Tag: Derek Carr news

Raiders’ Derek Carr, Maxx Crosby trade dunk-contest trash talk after seeing classic footage of Tim Brown slam

Raiders’ Derek Carr, Maxx Crosby trade dunk-contest trash talk after seeing classic footage of Tim Brown slam

During the NBA All-Star break, every true sports fan gets a case of dunk-contest fever. That goes for professional athletes, as well.

For evidence, look no further than Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and defensive end Maxx Crosby.

Though they were provoked a bit by Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, each player talked a little dunk-contest trash as the NBA prepared for its All-Star Saturday night, which is highlighted by the official NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Here’s what started it: Akers posted classic footage of Raiders Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown throwing it down in 1989 when his NFL career was in full bloom.

Carr and Crosby were each tagged in the post, and they didn’t disappoint with their responses, starting with Crosby.

Shortly thereafter, Carr joined the fun and responded with a rather tame retort, though he didn’t back down from Crosby’s challenge one bit.

Through it all, Brown had his popcorn ready, so to speak, as did much of the Raider Nation. Brown also offered to judge the dunk-off if it ever takes place.

Though this contest will likely never happen, Brown is right to treat the talk between Carr and Crosby seriously. Each player has shown via social media that they can throw it down on a standard 10-foot hoop.

First, here’s Carr showing off his hops with a little extra sauce, thanks to a lob pass to himself, NBA Dunk Contest style.

Crosby, who stands a few inches taller than Carr, revealed a glimpse into his own ability, dunking from a standstill position.

Yeah, these two definitely have the NBA Slam Dunk Contest on their mind.

But despite all the fun between Brown, Crosby and Carr, I’m getting a case of déjà vu here, and it’s not necessarily a good thing.

Carr and former Raiders All-Pro DE Khalil Mack used to have playful competitions somewhat frequently, from games of basketball in Carr’s backyard pool to a proposed footrace.

But after the Raiders handed long-term contracts to Carr and ex-Raiders guard Gabe Jackson in 2017, there was apparently no cap room left to sign Mack to his own monster contract extension. The Raiders, of course, traded Mack to the Bears.

With both Carr and Crosby due for an extension soon, will history repeat itself with Carr and the team’s All-Pro EDGE player? (Second team for Crosby after his incredible 2021 campaign.)

Probably not. But it’s something to keep an eye on. Though Carr and Crosby had some playful competition over their dunking prowess, each of their agents will compete for a share of the Raiders’ finances as it relates to the NFL salary cap.

Ultimately it’s up to Las Vegas’ new regime to make sure they don’t repeat the Raiders’ past and have enough resources to sign their preferred players, especially with Pro Bowl WR Hunter Renfrow in the mix for an extension as well.

But in the meantime, watch out for a potential dunk contest between two of Las Vegas’ biggest football stars. Maybe the winner gets the better contract as their prize? Either way, we’ll soon learn more about what coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler have in mind for their new roster.

Despite a few gray hairs in his beard, Derek Carr feels 20 years old

Despite a few gray hairs in his beard, Derek Carr feels 20 years old

Somewhere along the line, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr turned 30 years old. He’s in his eighth year with Las Vegas, and for longtime followers of the team, his rookie season seems like yesterday.

It clearly wasn’t, however. Carr turned 30 back in March, but thankfully for coach Jon Gruden, Carr says he’s never felt better. The only indication of his age appeared when he took a look at his beard recently.

“Honestly, the only thing that’s different is I’ve got gray hairs in my beard,” Carr said of his age during media availability on Wednesday. “I haven’t grown it out in a while and I was like ‘bro, I’ve got like five gray hairs. What is going on?'”

That’s a moment many can relate to. And if you can’t, it’s a near certainty you will. It’s all a part of growing older, but Carr says that thanks to modern training techniques, he feels as though he can play another 15 years.

“I feel like I’m 20,” he said. “I think … I honestly believe this … our generation, the way we’ve taken care of our bodies, I think 30 is the new 20. I feel like I could play another 15 years, without a doubt. Nothings hurting. It’s the middle of camp, and I feel great.

