The big-name pass-rushing defensive end landed in a new city, loaded with a large contract and grand expectations. And then nothing happened; at least not right away.
So Phillip Daniels spent his first summer in Chicago fielding questions about his production. Until, that is, he recorded four sacks in his first five regular-season games.
It’s a tale he’s told new teammate Andre Carter several times.
Problem is, Carter, who signed a six-year, $30-million contract with Washington in the offseason, has carried a quiet preseason into the regular season. Through two games, Carter has seven tackles, no sacks and two quarterback pressures. Not that the Redskins say they’re unhappy; assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams is happy with Carter’s performance against the run. They also like his ability to drop into coverage, despite his holding penalty last week.
“We don’t see any problems at all,” Williams said.
In San Francisco, Carter was considered a decent pass rusher, not a great one. After all, Carter has one season with more than 6.5 sacks; he had 12.5 in 2002. He had a back injury in 2004 that limited him to seven games and played linebacker last season.
“I don’t see the explosion or burst,” one NFL talent evaluator said.
For a speed rusher, that’s not a good thing. But the Redskins counter by saying teams are using more quick-drop throws and few seven-step play-action passes. Williams said Carter has been double-teamed around 60 percent of the time. However, against Dallas, that wasn’t the case, though the Cowboys featured more quick passes. Still, Carter has not won his one-on-one situations — nor have any of his linemates — as the Redskins have only two sacks.
“The numbers aren’t there,” Carter said. “But I don’t look at myself as far as stats and numbers. I’m a defensive end in Gregg Williams’ defense. Whatever he asks me to do I do.”
Daniels said Carter told him some of the early criticism has bothered him. Which is why Daniels told him, “Stop reading the papers.” Carter talks to his father, ex-Redskins line coach and former NFL defensive end Ruben Carter.
“Money puts a bull’s-eye on you,” Daniels said. “But Andre is a good pass rusher.”
With Houston’s shaky offensive line next up, Carter’s numbers could get healthy in a hurry.
“I’ll keep coming and coming,” he said. “The important thing is a win. I’d rather have four, five, six sacks and go to the playoffs then to have 12 sacks and not go. You have to look yourself in the mirror and ask, ‘Am I getting better, during practices and games?’ I can say yeah.”
Week 3 Notes
» Running back Clinton Portis said he knows what Houston can expect Sunday.
“They can expect a full-throttle Portis,” he said.
Portis practiced Thursday, his second straight day in full pads. He said he took a hit on his left shoulder in practice Wednesday and it didn’t bother him.
And he’s confident he’ll be more prepared for the pounding this week than in the opener against Minnesota, when he did not take any contact the week before the game.
“Everyone was a little worried about that and that’s the reason I had time off,” he said. “I don’t expect it to hamper me.”
The Redskins could use a healthy Portis to ignite their 25th-ranked offense.
“If they give you an opportunity to carry the team on your back, you want to do it,” he said,”hurt shoulder or not.”
» Cornerback Shawn Springs (groin/abdomen) will not play, Redskins assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams said Thursday. An MRI showed no major tear of Springs’ groin. Defensive tackle Joe Salave’a (calf) has improved, but remains questionable, according to director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer.
» The Redskins have lost 10 straight games to AFC opponents and are 0-8 against them since Joe Gibbs returned. The last AFC team Washington beat was New England in Week 4 of 2003 — and the Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl that season.
» In his last nine games against NFC teams, Texans quarterback David Carr has completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,922 yards, 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions for a 92.0 passer rating.
