Report: Bucs Will Court LB Bruce Carter
March 10th, 2015
It looks like Lovie Smith has gotten a thumbs up from his old pal Rod Marinelli, the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.
The Bucs, per FOX Sports, will bring in Cowboys starting strong side linebacker Bruce Carter, the former 2011 second-round draft pick out of North Carolina.
Carter, 27, battled a thigh injury last season, making eight starts in 13 games.
Perhaps Lovie Smith is thinking takeaways, as Carter had a whopping five interceptions last season, tops in the NFC.
Joe would love to see the Bucs upgrade their linebacker corps. No, there’s no evidence the Bucs view Carter as a potential middle linebacker to departed replace Mason Foster.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:22 pm
If he stays healthy, he is a beast!!! Sign him immediately.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:23 pm
My gut tells me this is a bad move to sign Carter.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Yes! Yes! Yes! Ran a 4.39 40 yard dash. 5 interceptions in 13 games. Only 27. Very good pickup. Sign here _________.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Wake us up when someone is signed.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Not sure how adding him over foster would benefit
March 10th, 2015 at 7:36 pm
Can he play on the OL? LOVIE, LOVIE, LOVIE, we heard how much you learned in your one year off…
PLEASE DO something about the OL and not wait to find two starters through the draft.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:36 pm
He’s faster than Foster and has excelled in Cover 2.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:37 pm
Doesn’t make sense – Carter is an outside linebacker and, with Lavonte David as the weak-side LB, we could only use him as the strong-side LB, a position which in on the field for only about 50% of the plays.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Yep Lovie always had bad o-lines in Chicago.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Move him to MLB.
Then you have a fast, ball-hawking MLB for todays faster game.
Who says Lovie can’t innovate.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:43 pm
A little late on this article. Heard about this at 4:45
March 10th, 2015 at 7:43 pm
Still no o-line help? Lovie is useless
March 10th, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Some have speculated that we would move Danny L to M LB if we sign Carter. We’ll see.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:44 pm
How about reporting Henry Melton is coming for a visit same with Stefen wisneiwski??? I also like the idea of going after Taylor Mays
March 10th, 2015 at 7:49 pm
We’re talking to Wisneiwski’s camp! Yes!
March 10th, 2015 at 7:53 pm
Courting and signing are two totally different things. Hopefully it works out.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Winsneiski? If Oakland has the most cap space at this
Point now. Why wouldnt they keep him? I hope to land Morgan and Carter too
March 10th, 2015 at 8:00 pm
@Jacko101 Raiders went and signed a new center already in Rodney Hudson, no spot for Wisneiwski anymore
March 10th, 2015 at 8:08 pm
we did have success converting Quarles from outside to the Mike linebacker under Dungy……..
March 10th, 2015 at 8:13 pm
Yes please
March 10th, 2015 at 8:26 pm
MLB, OLB, who gives a sh it. Take a look at the depth chart for LB (or any position for that matter). We have nobody. NOBODY! Unless the Bucs are able to get some serious help we can kiss Lavonte bye bye. Get Bruce Carter. Then get Paul Dawson in the 2nd this year.
Henry Melton would be fantastic! He would be a HUGE upgrade over Akeem Spence. I was pounding the table for him last year.
March 10th, 2015 at 8:31 pm
ColoradoBuc Says:
March 10th, 2015 at 7:37 pm
Well, he becomes the MLB on passing downs. Duh. This ain’t rocket science.
March 10th, 2015 at 8:39 pm
also
via rotoworld:
Henry Melton – DL – Free Agent
Free agent DT Henry Melton will visit the Bucs.
Melton, 28, played three years under coach Lovie Smith in Chicago and went to a Pro Bowl. Coming off a torn ACL, Melton notched five sacks across 433 snaps for the Cowboys last season. He should be even closer to 100 percent in 2015.
Related: Buccaneers
March 10th, 2015 at 9:04 pm
ruh-roh
via rotoworld:
Bruce Carter – LB – Free Agent
Free agent LB Bruce Carter is expected to visit the Texans.
It sounds like he’ll meet with the Bucs first, then head to Houston if Tampa Bay’s price isn’t right. Whereas Carter would play strong-side linebacker with the Buccaneers, he would become a 3-4 inside linebacker on the Texans.
Related: Texans
March 10th, 2015 at 10:03 pm
I spent an hour in madden 15 looking at attributes like speed, agility, play recognition, zone coverage, tackling with a touch of finesse move for the occasional rush to find a perfect OLB. Eventually stumbled upon Bruce Carter, made the trade in my annual Bucs franchise. Here we are and he’s not leaving without a contract. This reminds me of the Major wright signing. Experience in Lovies Sytem. He’s better a player tho. Telling you now this kid can excel. And of course he’s most comparable to Lavonte in madden. Perfect for our system. And yes I know madden ain’t real but attributes are based directly off accurate translation from on field situations. Which explains Bruce Carter having better catching ratings than 90 percent of running backs in madden. Just thought that was an ironic story
March 10th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
@Broy. Lol bro how old are u?
March 10th, 2015 at 11:21 pm
So, we are kicking Foster to the curb without a better replacement. Sounds familiar. Incompetent Lovie and his lousy lapdog GM are really effing stupid. It is not tough to see that these bozos have failed to improve this football team.
March 11th, 2015 at 12:06 am
Madden rankings are DEADLY accurate. Always have been. I’m shocked that all 32 teams don’t use them to make all personnel/play calling decisions…
March 11th, 2015 at 12:25 am
LOL DraftJameis…don’t pick on the guy. He’s a Winstonite afterall. They’re protected don’t cha know?lol
I don’t play Madden anymore, but I get his point.
He also acknowledged that it’s pretty much meaningless.
Robert 9 on the other hand treats Madden as if it’s the bible.
March 11th, 2015 at 1:05 am
You people need to cheer for Glennon. He had a better quarterback rating last year than Cam Newton(3rd best in NFC South).
March 11th, 2015 at 1:11 am
If Carter is a decent LB, why isn’t Marinelli and the Cowboys trying to keep him in Dallas?
March 11th, 2015 at 1:23 am
If the Bucs switch to a 3-4 then Bruce Carter could be a hybrid. ~WE NEED A PUNTER let’s trade our 2nd round pick to Denver for Aqib Talib to secure our backfield
March 11th, 2015 at 2:08 am
I like this Idea, Worst case scenario he can be moved to SAM and let Lansanah have the Mike position, Still feel thats the best way to go.
Carter has a bit more overall talent compared to Foster but his health is my biggest red flag. I am still displeased we didn’t bring Foster back to a reasonable contract to compete and or be quality depth. You don’t just let young, quality talent, that YOU drafted just walk away like this. I mean Lovie knowns his LBer’s so maybe he just doesn’t see the potential I do in the man. Being he has been around Nickerson, Neece, Quarles, Briggs, Urlacher, and best of all Brooks much of his career I will put faith in his judgment on this manner. But I’m worried it will be a Michael Bennet situation all over.