“I feel strong in the weight room. I feel fast; I feel explosive. I honestly feel stronger, faster, better than I did when I first got to the NFL. And that comes with more knowledge on how to train, how to eat, and how to take care of your body. And that takes a little bit of money sometimes, but it’s definitely worth it.”

Carr is definitely correct regarding the shift in training. And one reason athletes put more effort into their bodies is something Carr mentioned: money. There’s more paid out to players now than ever. Certainly more than when former Raiders QB Kenny Stabler won ballgames in bunches in the 1970s, for example. That’s a huge incentive to eat right and work out, for starters.

And it’s easy to believe that Carr feels better than ever, too. He’s at the sweet spot in his career; most athletes at 30 years old are at the peak of their physical prime.

The question is, when will Carr’s level of play deteriorate? When will the NFL notice less zip on his passes? But while he could very well play another 15 years — or not — the most relevant part of his comments is how he feels now. He’s at the top of his game in what’s a crucial year for Gruden and the Raiders.

That’s gotta feel good for Carr. And it probably makes those few gray hairs easy to laugh at as he prepares to hit the gridiron stronger, faster, and better than ever.

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Raiders QB Derek Carr takes to Twitter to ‘confirm’ his focus on fewer fumbles this season

Raiders QB Derek Carr confirms his focus on fewer fumbles this season

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr doesn’t back down from a challenge, especially if it’s from coach Jon Gruden and his coaching staff. Though Carr is in his eighth year as the starter for Las Vegas, he’s still trying to improve in specific areas after a career year in 2020.

When Gruden first returned to the Raiders for his second stint as coach, Carr focussed on off-script playmaking. Gruden is known for holding that skill in high regard, and he’s never shy about it when discussing quarterback play.

And Carr delivered, perhaps most clearly in last season’s win against the Browns in Cleveland. Now, Carr is looking to cinch up another area of his game. He fumbled the football 11 times last season, losing eight, which led the NFL. In fact, since Carr entered the league, he’s lost more fumbles than anyone with 31, per the AP.

Holding onto the football is definitely a coachable skill, and the Raiders have gone to work in training camp, aiming to give Carr as many simulated looks as possible. On Friday, the Raiders QB took to Twitter to have a little fun with the situation.

Fumbles are a serious matter in the NFL, but hey, on a Friday in August, in the middle of training camp, it’s all about having fun as you grind away in the summertime heat.

Here’s some more insight from Carr on the matter, courtesy of The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. Carr said that he and the coaching staff have looked at every one of his fumbles and some are simply not avoidable. Others are, however.

“I know there are a good majority of them where I am like, ‘Bro, just get the ball out of your hand. Bro, hold on to the ball.’ There are some where people are hitting me and I am trying to do too much. I am trying to toss the ball with guys holding on to both my arms. It’s not from a lack of effort or want-to. I am trying to get it to somebody.

“All offseason, we repped it. You got eight people ripping my arms apart, slapping my hands and trying to rip the ball out of my hands as I am just naturally trying to go through a progression. It’s not just a drill. I am doing it with the same body posture that I would in a game. I am trying my best to do that better. I know that ball is everyone’s livelihood and whether it’s my fault or not, I am holding it.”

Carr went on to mention the process he went through to improve his off-script playmaking. He sees the same path ahead of him with his fumbles: practice, focus and improve.

It’s all part of the largest challenge that any quarterback can take on, and that’s leading the Raiders back to prominence under coach Gruden.

The rest of the Las Vegas roster has to help Carr, namely the defense, but the turnover tally can usually tell you who won the game, especially if the Raiders’ young defense faces multiple short fields due to turnovers. Throw in an unproven offensive line, and it’s obvious why Carr is laser focussed on the matter, even on a Friday night.

