Bucs choose Bruce Carter to replace Kwon Alexander (w/video)

TAMPA — Bruce Carter, signed to be the Bucs' middle linebacker in the spring, finally will get that chance, taking over a key position in the middle of Tampa Bay's defense for suspended rookie Kwon Alexander.

"Very excited," said Carter, who lost the starting job in preseason and has seen limited action as the backup strongside linebacker. "It's an opportunity. You've got to be prepared, got to be ready. Coach Lovie (Smith), the whole defense, the entire coaching staff, they expect me to go in there and make plays. They don't want any dropoff from when Kwon was in there. That's what I expect to do."

Carter, 27, who missed last week's game with a concussion, has played on only 12 percent of the defensive snaps, but he'll be in a major role Sunday against the Saints, counted on to relay defensive calls, have the defense in position and make plays himself.

"I'm a vet. I've been around for a while," said Carter, who as a Cowboy last season led NFL linebackers with five interceptions. "I know what's expected of me, and I'm going to go in and do it."

Carter signed a four-year, $17 million contract in free agency and was to be the starting middle linebacker. But Alexander, a fourth-round draft pick, seized the starting job with a strong summer and preseason.

Weakside linebacker Lavonte David, who practiced Friday after being held out with an ankle injury Thursday, said he feels fine and will play Sunday. He wants to find the same chemistry with Carter that he has had with Alexander, who will miss the next four games serving a suspension for violating the league's policies on performance-enhancing substances.

"When you get used to a guy like Kwon, with his attitude, his mentality when he's out there on the field, it's going to be difficult to adjust to somebody else," David said. "I have all the trust and faith in the world in Bruce. He's a veteran guy. He knows what he's doing. I really don't think there's going to be any dropoff. The main thing we really have to work on is our communication, just talking to each other to make the game easy for both of us."

Smith said Carter has had the right attitude, even while playing in a smaller role — he leads the team with nine special-teams tackles — and he's optimistic Carter will handle the starting role well Sunday and beyond.

"I feel very good," Smith said. "A good player isn't playing for us (for) a while, but you do have to move on. We didn't have a great defensive lineman last week in Gerald McCoy and the guys stepped up. Bruce Carter is a good football player. We brought him here to play football for us. Normally, if you keep doing things the right way, you get an opportunity. He's getting his opportunity, he's had a good week of practice and we're excited about what he's going to do."

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

Loading...

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

In choosing Carter for the middle, the Bucs can keep Danny Lansanah at strongside linebacker — he has played more than twice as many snaps as Carter as they shared that role. The Bucs used their three-linebacker base defense on 42 percent of the snaps against New Orleans in September, so both linebackers will be on the field and busy in Sunday's game.

Contact Greg Auman at gauman@tampabay.com and (813) 310-2690. Follow @gregauman.