For Carter, a world of a difference
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
November 18, 2009
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| Thanks in large part to defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Redskins defensive end Andre Carter, left, has eight sacks this season. (Getty Images) |
After down year in '08, D-end has eight sacks
ASHBURN - The difference is subtle. Andre Carter focused on improving the speed of his hands and his feet, seeking that extra half-second advantage. It's meant, at times, a victorious pass rush.
The difference is not so subtle. The guy lining up next to him weighs 350 pounds with a wallet that's even heavier. Albert Haynesworth's presence is anything but subtle. And it's meant a lot less double teams than in the past.
"As a pass rusher, it's like a level of flattery," Carter said. "It was like, 'OK, they've got two on me.' It was a great experience."
Not that Carter, who leads the Redskins with eight sacks, doesn't get double teamed these days. He does; Denver did it at least five times Sunday, with two additional times having a running back chip on him as he was one-on-one with a tackle.
But in the fourth quarter, when Denver only wanted to drop back and throw, Carter was left one-on-one. He responded with a severe hit on quarterback Chris Simms as he unloaded an incompletion. Haynesworth was doubled on the play.
On his half-sack Sunday, Carter was helped when the tackle froze for a half-second anticipating a Rocky McIntosh blitz, who took two steps in and backed out. That left the outside for Carter to get around and he did. Incidentally, Haynesworth was single-teamed on this play as the design sprung Carter more than the personnel.
His second sack came against solo blocking, helped by a combination of good coverage downfield and persistent effort by Carter.
It's another reason why he's already doubled last season's sack total. Now he and rookie Brian Orakpo are the NFL's fourth-best tandem at sacking the quarterback, with 15. The Redskins are playing more zone, which gives the line an extra second to reach the passer; in man, throws often are made faster.
Add it up and Carter is flourishing.
"He had a very good year last year," defensive line coach John Palermo said of Carter. "He was very good against the run. But more opportunities have come up. Obviously having Albert there gives him and Brian more opportunities to get single blocked. It's a combination of things. There's no question Andre has worked extremely hard and deserves all the credit.
"He has a conscious about doing things the right way. That's why he's such a pleasure to be around."
This past summer, Carter focused heavily on speed, returning to training that he had done before the scouting combine in 2001. He also did mixed martial arts training at Studio Kicks in California. They focused on a variety of kicks. He used Filipino fighting sticks, which are about two feet long and an inch thick.
"It's hand movement and quickness, strikes, get the wrists working and forearms working," said Carter, who first started taking martial arts when he was 5 years old.
Redskins end Phillip Daniels said, "He is faster this year and he's using his hands a lot better. He's definitely put a lot of work into being where he's at now."