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John Brown says Derek Carr reminds him of ex-Raiders QB Carson Palmer

John Brown says Derek Carr reminds him of ex-Raiders QB Carson Palmer

It’s his first year in Las Vegas, but it didn’t take long for Raiders wide receiver John Brown to mention a name that has plenty of history with the silver and black.

At training camp on Monday, Brown compared Raiders quarterback Derek Carr to former Raiders QB Carson Palmer. For long-time fans of the franchise, that comparison might not sound good at all. But Brown played with Palmer on the Cardinals after Palmer left the Raiders following the 2012 season.

Palmer, a Heisman Trophy winner at USC, was successful in Arizona, compiling a 38-21-1 record and amassing 16,782 yards in five seasons. Brown was one of his targets from 2014 — his rookie year — to 2017. In 2015, Brown had one of his two career 1,000-yard campaigns. Palmer started every game that year.

Palmer was a 10-year veteran at that point, and Brown sees the same mature qualities in Carr, himself an 8-year vet. Plus, Brown likes how Carr has confidence in his receivers.

“The relationship is working out well,’ Brown said of Carr during media availability on Monday. “He kind of reminds me of Carson Palmer, you know, taking that veteran role. And he believes in his guys and he gives his guys chances. So just to be around him, it’s a blessing.”

In fact, Brown likes Carr’s game so much, it’s what drew him to the Raiders as a free agent.

“As far as the decision I made, it’s a quarterback decision,” Brown said. “Who would I like to play for? And when I was with Buffalo, watching Derek Carr last year, and seeing the style of offense, I fell in love with it right then and there. I wanted to be a part of it.”

That’s high praise for Carr, and for coach Jon Gruden, too. But while Brown rightfully sees Palmer as an example of stellar QB play, many Raiders fans and observers don’t hold Palmer in high regard.

He had an 8-16 record with the then Oakland Raiders, arriving in the Bay Area via trade in 2011 after starting QB Jason Campbell went down with an injury. The Raiders traded two draft picks to the Bengals in the deal, including a first-round choice.

Palmer started hot with the Raiders, but he wilted late — along with a porous Raiders defense — and he ended up with 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2011, compiling a 4-5 record. That mark put the Raiders at 8-8 and out of the playoffs.

That’s actually one more similarity between Carr and Palmer — they’ve each played on Raiders teams with terrible defenses, including in 2012, when Palmer threw for more than 4,000 yards but compiled a 4-11 record. (Bonus info: both quarterbacks were born in Fresno, Calif.)

But Brown only knows the Palmer who helped resurrect a dormant Cardinals franchise with his veteran leadership and elite skill. That’s what he sees in Carr, and that’s why Brown is in Las Vegas.

The history of the Raiders is certainly vast, and it’s not clear if Brown knows much about Palmer’s time with the team. But he definitely seems ready to make his own Raiders history — of the glorious variety — with Carr in Las Vegas.

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Raiders coach Jon Gruden: QB Derek Carr’s scrambling ability gives Las Vegas a ‘winning edge’

It’s no secret that Raiders coach Jon Gruden loves versatile quarterbacks, and Raiders QB Derek Carr is displaying the right moves lately.

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It’s been long two-plus years since coach Jon Gruden rejoined the Raiders and initiated a team rebuild, but slowly, the franchise’s efforts are paying dividends.

Las Vegas has earned a 5-3 record behind four road wins, are 2-0 in the AFC West, and handed the Super Bowl champion Chiefs their only loss.

The success has a lot to do with Gruden’s offense, led by quarterback Derek Carr, one of the lone holdovers from the coach’s rebuild. Not only is Carr thriving in the passing game with 2,002 yards, 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions, but he’s also impressed while scrambling for first downs and making plays with his feet.

That’s a skill coveted by Gruden. The coach had success with Rich Gannon, a  mobile QB and former NFL MVP, during his first stint as Raiders coach from 1998-01. He’s tried to instill that quality in Carr since returning to the team, and Carr is putting it all together in year three with his coach. His scrambling was especially evident when Carr lept through the air for a first down in Las Vegas’ win against the Chargers.

