INDIANAPOLIS — Cornerback T.J. Carrie, signed this week by the Indianapolis Colts to a free agent deal after six seasons with the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns, today spoke with local reporters on a video conference call. What did he have to say about his fit in the Colts' defense, Kenny Moore II, his expanding role as a veteran leader and much more?
Here are the top takeaways from that conversation, which you can listen to in its entirety above:
» Carrie can line up both inside and outside at cornerback, but he prefers to make plays from the slot: In his six-year NFL career, Carrie has been able to carve out a solid career as a versatile cornerback, lining up all over the field and collecting 331 total tackles (12 for a loss) with five interceptions, 43 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, two sacks and five quarterback hits in 92 total games with 50 starts to his credit.
But asked Wednesday where he prefers to line up, Carrie said he loves making plays from the nickel position, mainly due to the fact that nickel corners are often afforded a little bit more flexibility in terms of the things they're asked to do.
"I would say inside, only because you get to blitz — there's other opportunities there for you playing in that inside position," Carrie said. "But I love playing outside as well. It's something that I pride myself on, being able to really have a unique craft in being able to do both in times of need. There have been times in games where I'm playing all outside, and then something happens (and) I've gotta go inside, or I'm playing all inside and I have to go outside. So it's definitely a unique situation where you have to hone your craft on both abilities."
Colts general manager Chris Ballard had mentioned earlier in the offseason that the team was looking for possibilities to fill in as the backup nickel cornerback, behind starter Kenny Moore II, and Carrie seems to be an ideal candidate to compete for that job. Carrie has averaged more than 350 snaps per season lined up in the slot over his six-year NFL career, including 326 snaps with the Browns last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
"I can say from the inside perspective you just get a little bit more opportunity to do more exotic things on the defensive field than outside," Carrie said. "So I would say (I prefer) that."
» Speaking of Moore II, Carrie is looking forward to the opportunity to learn from one of the top nickel corners in the league: Whether it's in coverage, knocking down and picking off passes, or in the second level being physical and making tackles, or even at the line of scrimmage outworking offensive linemen and getting to the quarterback, Moore II is one of the more dynamic slot corners the league has to offer.
In his three-year career, Moore II has collected 176 total tackles (10 for a loss) with six interceptions, 19 passes defensed, four sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery; only eight players have put up those kind of numbers in the NFL since 2017 (including Colts teammate Darius Leonard), and Moore II is the only cornerback on that list.
A student of the game, Carrie was clearly aware of Moore II's prowess before joining the Colts, and now that they're teammates, he wants to take advantage of the opportunity to see the game from Moore II's perspective.
"He's been able to do it (at) at really high level, and definitely somebody that has done it, proved himself to be able to do it, is considered a top-tier in that position," Carrie said of Moore II. "So it'll be interesting to learn some of the things that he does really well and see how we all can fit within the defense in terms of coaches always finding ways to get all of the guys that they can onto the field. So definitely he's done it (at) at high level and he's continuing to do it."
» Carrie definitely already grasps the way defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus wants his players to attack the football: Carrie got an early education from former Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams about the value of effort from all 11 players in a unit at a given time.
It's not like Carrie wasn't playing hard before; his eyes were just opened to the possibilities when everyone, even those on the backside, hustle to the ball.
"If we can give 100 percent every play, then irregardless of some of the mistakes that we make, (with) effort from everyone on that field, we'll be able to overcome that," Carrie said he learned. "It was a unique thing because most of the time, you know, I think that in this league defensive backs on the backside are not asked to do as much, but coming from a defensive coordinator (like) Coach Williams, who demanded effort from the backside corner or the backside nickel — just the backside players who were away from the play — he demanded effort. And I think that in my earlier career, yeah I gave effort, but in the sense where we're talking about this is the difference between being there for that missed tackle or being there for that tipped ball, the deflected ball."
Carrie said he's already well aware of Eberflus and his similar demands — in fact, Carrie said with a smile that Eberflus might even be 10 times as insistent about effort — and he's up for the challenge.
"It was something that I really try to hone in my craft in the sense where now I'm doing a lot more running in the instances where I can give 100 percent every play, down in and down out," he said. "It's definitely something that I know now will have to continuously be in my repertoire of things that I work on in the offseason."
» Carrie learned the value of leadership from guys like Justin Tuck and Charles Woodson early in his career, and wants to pass along those same lessons in Indy: Carrie said you often hear the phrase "be a professional" when talking about younger NFL players, but sometimes it can be hard to really define.
When he was going through the free agency process in the past few weeks, Carrie said it was important for him to, of course, find a destination that he could come in and compete for playing time, but he was also drawn to an organization in need of a veteran presence in the defensive backfield.
