston...and we have the two worst pass D's in the league.

They are similar situations. I think when he (Carter) came in, people were thinking we had brought in the next big thing in the NFL. 6 consecutive pro bowls or something. We FINALLY had that pass rush. But we really had nothing to base that on.

I remember in the over/under thread, Carter's over/under was 10 sacks...and a lot of people, maybe 75% took the OVER! (I was called out for taking the under) Carter hasn't got as many sacks as we would have liked, but we also aren't blitzing as much, and he's getting to (pressuring) the QB a few times a game, which is good for any player.

I think if we didn't have unrealistic expectations for the guy, we wouldn't be heaping the defensive troubles on him. He's not an elite player, will never be an elite player, but he's a solid pass rusher.

One thing he doesn't do as well was Wynn was anchor against the run. We still are an above average D vs the run...but when you line up Holdman behind him, you have big problems.

I think the LB core should shoulder much of the blame for the D's struggles? Marcus Washington?! Lemar Marshall?! How could they be so good last year and completely fall off the face of the earth now? Where are you guys???

I'm happy with our FA wideout acquisitions... considering they're brand new to an offense that is also getting used to a new system, they've made the most of their opportunities with the ball... Lloyd hasn't really shown the tendency to drop easy passes (while catching the acrobatic ones in SF), knock on wood. ARE's punt returns have been excellent- something we haven't had in a long time.

I think if we didn't have unrealistic expectations for the guy, we wouldn't be heaping the defensive troubles on him.


if he didn't have a 30mill contract, he wouldn't have 30mill expectations thrust upon him.

someone please tell me that carter doesnt = mike mumala. a workout stud, that looks great at that combine, that really cant play in this league. carter is basically payed big money to get to the quarterback. hell, i havent seen him use the speed rush yet. always seems like he is locked up with some offensive lineman. and anyone making excuses for him better watch the next game, because it seems like every game is like groundhog day with him, the same old thing.

if he didn't have a 30mill contract, he wouldn't have 30mill expectations thrust upon him.Well, do we not dump 30 mil contracts on absoultely everyone?

It's hard to expect everyone to play up to their contract when their contracts are so blown up, so why do we as fans have such unrealistic expectations if everyone has a big deal?

Did anyone actually think we didn't overpay for these guys? I mean, I don't think it matters, but none of our acquistions were worth that much money. Not even close.