Cowboys’ DB Carr hopes to get year back on track against Eagles

It would be an understatement to say that Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr has had a disappointing season.

After declaring in the spring that he was going “to take over the league” and become “a shutdown corner,” Carr has been more like a turnstile for opposing receivers.

He has been repeatedly picked on for big plays this season and has no interceptions and six pass deflections, including just one over the past seven games.

A season after being embarrassed by Detroit’s Calvin Johnson for 14 catches and 329 yards, Carr was posterized by Giants rookie Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-handed touchdown catch on national television in a Nov. 23 game.

“I’m my worst critic,” Carr said. “It takes a lot for me to say that I’m playing to the level I’m comfortable with.

“It’s been a learning process this year of trying to fight through all of the adversity, fight though the ball might not go your way, fight though it might be a stretch where you feel like you’re not doing too much. You have an opportunity cause when it breaks, it’s going to be a good thing.”

A good thing for the Cowboys would be for that proverbial dam to break for Carr on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys need their cornerbacks tomake some plays. Carr, who signed a five-year, $50.2 million deal three years ago, admitted he needs to step up.

“I’ve got to get more balls,” Carr said. “I would like to get busy in that department again. ... This would be a great opportunity this week.”

Carr’s struggles haven’t been contained to the football field. He lost his mother to breast cancer in July and missed the first few weeks of training camp to be with her.

Carr’s $7.5 million base salary this season has also served as a target for critics.

Carr has three interceptions over the past two seasons but none in the past 17 games. According to STATS, Carr has been targeted 67 times, and given up 40 receptions for 715 yards and five touchdowns.

“I don’t make too many excuses,” Carr said. “With all the things that have been thrown at me the past few years, I feel like it’s a part of life.”

“You have to balance it and fight through it. That’s where I am right now. I have a supporting cast that keeps me level headed, that keeps me on my feet. I’m going to continue to fight until I get through and see the light again.”

According to Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, the light came on a little bit last Thursday at Chicago when Carr had three tackles and one pass deflection.

He gave up a 27-yard touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffery in the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys believe he was the victim of offensive pass interference on that play.

“I think Brandon always competes,” Garrett said. “I think he did a good job in the game tackling.

“If you remember the first play in the game, they ran that play that bounced back to him. He did a good job getting running back Matt Forte on the ground. There were a couple plays down the field that he knocked the ball down on. There were positive plays.”

Carr has a different take on the Bears game.

He doesn’t consider any game in which he gives up a touchdown pass to be a good game. He also refused to blame offensive pass interference on Jeffery. He said if he made more plays and got more interceptions, he would get more calls.

There is time for Carr to right his season.

A division title and run to the playoffs has always been more important than individual success for Carr.

“We are 9-4. It’s an amazing opportunity ahead of us,” Carr said. “That alone is enough for me right now.”

Roster moves

The Cowboys moved defensive end Kenneth Boatright from the practice squad to the active roster.

Boatright takes the spot that was vacated when cornerback Micah Pellerin was released. Pellerin was signed back to the practice squad.

This story was originally published December 10, 2014 at 10:16 PM with the headline "Cowboys’ DB Carr hopes to get year back on track against Eagles."