The Colts, Carrie said, seemed to be a perfect fit in that regard.
While the team has Moore II and also just signed All-Pro Xavier Rhodes in free agency, there are plenty of other young, talented guys at the position — like 2019 draft picks Rock Ya-Sin and Marvell Tell III — that could benefit from as many veteran minds as possible.
"We wanted to be in the best fit possible for us to still be able to have a chance to compete, and still mold and shape guys, seeing that this will be going into my seventh year," Carrie said. "So when we had the option to join the Colts, it was a great fit. And talking to J.G. (cornerbacks coach Jonathan Gannon), one of the coaches, he explained to me that, 'Man, look: there's opportunities for you to compete, and at the same time we're young, so your veteran leadership on and off the field is much needed from that standpoint.'
"I think that will definitely be beneficial for the group as a whole," Carrie said. "So I'm excited."
See some of the best images of free agent cornerback T.J. Carrie as he signs with the Indianapolis Colts.
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) runs during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. The Browns won 27-19. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (19) and Oakland Raiders strong safety T.J. Carrie (38) during an NFL regular season game on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 in Oakland, Calif. The Chiefs won, 34-20. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Cleveland. The Ravens won 31-15. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is tackled by Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) runs during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. The Browns won 27-19. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) defends during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Cleveland. The Browns defeated the Steelers, 21-7. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Cleveland. The Seahawks won 32-28. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson (32) plays against the Cleveland Browns' T.J. Carrie (38) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaron Brown (18) plays against Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie is introduced before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Cleveland. The Rams won 20-13. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cleveland Browns' T.J. Carrie (38) defends San Francisco 49ers' Tarvarius Moore (33) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) tackles Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Willie Snead (83) during an NFL regular season football game on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 in Cleveland. The Browns won in overtime, 12-9. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie defends against the Baltimore Ravens during a NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Baltimore. The Browns defeated the Ravens, 40-25. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) plays against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) defends during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Cleveland. The Rams won 20-13. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Cleveland. The Rams won 20-13. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) runs the football from Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders defeated the Browns in overtime, 45-42. (Ryan Kang via AP)
FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018 file photo, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) runs the ball against Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) in the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati. Receiver Tyler Boyd signed a four-year contract extension on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 coming off his breakthrough season with the Cincinnati Bengals.(AP Photo/Gary Landers, File)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Austin Carr, left, cannot hold on to the football as Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) defends during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Cleveland Brownsdefensive back T.J. Carrie (38) celebrates his interception with defensive back Derrick Kindred (26) during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Saturday, Dec. 165, 2018 in Denver, Colo. (Greg Trott via AP)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jordy Nelson (82) runs against Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) shouts and gestures after an interception in the fourth quarter in the NFL game against the Denver Broncos , Saturday, December 15, 2018, in Denver. ( Eric Bakke via AP)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) waits for the snap during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Greg Trott via AP)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate (84) reaches for his fumble after getting hit by Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) straight arms Oakland Raiders cornerback T.J. Carrie (38) during a Week 17 NFL game on Sunday, December 31, 2017, in Carson, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Raiders 30-10. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Oakland Raiders defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) lines up across from Texans receiver Keith Mumphery (12) during an NFL Wild Card Playoff game between the Houston Texans and the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 in Houston. The Texans beat the Raiders 27-14. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Oakland Raiders cornerback TJ Carrie (38) in coverage during a week 12 NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. Oakland won 21-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oakland Raiders strong safety T.J. Carrie (38) before an NFL preseason football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Oakland Raiders cornerback T.J. Carrie (38) breaks up a pass intended for New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Dallas Cowboys running back Alfred Morris (46) carries the ball in front of Oakland Raiders cornerback TJ Carrie (38) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. Dallas won 20-17. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Oakland Raiders cornerback TJ Carrie (38) sets on defense in a week-eight NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oct. 30, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. Oakland won 30 - 24 in overtime. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Oakland Raiders strong safety T.J. Carrie (38) in coverage during an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in San Diego. Oakland won 19-16. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oakland Raiders cornerback T.J. Carrie (38) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Oakland Raiders cornerback T.J. Carrie (38) tackles Denver Broncos wide receiver Cody Latimer (14) during an NFL regular season football game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders won, 21-14. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devin Hester, right, fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Oakland Raiders strong safety T.J. Carrie in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Baltimore. Baltimore recovered the ball on the play. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Oakland Raiders strong safety T.J. Carrie (38) smiles before an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Oakland Raiders cornerback T.J. Carrie (38) signs autographs before an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
