By Tom Orsborn : Thursday, October 3, 2013
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter held himself accountable in a revealing manner Thursday for the two touchdown passes he yielded in last week’s loss to San Diego.
“I would say it’s one of the worst games I’ve had since I was a Cowboy,” the third-year pro told ESPNDallas.com. “I just wasn’t focused. I didn’t come out with a lot of spark. That’s just something I have to learn from.”
The lesson apparently will continue into this weekend.
Dallas (2-2) appears poised to bench Carter in the base and nickel formations in favor of eighth-year pro Ernie Sims, who said he will start against Denver (4-0) Sunday after the two shared reps in practice.
Another indication there could be a change: Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin was noncommittal when asked who would start.
“We’re still looking,” Kiffin said. “Bruce is still playing and stuff like that. We’re going to need everybody.”
Carter admitted the apparent demotion has left him frustrated.
“I definitely want to play,” he said. “I don’t want to take nothing away from Ernie. Ernie is my guy. I love him like a brother. I want to be out there as much as he does. I feel like, I don’t know, it’s out of my hands, I’ll say that.”
Expectations were high for Carter entering this season, mainly because he was expected to thrive in Kiffin’s 4-3 scheme after putting together an impressive sophomore season that was cut short by injury.
But opinions shifted after he got burned twice for TDs by Chargers running back Danny Woodhead in the 30-21 loss. The Cowboys responded by pulling Carter and replacing him with Sims.
“I was just all over the place, and I kind of didn’t read my keys like I should have, and I didn’t zone in and focus,” Carter said.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter held himself accountable in a revealing manner Thursday for the two touchdown passes he yielded in last week’s loss to San Diego.
“I would say it’s one of the worst games I’ve had since I was a Cowboy,” the third-year pro told ESPNDallas.com. “I just wasn’t focused. I didn’t come out with a lot of spark. That’s just something I have to learn from.”
The lesson apparently will continue into this weekend.
Dallas (2-2) appears poised to bench Carter in the base and nickel formations in favor of eighth-year pro Ernie Sims, who said he will start against Denver (4-0) Sunday after the two shared reps in practice.
Another indication there could be a change: Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin was noncommittal when asked who would start.
“We’re still looking,” Kiffin said. “Bruce is still playing and stuff like that. We’re going to need everybody.”
Carter admitted the apparent demotion has left him frustrated.
“I definitely want to play,” he said. “I don’t want to take nothing away from Ernie. Ernie is my guy. I love him like a brother. I want to be out there as much as he does. I feel like, I don’t know, it’s out of my hands, I’ll say that.”
Expectations were high for Carter entering this season, mainly because he was expected to thrive in Kiffin’s 4-3 scheme after putting together an impressive sophomore season that was cut short by injury.
But opinions shifted after he got burned twice for TDs by Chargers running back Danny Woodhead in the 30-21 loss. The Cowboys responded by pulling Carter and replacing him with Sims.
“I was just all over the place, and I kind of didn’t read my keys like I should have, and I didn’t zone in and focus,” Carter said.
