Carr: Defending player like Dez Bryant 'is what you live for'

Published Jul. 23, 2013 3:26 p.m. ET

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OXNARD, Calif. -- Brandon Carr said he's not keeping score when he defends Dez Bryant during practice. It wouldn't make much sense if he did during the first two days of training camp. Neither player was wearing pads, limiting how physical a defensive player can really be.

But even in just helmets and shorts, Carr said he appreciates the chance to defend "one of the top wide receivers in the league" each day.

That's pretty good practice for what the former Kansas City Chief will face in the upcoming months. It's likely that Carr will defend star receivers like Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Demaryius Thomas and Dwayne Bowe this season.

"This schedule this year is going to be a challenging schedule, but that's what you live for," Carr said. "You live for those games against those receivers you see every time on the highlights. It's going to be a challenge, but that's why we're here getting better."

Carr said he has written down his personal goals for the season, however, he declined to share them with media members.

"Maybe I'll tell you at the end [of the season]," Carr joked.

Bryant hasn't talked to reporters since the team arrived in Oxnard on Friday. But Carr was able to give an early assessment of the young receiver's fourth training camp.

Carr said Bryant has grown by "leaps and bounds" in the last 12 months.

"The mental side of the game is what he is really honing in on now," Carr said. "That's going to allow him to play that much faster in the game. I talk to him and I just kind of see the mindset is changing and he's ready to hopefully take over the league."

Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota