Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) calls a play during overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Oakland Raiders defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr is clearly growing into a great one in Year 3. He’s the best young quarterback in the NFL now but will soon be the best period.
Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr fell to the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Questions about his poise in the pocket, toughness and ability to transition from the Spread Offense at Fresno State caused it. But since he arrived in Oakland, he has answered all those questions.
Now in year three, when you start to see what a draft pick is, you can see Carr is on his way. His performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday was huge. But many will tell you that was only one game and I couldn’t agree with them more.
However, last Sunday is far from all Carr has done since he’s come into the NFL. For some reason, SI.com’s Andy Benoit, whom I have a great deal of respect for, doesn’t believe Carr is that good. But I have evidence that he’s that good and them some.
If you look at the pace that he’s on from Year 1 to Year 3, he’s on his way to be the best in the game. As a matter of fact, he may very well be on his way to being an all-time QB. His numbers, improvement, and clutch play so far this year tell you he is en route.
Turn the page to see how and why.
Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) runs out of the pocket during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Oakland Raiders defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Benoit’s Theory
In the article, Benoit opens with, “Not only is your [Raiders] team 6-2 and hosting its first network prime-time game since 2003, it’s 6-2 despite the fact that quarterback Derek Carr hadn’t played particularly well until last Sunday.”
He would also go on to object to Carr’s name is being brought up in MVP discussions. Then right after, he mentioned Carr throwing for 17 TDs to just three INTs so far this season. And of course, he would mention the being Raiders tied for first in the AFC West.
His 17 TDs tie him for third in the NFL while he has the best TD-to-INT ratio in the league. He has a point about not seeing his receivers open at times as he’s done that since Year 1. But he’s doing that less and even Tom Brady did things like that his first three years.
The Raiders have the worst defense in football, and don’t have a running back with over 500 yards rushing. So that along with his TDs to INTs tells you the team is definitely winning because of Carr. That makes him worth a lot to his team and puts him in the MVP conversation.
Oct 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) calls a play against the San Diego Chargers in the second quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Mind
Carr has a big arm with accuracy so no one questioned those things when he came out of college. But what many did question was his mind, coming from the Spread Offense. The Spread Offense has no verbiage, no protection calls and very simple reads.
In the NFL, have to read defenses, audible to the right play and change protections. You also have to go through your progressions fast and get rid of the ball because pressure is coming. And if you don’t you’re going to take a lot of punishment in the pocket.
Carr ran a pro style offense in high school and his first couple of years in college. He also studied pro blitzes and protections with his brother David Carr as a teenager. So he knew his pre-snap reads, protection adjustments and went through his progressions quickly right away.
So he started immediately and to this day, he doesn’t get caught with the ball in his hands often. The Raiders have a great offensive line now but that wasn’t the case his first year. His knowledge of were everyone on the field was allowed him to get the ball out.
Dec 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks for an open receiver against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Pocket Poise & Toughness
Carr is a good athlete everyone wants to see him run more but he doesn’t leave the pocket much. He often waits for a receiver to break open takes a big shot while delivering an accurate ball. When he leaves the pocket, his eyes are still looking down the field for a receiver.
However, as a rookie, he played hot potato with the ball, checking it down early to avoid getting hit. But at the same time, he didn’t have the receivers to get open down the field as a rookie. Having Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree now has much to do with it.
Any QB more willing to wait and take punishment if he believes his WR will get open. Carr got sacked less than any QB in the NFL per attempt under pressure as a rookie. He throws the ball deep more than anyone now and he still gets sacked less per pressure.
As a matter of fact, he throws the ball more than anyone period and has been sacked the least. Of course, you have to give some of he credit to his offensive line for protecting him. But he gets sacked the least per pressure too so he has something to do with it.
Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass in the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Game-on-the-LIne Poise
Since his rookie year, the Raiders coaching staff has said of Carr, “Nothing is too big for him.” We found that to be true the first time he went to Foxborough to play the New England Patriots. As a rookie he almost out-Bradied Tom Brady in his own house.
With just under a minute left, he had the Raiders on the Patriots’ 12-yard line. He then threw a pass to then-WR Denarius Moore and it bounced off his chest for an INT. The Raiders lost the game 16-9 but Carr did his part, driving the team down the field.
He orchestrated a game-winning drive in the 4th-quarter, against the Kansas City Chiefs that year. Carr had four in 2015 and so far this year, he already has three of them. That makes a total of eight to lead the NFL in that department since 2014.
You can see that his teammates expect to win games when they get down late in the game. The defense even makes stops late because they now if they do, Carr will pull it out for them. He put that on display last Sunday with his 41-yard TD pass to win in overtime.
Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass in the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Historical Numbers
In his comeback Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carr hit a major milestone. He’s the third QB in NFL history to throw for over 500 yards (513) and four TDs without an INT. He also broke the franchise record of 427 yards passing in a game.
For the season, Carr is completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 2,321 yards, 17 TDs and three INTs. Again you can see this coming with the numbers he put up for a horrible team in 2014. His 3,270 yards are 10th all-time for a rookie and his 21 TDs tie him for fifth.
He threw the second most passes and had the least amount of INTs for a rookie with over 450 attempts. In his second year, he completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 3987 yards, 32 TDs, and 13 INTs. Now, he has the second most TD passes for a QB’s first two years.
Only Dan Marino, who was the best of all time for a long time, is ahead of him. He’s ahead of Peyton Manning, who’s one of the best to ever do it himself. So while he’s on pace to be an all-time great, he’ll be the best in the NFL soon enough.
Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio and quarterback Derek Carr (4) congratulate each other after they scored a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Oakland Raiders defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Bottom Line
A lot of personnel people made a big mistake in not taking Carr in the first round back in 2014. He is answering and-or has answered a lot of the questions surrounding him when he came out. And now, Benoit is making a mistake in his evaluation of him.
When you look at coaches film and I do, you see a lot if mistakes by some of the best quarterbacks. Brady will tell you himself that he would like to have a few games back. Aaron Rodgers has also had his struggles, particularly this season.
And if Carr doesn’t at least belong in the discussion for NFL MVP right now, there shouldn’t be an award. He has his team at 6-2 without a great running back and with a horrible defense. Three of the Raiders six wins this year came by way of a game-winning drive by Carr.
He’s just getting started with his 513-yard day with four TDs and no INTs. From Day 1 to now, those that have been watching Carr have seen it coming together. He is on his way to becoming the best quarterback in the NFL and possibly and all-time great.
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