“It’s a great effort,” Gruden told reporters on Monday, referring to the play. “We’ve talked about Derek scrambling and creating more offense with his legs. That’s consecutive weeks he’s converted a play on his own. That’s a huge winning edge for us right now — Carr’s improvisation and scrambling ability. As long as he protects himself and protects the ball, that’s the most important thing.”

Carr also converted a crucial 3rd-and-8 play in the Raiders win in Cleveland, though just like his play against the Chargers, the QB didn’t slide. While Carr’s newfound ability to scramble when appropriate is exactly what Gruden wants and has given Las Vegas an added dimension thus far, it’s crucial that Carr follows all of his coach’s instructions and takes care of the ball and himself.

But if Carr can keep this positive trend going, it’s huge for the Raiders. The West Coast offense benefits greatly from a QB that can take off and run when the opportunity arises, as does any offense.

With Gruden’s scheme, however, the main concern isn’t game-breaking plays as much as it is avoiding sacks and staying ahead of the sticks, setting up 3rd and short opportunities. Carr has the athletic ability to do that easily, and it’s finally showing consistently as he and Gruden lead the club on a playoff run.

Raiders QB Derek Carr plays ‘ultra aggressive’ vs. Chargers, says offense can ‘take what we want’

Raiders QB Derek Carr is regaining his form from his banner 2016 year, and he says his offense can “take what we want.”

The Raiders beat the Chargers in a close game on Sunday, 31-26, with the contest coming down to the last play. It was the Raiders defense that stood tall on that final snap, but quarterback Derek Carr had plenty to do with the win, which put his team’s record at 5-3.

While he compiled just 165 yards through the air, Carr had two touchdowns and attempted big throws downfield, especially in the second half. He had a 45-yard scoring toss to Nelson Agholor on the Raiders’ first drive of the second stanza, and he also unfurled an outrageous 53-yard completion to WR Hunter Renfrow from outside the pocket, setting up a touchdown to TE Darren Waller.

As Carr’s third year running coach Jon Gruden’s offense continues, the QB looks increasingly comfortable in all phases of the game. He compared his completion to Renfrow to a play he made in 2016 when he led the Raiders to the playoffs, and he said the game is once again slowing down for him.

“It takes time learning the system. That was comfort in the system,” Carr told reporters about his play to Renfrow. “You know where guys are going to be. As you learn the system, you can play faster. You can get through progressions faster and extend plays.”

Making the drive even more impressive, Carr ran for a first down after his completion to Renfrow, leaping through the air to reach the marker on a 3rd-and-10 play.

“Derek, he’s not thinking,” defensive end Maxx Croxby said after the game. “You know, he’s just being himself. He’s playing. Not worried about what everybody’s saying. You can see it. Every down. He’s not afraid to run the ball. He’s not afraid to put his head down. He’s not afraid to take his shot. And he’s been so impressive. I know he puts in the time so I’m glad he’s putting it together. It’s awesome to see.”

Carr’s play sharpened in the second half thanks in part to a poor play by Las Vegas earlier in the contest. After Carr was sacked and stripped of the ball just before halftime, the Chargers had a chance at a field goal to take the lead, which they capitalized on. Carr came out of the locker room a man possessed, playing even too aggressively at times, according to Carr.

“I was mad with the way it ended,” he said of the first-half blunder. “So we came back out … and I was ultra-aggressive today. I’m mad at myself now. I watched the film and I … I’m being too aggressive. I missed a couple of completions that could have been big for us. I’m just looking downfield. That’s that fine line … sometimes we hit ’em, sometimes we don’t.”

It appears that Carr is comfortable in Gruden’s notoriously complicated offense and can play more like the gunslinger-type QB he was in 2016, but with a more versatile attack, led by the head coach.

“We’re a very multiple offense. We’ll take some shots. We can win with — not being funny — the quarterback running, the running backs going crazy. We can win with passing the ball. We’re finding ways to win and we’re going to take what we want, kind of a thing.”

