Derek Carr Raiders QB Needs Two Years Before He's Effective For Any NFL Team, Here's Why

Derek Carr Raiders QB Needs Two Years Before He's Effective For Any NFL Team, Here's Why
First, let me explain that Derek Carr is a good man, who deserved better than being demoted from starting quarterback of the Las Vegas Raiders. But, as one who's observed, covered, and even interviewed him over his career, I have to say that Derek Carr's showed everyone who he is when he elected to leave the team just because he couldn't stand being second string and rooting for Jarrett Stidham. The problem is the Raiders made Derek Carr who he is by not having him compete for the starting job in 2014; it was handed to him. Oakland Raiders Fans (or most of them, it seemed) jumped all over me when I vlogged that Carr should not be handed the starting job during his rookie campaign. But then Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen did just that during the 2014 Raiders Preseason. Carr's performances were, indeed, impressive, but it was preseason and he had not played against what's referred to as “live bullets”. On August 10th, 2014, I said in my vlog that “Derek Carr played his first game as an Oakland Raiders QB v The Minnesota Vikings Friday. He was 10 of 16 for 74 yards and an interception. The Raiders did not look crisp and Carr was consistently late with his throws.” Most agreed, but then other Raiders Fans were buying the idea that Carr should start. That began a long oddessey where I, and other Raiders Fans, watched as the Raiders shifted coaches like Popes during The Borgias Era, and yet Carr was always penciled in as starter, without challenge. In 2015, The Raiders hired former Bill Walsh Quarterback Bill Musgrave as offensive coordinator. Musgrave installed an offense that was a mix of Bill Walsh, Tony Franklin, and Chip Kelly, and caused Carr to post his best numbers of his career, leading the Silver and Black to the playoffs, where an injury caused Carr not to play and the Raiders to lose to The Texans. In 2017, the NFL caught up to Musgrave's approach, and once again, the Raiders were less than formidable most of the time. Then, Jon Gruden was hired to replace Jack Del Rio in 2018, and Carr had his best years under Jon – then Jon was released under questionable circumstances in 2021. While Rich Bisaccia and company led the Raiders back to the playoffs, the now Las Vegas squad lost after a Bengals touchdown that should have been disallowed, strangely was, and that ended the Raiders 2021 season. Point is, Derek Carr never had to sing for his supper, and even in 2022, Carr didn't have to belt out a tune for John McDaniels. What happened was that John McDaniels inexplicably installed an offense that consisted in part of pass plays designed originally for Tom Brady, and yet expected Carr to run them well. For example, Derek Carr was never asked to run a play that called for him to fake a quick dive handoff then quickly throw downfield, but that's what Josh had him do. Turning his back on the defense, then turning around and throwing downfield to a receiver on time, is not Derek's strong suit. So, not surprisingly, Carr was either missing that throw, or getting picked off. By contrast, Tom Brady had the uncanny ability to know, presnap, what a defense was going to do, and where defenders are supposed to be and track where they were going and react in real time. New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has pointed that out on several occasions. So, by the time Derek was benched, he had posted an NFL-high 14 interceptions. But Carr was also injured, and so a sad mix of ego and nobility, caused Carr to request to leave the Raiders. Carr should have remained and proved that he could be what he's never been: a teammate rooting on the starting quarterback from the bench. Also, reports were that Carr could not handle Josh yelling at him; again, a byproduct of being coached in a new system by a guy who didn't get the message about how to work with him. McDaniels is used to a back-and-forth with Tom Brady, but Carr's not the guy for that. He wasn't raised that way in football. Carr's been the boy-wonder given the job; Brady had to fight and claw for whatever he got. Now, Derek Carr's in a position where he's going to have to do that for the first time. If Carr goes where he's the starter, Derek will have to prove himself to a new fan base, with the old fan base and its history, watching and influencing them. Carr's coach will have to live with his growing pains in a new system with new terminology and in a new NFL City, and that will be the place at which Derek Carr is allowed to sink or swim. Derek will also have to embrace understanding an offensive playbook, rather than just running it, a big difference. I'm nor betting against Mr. Carr, but his price tag will be the ultimate decider. No one will pay top dollar to have Carr be a rookie all over again. Stay tuned.
via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTSYRPiMKto