It’s not a secret that Derek Carr isn’t an aggressive quarterback by nature. While he will throw the ball downfield and although he does it very well, Carr’s game is built on getting rid of the ball quickly and accurately.
That style of quarterback can win in the NFL as Carr isn’t all that different stylistically than Tom Brady and Drew Brees at this stage of their careers. But in for this style of quarterback play to work, a team needs to have explosive weapons at running back, wide receiver and tight end.
Luckily for the Raiders, they already possess elite players at running back and tight end. Outside of players like Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller, role players such as Jalen Richard and Jason Witten fit Carr’s style of quarterback play as well.
But for the Raiders’ offense to take the next step, they will need their wide receiver room to improve. That is why the team invested so much into the position this offseason, using two top-100 picks at receiver.
The first selection was used on Henry Ruggs III, the draft’s fastest receiver. But despite his 4.2 speed, Ruggs is actually better in the short to intermediate parts of the field as he is at his best when he can catch the ball on the run. And for that reason, he’s a fantastic fit with Carr.
But the second receiver they drafted might actually be an even better fit with Carr than Ruggs. Bryan Edwards is a big-bodied receiver who does his best work after the catch. In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, it ras revealed that Edwards dominated on receptions behind the line of scrimmage, using his size and physicality to run over defenders.:
Rookie wide receiver Bryan Edwards ranked fifth in receptions behind the line of scrimmage (37) in 2019. Edwards made the most of such usage, ranking eighth in YAC per reception (10.5) and seventh in missed tackles forced (10) on passes behind the line.
Carr had the best season of his career in 2016 when he had a similar player in Michael Crabtree on the outside. Like Edwards, Crabtree won on slants, digs and comebacks as he could use his size to box out defenders and then his strength to win after the catch. Crabtree provided a big target for Carr and it allowed him to get the ball out of his hands quickly and to his playmakers.
It’s taken Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock some time, but they have finally built an offense around Carr that suits him. And while Ruggs and Edwards are only rookies, expect both players to see the field a ton this year as they are perfect fits for the quarterback. Don’t be surprised if Edwards and Ruggs are the team’s two starting receivers sooner rather than later.
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