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          NFL Nation

          Enigmatic Bruce Carter making big plays while searching for consistency

          • Jean-Jacques Taylor, ESPN Staff WriterDec 17, 2014, 02:00 PM ET
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              Jean-Jacques Taylor joined ESPNDallas.com in August 2011. A native of Dallas, Taylor spent the past 20 years writing for The Dallas Morning News, where he covered high schools sports, the Texas Rangers and spent 11 seasons covering the Dallas Cowboys before becoming a general columnist in 2006.
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          IRVING, Texas -- There he was, as usual, the most enigmatic player on the Dallas Cowboys' roster making yet another big play.

          Linebacker Bruce Carter has every physical trait you’d want in a linebacker, but too many times during his career the production hasn’t come close to matching the potential.

          This season, honestly, isn’t that much different in a lot of ways.

          Understand, Carter is in the final year of his contract. This is when you get the best a player has to offer because he knows free agency looms.

          Carter has played fewer than 30 snaps in three of the last five games. He’s been benched at various times this season, leaving Carter and the coaching staff frustrated.

          Still, he has provided some of the Cowboys’ biggest game-changing plays this season. There’s a good chance Dallas is not 10-4 and in complete control of its playoff fate without Carter.

          Carter’s interception return for a touchdown against St. Louis in Week 3 gave the Cowboys a 34-24 lead after trailing 21-0. He made a diving deflection leading to an interception in the first half against New Orleans in Week 4, leading to a touchdown and a 17-0 second-quarter lead in a blowout win over New Orleans.

          In a scoreless tie against Chicago in Week 14, he partially blocked a punt to set up the Cowboys' first touchdown in a 41-28 victory. And he made a leaping interception with 1:57 left to end any hope of a Philadelphia comeback on Sunday.

          For now, Kyle Wilber, who played seven snaps against Philadelphia, starts at strongside linebacker in the base defense, which the Cowboys don’t use all that much. Carter rotates in the nickel defense with Rolando McClain and Anthony Hitchens.

          Against Philadelphia, Carter finished with a team-high six tackles, impressive considering his limited playing time.

          “We’re constantly trying to put them in an environment to coach them and teach them to be more consistent players, but he’s made a lot of big plays," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "I think he’s improving as a player. I think he’s becoming a more consistent player.”