Bucs Sign New Guard, Activate Aqib Talib
September 14th, 2010
In an effort to reinforce the left side of the offensive line to try to protect franchise quarterback Josh Freeman, the Bucs signed to their practice squad perhaps the best pass-blocking guard in college football last year, Brandon Carter.
The man who likes to paint his face like Halloween each game, Carter, playing for Texas Tech, never allowed a sack to manbeast Ndamukong Suh or his new teammate, Gerald McCoy, while playing for the Red Raiders, so reports good guy Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times.
Texas Tech is in the Big XII conference along with Nebraska (Suh) and Oklahoma (McCoy). Carter was first-team All-Big XII last season and was recently released from the Saints practice squad.
In an exclusive interview with Joe this spring, Carter told Joe the Bucs flew him to Tampa to work him out and to pick his brain about who the Bucs should draft, McCoy or Suh.
Bucs general manager “Mark Dominik, the very last question was, he asks me, ‘So, you played against two of the best defensive tackles in the country. If you were drafting, who would you pick, Suh or McCoy?’” Carter said.
Carter answered Dominik’s question, but he wouldn’t tip off Joe what the answer was.
“That’s just between me and him,” Carter said. “I don’t want anyone to have any hurt feelings out there. One of those guys might be a teammate next year.”
Also in the same interview, Carter told Joe that Bucs offensive line coach Pete Mangurian told him “there were three things they like in an offensive lineman: tough, smart and love to play football. They said they can tell from the film I fit all three.”
To make room for Talib the Bucs released defensive end Erik Lorig. To create an opening on the practice squad for Carter, the Bucs cut loose punter Brent Bowden.
September 14th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Well he is smart enough not to answer the Suh vs McCoy question…that and he didn’t make a 53 or practice squad…..
yawnnnnn……
September 14th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Lol- awesome!! Carter is my kinda lineman. This guys 100% mauler mentality!! Hate ta see lorig leave, though
September 14th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
i mean if he was so good why is he not on a team…till now…hope it works out for us..but again i dont get it
September 14th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
i guess that moves are great, i just hope we can see a way to sign lorig for practice squad, but all this looks fine for me
September 14th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
This is a pretty solid signing by the Bucs. You can never have enough good offensive linemen. And like you Aldo I hope that the Bucs can sign Lorig for the practice squad. I really did like him.
It will be great to see Talib back on the field against the Panthers.
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
September 14th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Hey Carter you can have my locker spot and all my face paint I left in Tampa…
September 14th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
First, signing players to your practice squad is a good way to scout talent. If you don’t like them then you just let them go and pick another one. In this case, while it sounds good you have to wonder why the Saints gave up on him. Hope it works out for us though as we need more competition on the offensive line.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
maybe cuz the saints have a great OL, is not so easy stay there in that position, just my tought
September 14th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
By the way, good stuff there Joe. Kind of the inside scoop on this guy.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Thanks Dew. He was a cool guy to talk to.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
This guy looks like he just escaped from the insane asylum.Should fit in fine.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
A thought Joe. I got to thinking about Suh last night so looked up his game stats for the first game. He had one tackle and one assist. No sacks. It might be kind of interesting to compare the seasons of Suh and McCoy this year weekly since there was so much speculation who was better.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Dew:
Not sure if that is fair. The two play far different schemes and different schedules and tackling stats are terribly subjective. In fact, Kareem Huggins was credited with a tackle and an assist this week and he claimed he had neither.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Regardless, people are going to compare.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Haha I like it. Guy looks like a crazy man… I’m sure he and trueblood will hit it off.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
I like Dew’s idea of a Suh vs. McCoy Meter, even though it’ll be fodder for the haters.
It’s never bad to be taking a guy that is on the cusp of the Super Bowl Champs’ roster. Remember, we’re last in the Flower Rankings.
If he never gave up a sack to Suh or McCoy, then he sounds decent enough for the practice squad.
I heard he’s just gonna live in the ship in lieu of a salary…
September 14th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Texas Tech had an awesome O-line and he was a beast. I like the signing.
September 14th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Good article on this guy.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/352612-2010-nfl-combine-texas-techs-brandon-carter-leaves-facepaint-behind
September 14th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Awesome signing, I like this guy! But yet why wasn’t he drafted or signed as a free agent? Is there something we don’t know? T
September 14th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
So…We now have a Sith Lord? Awesome!
September 14th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I was wrong. Suh had one tackle and it was a sack. Here is a comparison.
McCoy makes NFL debut Week 1: Bucs DL Gerald McCoy, who was taken third overall in the 2010 NFL draft, made his regular season debut against the Browns in Week 1. He made an impact, totaling three solo tackles and forcing one fumble.
