“Those players saying those things and making those comments,” Carter said to Seifert, “forced me to really dig deep and ask, ‘Why do I do what I do? How do I have to communicate with these guys?’ So they don’t see it as punishment, but they see it as value to the game that they’re playing. It’s already a hard game, and here I am asking them to make it harder. And so there’s so much that goes into it.
“I think those comments, they were needed,” Carter added. “They’ve really helped me become a better coach. I hope it shows up in wins and losses this year and how we play. But I know just how it’s really helped me to communicate with the guys and keep me grounded to why I do what I do and not let some of the other stuff get in the way of that.”
Carter’s philosophy was shaped in part by his grandfather, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Gino Marchetti.
“He told me, ‘Keith, make sure that practice is harder than the game.’ ” Carter shared with ESPN. ” ‘Challenge them at practice, so when they get to the game, they can cut it loose and have fun playing football.’ “
Click here to read Seifert’s article on the leader of the Vikings offensive line.