 |
David Carr
|
INDIANAPOLIS — It seems evident to everyone, including Fresno State’s David
Carr, that the 6-foot-3, strong-armed quarterback will be the first player selected in the
2002 NFL draft by the expansion Houston Texans. Carr, who shadowed Trent Dilfer at Fresno
State and leans on the veteran for advice on marriage, football and diapers, sounds ready
to make the jump.
Q: Many players aren’t working out here. Why are you working out, and can you
improve your stock?
A: I’m working out because it is football season. This is a place to work out
against the best and show what you can do. I think I can improve my stock, or I hope so.
Some guys choose not to work out. A couple of people told me that shows you are trying to
hide something. I have nothing to hide. I can’t be on the football field and just be
standing and watching someone else play.
Q: Any doubt you are going to Houston?
A: I hope (I’m in) Houston. In my mind I don’t want to say for sure until Mr.
(Paul) Tagliabue says my name.
Q: You’ve seen how the process has been very slow for Tim Couch in Cleveland,
being the quarterback of an expansion team. Do you look at that at all?
A: Yeah. I think Tim Couch, and that whole organization, has done a good job. They
haven’t popped up in anyone’s face and won 10 or 15 games or anything, but they
have improved a bunch.
Q: Is it intimidating to go to a team that is starting from scratch?
A: Not with Tony Boselli at left tackle.
Q: How has following Trent Dilfer through Fresno State helped you?
A: The last couple of years, Trent has been my best friend in football. We spend a lot
of time together. He has a house in Fresno now, and we’ve been working out together
the last couple of weeks. He’s one of the main reasons I went to Fresno State. That
was a big factor. They still hang out in Fresno, and I can just pick up the phone if I
need to talk to him. More than anything, he has helped me on and off the field. He was
married coming out of college. He gives me a lot of tips, like send your wife flowers when
you go to the Combine. Just tips to keep the whole family happy.
A guy like that, you just pick his brain. Trent has won a Super Bowl, and he was with
Tampa Bay when they weren’t doing so well. I had to defend him in high school a lot,
but I’m used to that. I just listen a lot.
Q: Did you watch the expansion draft and smile when they took all of those offensive
linemen?
A: Any quarterback that goes into that situation, you feel good about it. Especially
with the guys they got.
Q: After being a success, how are you going to handle what could be a couple of
tough seasons?
A: It is going to be work. Just like when a marriage starts off. It’s not easy,
but it gets better. I’ve been married three years now, and it is pretty darn good.
I’m excited for the work we’re going to have to put in.
Q: Can you play right away?
A: I don’t see why not. I think it is all going to be mental, much more than
physical. I hear about the speed of the game from a lot of players and coaches, but I
really believe that it will be more mental than anything.
Q: How much do you think the maturity of having a wife and family has helped you?
A: I might be more grounded than anybody else. Just the maturity level. I hear a lot
about maybe I’m mature than everybody else because I’ve changed more diapers
than anybody else. I have to take care of my wife and son. If that makes me more mature on
the field, so be it.
Q: How will your game translate to the NFL?
A: I think I’ll adapt well. Hopefully I’ll bring the same things I did at
Fresno. We ran a good pro-style offense. I did a lot of three-step, five-step; I dropped
back a lot. We didn’t run many options.
Q: Have you talked to (offensive coordinator) Chris Palmer at all?
A: Me and coach Palmer talk about every other day on the phone. More than anything,
he’s been a big help through all of this. Guys like Rob Johnson, Tim Couch, they
still call him for advice. Having a guy like that, as well as Trent Dilfer, it hasn’t
been bad going through this process.
Q: Did anyone try to talk you out of working out?
A: My agent. And a few coaches. Not pro coaches, but a few college guys.
Q: What kinds of football advice has coach Palmer talked about?
A: He’s talked about several things. He watches a lot of film on guys he’s
looked at, coached, brought in in the past. He’s giving me tips. He goes through all
of my games and tells me little things that if he were coaching me, he could improve on.
I’m anxious to get to the NFL to see what kind of quarterback technique stuff I can
improve on.
Q: Would it help you if the Texans do bring in a veteran quarterback?
A: I think so. That is their plan. They have talked about that with me. They asked who
I would favor, dropped some names by me. That would be the ideal situation.
Q: What would going No. 1 (in the draft) mean to you, and would you be shocked if
you are not?
A: After all this, I think I would be a little shocked if I wasn’t selected No. 1.
But I think the most important thing isn’t being picked No. 1, but being considered
No. 1 down the road.
To Scouting Combine main page |
