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July 8, 2011
Cowboys' Carter not fazed by next phase
When a scandal rocked the University of North Carolina football program in 2010, linebacker Bruce Carter knew he could no longer be an introvert. The Tar Heels were a legitimate national championship contender before seven starters were suspended, 13 in all.
Carter said he reported to practice each day wondering what bad news his coaches would announce. But in the midst of that scandal and subsequent 0-2 start, Carter found his voice. And that carried a lot of weight with the Dallas Cowboys when they decided to select him 40th overall in April's draft.
"I had to speak," Carter said in a phone interview on Friday morning. "I was used to leading by example, but it was time for me to be heard from. I told all those walk-ons and freshmen that none of them came to college to be backups. It should be everyone's goal to start, so I told them their opportunity had arrived."
In the third game of the season, North Carolina fell behind Rutgers 10-0 and appeared to be headed for its first 0-3 start since 2003. But Carter had a blocked punt and an interception that led to two scores and the Tar Heels won the game, 17-13.
"That's the game where it really hit me that I could play in the NFL," said Carter. "I just came away from that experience with a lot more confidence."
Carter's 2010 season ended abruptly when he tore his ACL in December. He wasn't able to participate in the NFL combine and the draft experts stopped talking about him as a potential first-rounder.
Convinced that Carter would someday be a sure-fire starter at inside linebacker, the Cowboys decided he was worth the risk. But the maddening thing is the NFL lockout prevented the organization from overseeing Carter's rehabilitation. They can only talk to the medical staff at North Carolina, where Carter has remained for the past six months.
The Cowboys definitely plan to begin training camp with Carter on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. They don't want to rush the process at all, but there's an expectation that Carter will be able to be a key contributor on special teams and in sub-packages at some point during the season. There are numerous YouTube clips of Carter blocking kicks at North Carolina, and he's even done a Punt-blocking 101 video in which he reveals how he's able to blow by blockers on his way to the punter.
Carter says he's "85 percent" recovered from his knee injury. The former high school quarterback has been running a lot of wide-receiver routes in order to test his knee.
"I'm able to squat over 400 pounds right now," Carter said. "I'm working on small lunges and a lot of small mechanical things. I'm pretty much at full speed."
Carter said he doesn't have a Cowboys playbook to study, but he did spend about 30 minutes with new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan during a visit to Valley Ranch. He spends some of his down time watching tape of his favorite NFL linebackers, Jon Beason, Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis.
"Willis is sort of rangy like me and he's able to use his full potential from sideline to sideline," said Carter. "With Ray, I just admire how much passion he brings to the field. He's a guy that everyone listens to, and I tried to adopt some of that in North Carolina."
Carter says it's been strange not have any contact with his new teammates. The only Cowboys player he's heard from is former Tar Heel Jesse Holley, a reserve wide receiver.
"It's been way different than I expected," he said. "But I've just tried to act like I'm preparing for another season at UNC. And once the lockout ends, I'll be excited to be with my new coaches and teammates. I'm just sort of waiting like everyone else."
Fortunately for Carter, he seems to flourish in chaotic times.
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/0...nding_cowboys.html?blockID=537558&feedID=3799
Cowboys' Carter not fazed by next phase
When a scandal rocked the University of North Carolina football program in 2010, linebacker Bruce Carter knew he could no longer be an introvert. The Tar Heels were a legitimate national championship contender before seven starters were suspended, 13 in all.
Carter said he reported to practice each day wondering what bad news his coaches would announce. But in the midst of that scandal and subsequent 0-2 start, Carter found his voice. And that carried a lot of weight with the Dallas Cowboys when they decided to select him 40th overall in April's draft.
"I had to speak," Carter said in a phone interview on Friday morning. "I was used to leading by example, but it was time for me to be heard from. I told all those walk-ons and freshmen that none of them came to college to be backups. It should be everyone's goal to start, so I told them their opportunity had arrived."
In the third game of the season, North Carolina fell behind Rutgers 10-0 and appeared to be headed for its first 0-3 start since 2003. But Carter had a blocked punt and an interception that led to two scores and the Tar Heels won the game, 17-13.
"That's the game where it really hit me that I could play in the NFL," said Carter. "I just came away from that experience with a lot more confidence."
Carter's 2010 season ended abruptly when he tore his ACL in December. He wasn't able to participate in the NFL combine and the draft experts stopped talking about him as a potential first-rounder.
Convinced that Carter would someday be a sure-fire starter at inside linebacker, the Cowboys decided he was worth the risk. But the maddening thing is the NFL lockout prevented the organization from overseeing Carter's rehabilitation. They can only talk to the medical staff at North Carolina, where Carter has remained for the past six months.
The Cowboys definitely plan to begin training camp with Carter on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. They don't want to rush the process at all, but there's an expectation that Carter will be able to be a key contributor on special teams and in sub-packages at some point during the season. There are numerous YouTube clips of Carter blocking kicks at North Carolina, and he's even done a Punt-blocking 101 video in which he reveals how he's able to blow by blockers on his way to the punter.
Carter says he's "85 percent" recovered from his knee injury. The former high school quarterback has been running a lot of wide-receiver routes in order to test his knee.
"I'm able to squat over 400 pounds right now," Carter said. "I'm working on small lunges and a lot of small mechanical things. I'm pretty much at full speed."
Carter said he doesn't have a Cowboys playbook to study, but he did spend about 30 minutes with new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan during a visit to Valley Ranch. He spends some of his down time watching tape of his favorite NFL linebackers, Jon Beason, Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis.
"Willis is sort of rangy like me and he's able to use his full potential from sideline to sideline," said Carter. "With Ray, I just admire how much passion he brings to the field. He's a guy that everyone listens to, and I tried to adopt some of that in North Carolina."
Carter says it's been strange not have any contact with his new teammates. The only Cowboys player he's heard from is former Tar Heel Jesse Holley, a reserve wide receiver.
"It's been way different than I expected," he said. "But I've just tried to act like I'm preparing for another season at UNC. And once the lockout ends, I'll be excited to be with my new coaches and teammates. I'm just sort of waiting like everyone else."
Fortunately for Carter, he seems to flourish in chaotic times.
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/0...nding_cowboys.html?blockID=537558&feedID=3799
