- Joined
- Feb 9, 2014
- Messages
- 20,922
- Name
- Peter
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/10/derek-carr-franchise-qb-oakland-raiders/
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Who Needs Mariota?
Not the Oakland Raiders; rookie Derek Carr has proved he has what it takes to become a franchise QB. Plus, what separates Russell Wilson from Colin Kaepernick, the Cowboys’ screen game and the Chargers D
By Andy Benoit
Even after last week’s upset over San Francisco, Raiders fans are talking draft and what their team should do with the possible first overall pick. Many have mentioned Marcus Mariota, which would be a foolish move for Oakland to make.
That’s not a commentary on the current Oregon Duck, but rather, on the former Fresno State Bulldog. True, Derek Carr has not set the world on fire, especially given some of the hard lessons he has had to learn from rookie mistakes (see his first interception in the 52-0 loss at St. Louis). But Carr has also shown the foundational skill set of a future franchise quarterback.
Carr makes adjustments at the line of scrimmage. He throws with conviction and velocity, suggesting that unlike a lot of young passers, he trusts what he sees and is willing to anticipate and attack tight windows. His fundamentals are encouraging though, granted, inconsistent. That inconsistency will abate once (O.K., if) he is surrounded by better receivers and a stronger running game.
Currently Carr’s top target is James Jones, a streaky career-long No. 3 receiver. His best vertical weapon is Andre Holmes, who is still learning the nuances of professional football. Tight end Mychal Rivera runs well and has shown flashes as an intermediate pass-catcher, but he isn’t—and might never be—the type of matchup problem defenses adjust game plans for.
Along the offensive line, it’s been a revolving door at right tackle (the perils of choosing between veteran utility man Khalif Barnes and still-unrefined second-year man Menelik Watson). But overall, the pass protection has actually been very solid. In fact, Carr has been sacked just 16 times on 489 drop-backs; only Brady and Manning have a lower percentage among fulltime starters. That said, the front five’s inability to get a consistent push on the ground has contributed to the feebleness of Oakland’s rushing attack.
Despite the limitations around him, Carr has maintained the willingness to play from the pocket. That’s something many coaches—for example, Jay Gruden in Washington—yearn for with young quarterbacks. Carr has a feel for the subtle footwork required to reset and throw when a receiver needs time. Not having had to make throws like these in college, scouts were unsure whether Carr would be able to do that in the NFL. (His brother wasn’t.) Many of Carr’s best throws have come against man coverage, often when aided by specific man-beater route combinations, which Oakland’s wideouts need.
We saw several examples of this in Oakland’s upset of Kansas City, perhaps none better than Carr’s 19-yard completion to Brice Butler:
Through his first 13 games, it’s fair to say that Carr is not the problem in Oakland. In fact, he could be the solution.
******************
One separate comment after this article:
"Two safeties you could one day build a secondary around are squaring off Thursday night: St. Louis’s T.J. McDonald and Arizona’s Deone Bucannon."
To read the entire article click the link.
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/10/derek-carr-franchise-qb-oakland-raiders/
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Who Needs Mariota?
Not the Oakland Raiders; rookie Derek Carr has proved he has what it takes to become a franchise QB. Plus, what separates Russell Wilson from Colin Kaepernick, the Cowboys’ screen game and the Chargers D
By Andy Benoit
Even after last week’s upset over San Francisco, Raiders fans are talking draft and what their team should do with the possible first overall pick. Many have mentioned Marcus Mariota, which would be a foolish move for Oakland to make.
That’s not a commentary on the current Oregon Duck, but rather, on the former Fresno State Bulldog. True, Derek Carr has not set the world on fire, especially given some of the hard lessons he has had to learn from rookie mistakes (see his first interception in the 52-0 loss at St. Louis). But Carr has also shown the foundational skill set of a future franchise quarterback.
Carr makes adjustments at the line of scrimmage. He throws with conviction and velocity, suggesting that unlike a lot of young passers, he trusts what he sees and is willing to anticipate and attack tight windows. His fundamentals are encouraging though, granted, inconsistent. That inconsistency will abate once (O.K., if) he is surrounded by better receivers and a stronger running game.
Currently Carr’s top target is James Jones, a streaky career-long No. 3 receiver. His best vertical weapon is Andre Holmes, who is still learning the nuances of professional football. Tight end Mychal Rivera runs well and has shown flashes as an intermediate pass-catcher, but he isn’t—and might never be—the type of matchup problem defenses adjust game plans for.
Along the offensive line, it’s been a revolving door at right tackle (the perils of choosing between veteran utility man Khalif Barnes and still-unrefined second-year man Menelik Watson). But overall, the pass protection has actually been very solid. In fact, Carr has been sacked just 16 times on 489 drop-backs; only Brady and Manning have a lower percentage among fulltime starters. That said, the front five’s inability to get a consistent push on the ground has contributed to the feebleness of Oakland’s rushing attack.
Despite the limitations around him, Carr has maintained the willingness to play from the pocket. That’s something many coaches—for example, Jay Gruden in Washington—yearn for with young quarterbacks. Carr has a feel for the subtle footwork required to reset and throw when a receiver needs time. Not having had to make throws like these in college, scouts were unsure whether Carr would be able to do that in the NFL. (His brother wasn’t.) Many of Carr’s best throws have come against man coverage, often when aided by specific man-beater route combinations, which Oakland’s wideouts need.
We saw several examples of this in Oakland’s upset of Kansas City, perhaps none better than Carr’s 19-yard completion to Brice Butler:
Through his first 13 games, it’s fair to say that Carr is not the problem in Oakland. In fact, he could be the solution.
******************
One separate comment after this article:
"Two safeties you could one day build a secondary around are squaring off Thursday night: St. Louis’s T.J. McDonald and Arizona’s Deone Bucannon."
To read the entire article click the link.
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/10/derek-carr-franchise-qb-oakland-raiders/
