Brandon Carr has yet to live up to the promise of the five-year, $50.1 million contract he signed with the Cowboys in 2012, but a new season dawns.
Carr is doubling down on comments he made in May, and Dallas' top cornerback vows this will be his breakout year, aided by a second go-around in the Tampa-2 defense.
"I just feel like this year it's time for me to step it up bigger than I have in my six years in the NFL," Carr recently said on KRLD-FM, per the Dallas Morning News, "and come out there and produce and make the plays on my side of the ball and also get my guys going, need to get my guys going this year."
The former Kansas City Chief resembled anything but a shutdown corner last season, ranked just No. 59 at his position by Pro Football Focus. He also allowed the third-most catches in the league, but there's reason for hope with Rod Marinelli now the defensive coordinator.
"I think our philosophy has changed," said Carr, who started all 16 games in each of his six NFL seasons. "Just want to be a little bit more aggressive in the back end -- kind of put some more weight on our shoulders. It's always good to be playing with your guys for a second year. You kind of know each other better and know the scheme.
"I love (man-to-man defense)," Carr continued. "But I see the way the league is going nowadays; teams throwing it 50 times a game almost that it's always good to change it up -- to throw in some zone."
With the loss of the team's best defensive player in Sean Lee, Big D needs Carr to back up his words.
In the latest episode of the "Around The League Podcast," the guys discuss Rob Gronkowski's expected return to action and Cordarrelle Patterson's potential rise this season.