Suh gets sack in first game: Lions rookie DT Ndamukong Suh played well in his first NFL game on Sunday at Chicago. Suh had one tackle, but it went for a sack.
September 14th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Here’s his draft grade from Scouts, Inc. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/25367/brandon-carter#
For those who don’t have insider, he’s ranked as basically average, over-all a late round talent. He seems to play better than expected based on his measured traits, but they questioned his dedication to training and conditioning. History of injuries (though he never missed a game), above average production, below average intangibles. Average awareness, toughness, pass and run blocking.
They suggest he may be a “diamond in the rough” with development possibilities.
September 14th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Another tomato can.
September 14th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Donald Penn was a rough stone with possibilities too. You can’t teach heart, and this kid has that.
And before they all write “Road Grater”, it’s “Road Grader”. Just wanted to clear that up.
September 14th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
@ Eric – a “tomato can” is someone who has kicked around the NFL and is just a body. As Carter is an undrafted rookie, he misses that definition. He didn’t stick with New Orleans as they have the best Guards in the NFL and depth too. Something we do not have. I’m willing to take a chance on him on our practice squad to see what he might develop into. That is where we discovered Stylze, Penn & Spurlock.
You are just a troll and a hater that adds nothing to this board but frustration and negativity. You are not a fan. Go away.
September 14th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
We keep picking up guys I wanted them to take in the late rounds of the draft…Blount, Briscoe,..now Carter…..funny..don’t know if any of them will pan out but no harm in trying to find some developemental talent there…doesn’t cost anything and that’s what the practice squad is for…hope the guy sticks.
September 14th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Nice insurance policy with no downside risk.
September 14th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
6’6″,320ibs- slightly psychotic- what’s not ta like!! Bring back the face paint!! Here in the Pirate nation, we embrace Crazy! By the way, bring extra face paint for your new friend, Mr.Trueblood. You two should get along!
September 14th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Ok, after the bucs release him will he qualify as a tomato can?
The Saints doing it wasn’t good enough for the Spirit of 76. Or the fact that nobody else in the league wanted the guy.
Face it, he’s a tomato can.
September 14th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Love this signing…
September 14th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Anyone figure out where on nfl.com you can watch the replay of the bucs game I can’t finf it anywhere
September 15th, 2010 at 4:35 am
http://gamerewind.nfl.com/nflgr/servlets/inmarket?id=TB
September 15th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Eric…Why are you such a sour puss?? Her is a list of people you would casll ‘tomato cans”, and I know you can find a list of undrafted guys that never made it too. Maybe try looking at life in a better life, maybe you would be a happy guy for it. Check out Priest Holmes as a great example, or just simply look at Penn. Wes Welker is another great example.
http://www.sportsuntapped.com/the-10-best-undrafted-players-in-the-nfl-17639/
September 15th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
You guys (eric) need to realize that just because someone is “within” the
the NFL, doesn’t mean that they have the highest football IQ. Let me
draw your attention to Jerry Jones. Look at their totally worthless OL. Or how about those responsible for drafting vince young. I could go on.
If you really look at the draft bust list, you will find that is rather long.
September 15th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
One other thing Eric. When you don’t have adaquate information when speaking of brandon carter, that that catagorizes you as ignorant. Not stupid but ignorant. You have know idea of brandons situation.
September 15th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
m.riley ,
THANKS!!! how did you find that rewind website?? will it work for every week or just last weeks game?
September 15th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Bucs4ever:
There’s a 72-hour window to watch the game after it is over.
September 15th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
David…I agree, but Vince Young looked pretty darn good last weekend…He had a 148.9 passer rating, or something along those lines. Eric is just one of those sour apples that gets off on ripping the Bucs to see the rest of us react. He used to bring some good points up, but recently he has gone to the bitch just to bitch category. I for one like this pick up. This kid played great in college, and sometimes great players slip through the cracks.
September 15th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
“Sour Puss”. LOL, How entertaining McBuc.
Eric went to the Game. He loves the Bucs, just like Radio Mushmouth does. It is just his personality and they love to stir up $h!t. I guarantee he was cheering the Bucs all day, and smiling, yelling “Tampa Bay” on the way back to the parking lot.
If the Bucs keep winning, eric will come out of the closet.
September 17th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
mcbuc,
young is a guy who will dazzle ya here and there
but they will never going to reach the Elway/Aikman caliber QB.
A superbowl is not in the cards for young. And I think the talent scouts thought he would. Ya know?
September 19th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Carter made an observation about Mike Leach’s coaching skills, or lack thereof….although Leach was fired before the playoffs, he still had some clout with the NFL drafters and gave some derrogatory information about Brandon. You know how it is in America–everyone is guilty until they can prove themselves innocent. He was not cut from the Saints practice team, but left there to come to Tampa. I think he will be a great asset to the Bucs.