Mike Shanahan said the Washington Redskins got exactly what they were hoping for when they replaced left outside linebacker Andre Carter in the starting lineup with usual backup Lorenzo Alexander, and moved Carter to their nickel package.
With Alexander in the starting lineup, they got a better pass coverage linebacker, and his abilities allowed them to be more creative with their schemes. Lorenzo showed they made the right move on the first play of the game. Alexander stopped Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy dead in his tracks right after the running back made a catch at the line of scrimmage, bringing on second-and-10.
Later in the game, Alexander deflected a Kevin Kolb pass on a two-point conversion attempt that would’ve pulled the Eagles within 17-14 with 3:31 left had the ball gotten to Jason Avant.
Carter, meanwhile, was fresher in blitzing situations and was active in the Redskins’ nickel packages. He recorded three tackles a sack for a loss of seven yards and forced a fumble as well. Carter this season made the move from defensive end to linebacker and admittedly has struggled both in pass coverage and in getting used to rushing out of a two-point stance. But on Sunday, Carter was used more as a defensive end than linebacker, and the results spoke for themselves.
“It was great. It was a little bit of a change-up,”
Carter said of being able to rush out of a three-point stance again. “Every now and then, I would rush from a two-point stance, but mostly I just kind of was going back to my roots a little bit. I discussed it with my coaches ahead of time, and they were like, ‘OK, just be smart. Some times you want to keep the opponent guessing.’
But just going out there and to make plays was fun.”
Carter only two days earlier had talked about his aim to remain professional and positive despite struggling while trying to master the linebacker position. Perhaps it was his attitude that convinced defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to reward him by allowing him to spend some time at his old position on Sunday.
Alexander, meanwhile, entered his first career start having expressed increased comfort in the system. He has credited his high school days when he played multiple positions on both sides of the ball, as well as special teams experience the last three years with his smoother transition. The left outside linebacker spot wasn’t the only position Alexander played against Philadelphia.
He also lined up at right outside linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle. He had the biggest special teams hit of the night, drilling Jorrick Calvin for a stop that Mike Shanahan described as “one of the best hits I’ve been around since I’ve been in the NFL. Just an explosion on the sidelines. That was very, very special.”
“My coaches trust me,”
said Alexander, who prior to this season had played defensive tackle, defensive end, tight end and even guard for Washington. “I feel like I have a great feel for the game-plan, and it’s fun. It allows me to do a lot of different things, which I love to do.”
On starting, Alexander -- undrafted out of Cal (the same school as Carter) in 2006 -- said: It’s great. They told me on Wednesday I’d be starting and just be rotating with Dre like we have been doing. It really doesn’t matter who starts, though. Drey did a great job in nickel. I did my thing [with the first team], we just have to continue to do that and work with each other.”
Carter, a ninth-year veteran, said he had no disappointment over by being replaced in the starting lineup by Alexander. Given the wide array of packages Haslett utilizes, Carter still received extensive playing time, and also was on the field as the same time as Alexander at times.
“It was no disappointment. It doesn’t downplay the type of player that I am,”
Carter said. “I’m still a great player, and if it was just for this day, or even if it’s for the rest of the season, I’ll be in the rotation and whatever happens, I’m going to be a playmaker.”
“I went out there, had fun, got that sack and it was a blessing,”
Carter added. “Zo did a great job. He’s always been a professional. You look at him and he’s always been seen as a utility guy. He can do everything. He can cover kicks, special teams playmaker, but now he’s starting to make a name for himself as a great linebacker.”
