Offences and defences look out, Duron Carter is coming

Get ready to see a lot more of Duron Carter.

After speculation that the team’s 1000-yard receiver might be released after a skirmish in practice, the word is now that he’ll be playing not just receiver, but defensive back in Friday’s game against the Stampeders.

Carter was practising with the first-team defence and the second-team offence on Wednesday and sporting a green jersey – which is the colour defensive players wear at practice.

Head coach Chris Jones said that Carter playing defensive back is necessary because of injuries to Kacy Rodgers, Sam Williams and Chris Lyles.

“He’s been practising there all year,” insisted Jones when asked about it after practice. “He’s played in different games this year for us defensively, he’s very instinctual and quite honestly I’m not sure he’s not a better (cornerback) than he is receiver.”

Carter said he originally began playing with the defence at practice when he joked to his coach that he could play defensive back. That turned into Carter spending some time with the DBs, coming in early and working with the coaches.

“I’m very comfortable (at defensive back),” Carter said.

Fans who think it is a bit weird to have the receiver – who had 231 yards receiving in last weeks game – in on defence and offence aren’t alone. Carter himself agrees.

“It seems strange but you got to put all our faith in the coaches. They know what they’re doing and I’m just going out there to ball,” he said.

When asked if Carter would be starting on offence, Jones simply stressed people will be seeing a lot of him.

“He’s going to be playing a lot of football. He is going to be a tired young man after this football game. That’s all it is,” Jones said.

Quarterback Kevin Glenn said, of course, he wants him all offence all the time, but he has to consider the overall picture.

“A guy with that type of talent, you want him full time, but the biggest thing is, and the most important thing is, what does the team need?” Glenn said.

For Carter, it’ll be his first time starting at defensive back and he admitted he’s never played the position before this year – not even in high school.

Still, Jones thinks Carter has the skills to play both ways.

“He’s a special athlete that has special attributes,” Jones said. “It’ll be interesting to see how well he’ll play in both phases.”