|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
This is it for Quincy Carter, the chance he's always wanted to prove that he's the right quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
After being ridiculed as a rookie and benched as a sophomore, Carter resurrected his career this season under the tutelage of coach Bill Parcells. He's gotten the Cowboys into the playoffs and can solidify his status with a big game Saturday night against Carolina.
``A lot of quarterbacks
can win 10 or 11 games in the regular season. I want to take it to the next
level,'' Carter said. ``I'm not satisfied just taking my team to the playoffs.
You want to always be known for winning playoff games. That's how franchise
quarterbacks are judged.''
Carter has earned Parcells' respect with a strong desire to improve backed up
by a first-to-arrive, last-to-leave work ethic.
Yet Carter also has sent Parcells into tirades because of poor decisions, usually when he throws an interception after trying to turn nothing into something big.
Carter's biggest weakness remains decision-making. Usually, it's the impulsive choice that ends in a turnover; sometimes, though, he'll become too tentative and opt to run or throw the ball out of bounds when he still has a chance to make a play.
Parcells talked Wednesday about the evolution of quarterbacks, saying all face a make-or-break period that separates those who can from those who can't.
``The players that wind up being successful long term in this league at quarterback, there always seems to be a game somewhere that they get through and come out the other side and then it's a different world,'' Parcells said. ``They're confident, they're growing, things are OK, but every once and a while it inundates them. Then they have to try to dig back out of that. Then, all of a sudden, bang, something happens and they ... come out the other side.''
The Carolina game would be the perfect time for Carter to have his breakthrough.
``I think it's been obvious to those that have watched him that he has grown,'' Parcells said. ``But this is another step.''
Of the 12 playoff starters, Carter is the only one with more interceptions (21) than touchdowns (17). St. Louis' Marc Bulger is the only playoff QB who has been intercepted more times, and that's only by one in 543 more throws. Carter has the third-lowest number of TDs.
Carter's QB rating of 71.4 is easily the lowest, and near the bottom of the league this season. Only Kerry Collins, Jeff Blake, David Carr, Drew Brees, Doug Johnson and Joey Harrington were worse.
Still, Carter did guide Dallas to 10 wins, matching their total for the two previous seasons. It's worth noting that over that span the Cowboys were 6-9 when Carter started and 4-12 when he didn't.
And, despite playing for his second head coach, third coordinator and still lacking a prime running threat, Carter threw for 3,302 yards this season, the fifth-most in team history.
Carter has also impressed the boss. Several weeks ago, owner Jerry Jones said he believes in ``what Quincy can do for the Cowboys for years to come.''
Jones, though, tempered his stance by saying ``as of today,'' which always seems to be the case with Carter. Good or bad, the public perspective of him is always shifting.
He can win a lot of fans if he performs Saturday night the way he has the last two times he's faced the Panthers.
Last season, he threw two touchdown passes in the final four minutes for a 14-13 victory. Six weeks ago, he set career highs for attempts and completions by going 29-of-43 for 254 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-20 victory. He helped seal it by completing his last nine throws.
He wants more of the same on Saturday .
``This is where I want to establish myself in this locker room,'' he said. ``When I do that, everything else will take care of itself.''
Back To Index Page