Andre Carter: Oakland Raiders Make Smart Move in Signing Veteran DE

Andre Carter has signed with the Oakland Raiders, and it is a great acquisition for the Silver and Black.

Per Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle:

The defensive end signed with the Raiders on Wednesday, potentially an answer to their pass-rushing problems.

The Raiders worked out Carter twice, once in training camp.

"I was ready the first workout and they saw what they needed to see," Carter said. "They were just honest with me saying, 'Hey, we're still kind of figuring out what needs to be done, but continue to stay in shape.'"

With that said, let's look at a few reasons why Carter's addition to Oakland was a smart move for Dennis Allen's squad.

 

Defensive Line Depth

It never hurts to have depth at any position, but perhaps none more important than along the defensive line. For one, it adds to a team's pass rush in a quarterback-dominated league and provides personnel options depending on the game situation.



With other veterans like Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, Matt Shaughnessy and Lamarr Houston, Carter will thrive in the rotation. After all, the Raiders also rank just No. 20 against the run and No. 26 against the pass.

Allowing an average of 381 total yards per game so far, Oakland has also only recorded three sacks. So whether it's stuffing more against the run or applying more consistent quarterback pressure to help the coverage, Carter will significantly benefit the Raiders defense.

 

Proven Experience

Before having his 2011 season cut short, Carter was enjoying arguably his best year as a pro. Having accumulated 52 tackles and 10 sacks, Carter also forced two fumbles and had five run stuffs.



Though only playing in fewer than 14 full games, he was consistently making plays in the backfield for Bill Belichick. As last season progressed, the New En...

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