Now that’s the sound of a confident QB. Carr says the offense still has plenty of work to do, but in scoring 31 points without starting offensive tackles Trent Brown and Kolton Miller, they are a force to be reckoned with. And it won’t get any easier for opponents as Carr presumably gets his starting offensive line back in the fold for the stretch playoff run.

“I thought Derek showed great command,” Gruden said of his QB. “It’s not easy to go out there in this league with the amount of revolving doors that we’ve had up front. I’m really proud of him and excited for the future.”

Raiders QB Derek Carr on team’s rough stretch: ‘What’s killing us is ourselves’

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr says that while the Bills beat Las Vegas on Sunday, it’s his team that deserves most of the blame.

The Raiders finished the first quarter of the season at 2-2, but after their second-straight loss, a 30-23 defeat against the Bills, there was certainly no reason to celebrate.

After playing mistake-free football for the first two weeks of the campaign, costly miscues cropped up last week against the Patriots and increased against a skilled and battle-tested Buffalo squad. Quarterback Derek Carr was openly frustrated postgame while doing his best to remain positive.

“We are in all these games. We have moved the ball up and down the field these first four games. You’re blind if you don’t think that. But what’s killing us is ourselves,” Carr told reporters after the game.

Besides settling for three Daniel Carlson field goals while running more plays and gaining more yards than the Bills’ offense, the Raiders had two costly turnovers late in the game. Tight end Darren Waller lost the ball while fighting for extra yardage when Las Vegas was down just six points in the fourth quarter. Carr was stripped of the ball in the pocket two drives later.

Plus, the Raiders had seven penalties for 66 yards, including an illegal formation that negated a 49-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nelson Agholor in the first half.

“That’s the frustrating part,” Carr said. “The things that are hurting us in these close games is not them. It’s us. That’s the hard part to swallow. You wake up early, trying to outwork everybody. And it’s one thing here and there. It’s like, dang.

“It’s encouraging, but at the same time you go home and you’re hot. I got to take a deep breath before I go in my house so I don’t take it out on my wife and my kids because it means so much to me. But enough’s enough. We’ve got to correct this right now.”

A renewed effort to play mistake-free football and capitalize on scoring opportunities should help the Raiders, especially with the imposing Chiefs as their next opponent. Las Vegas has to do more than talk about it, however. Results on the field are needed immediately if the Raiders are to fight for a playoff birth.

Raiders QB Derek Carr on Monday night’s casino-rooftop halftime show: ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’

The Raiders play their first game in Las Vegas on Monday, and though there will be no fans, there will be a casino-rooftop halftime show.

Monday Night Football is always a big deal in the NFL. But Monday Night Football in Las Vegas? With the new Las Vegas Raiders making their debut? That’s something else altogether.

Unfortunately, fans aren’t allowed inside Allegiant Stadium to watch the home team take on the Saints. But the Raiders and their new city are putting on a halftime show fit for a high-roller. Internationally-known rock ‘n’ roll group, The Killers, will play a set from the Caesars Palace rooftop. The show will be televised by ESPN and ABC.

“Welcome to Las Vegas, right?” said quarterback Derek Carr with a chuckle, when told about the show during his conference call with reporters on Wednesday. 

The Raiders’ first game in Las Vegas is a huge deal, no matter the date. But Monday Night Football makes the game even more special for all involved.

Carr explained that watching football on Mondays was an important part of growing up, and the primetime game still carries weight as he prepares for this week’s contest. 

“I don’t know how many Monday night games I’ve played, but it never gets old. It never loses how cool it is,” he said. “And we wish our city here, Las Vegas, we wish they could experience it with us. I’m sure they will be around somewhere. I’m sure there is a certain street or strip that they’ll be on that our fans will be at. Hopefully, it still feels the same energy.” 

There certainly is a strip for fans, both new and old, to meet up at—the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. And they’ll undoubtedly be in the area to watch the game and concert. Carr says the city is already Raiders-crazed, even if fans can’t attend the game.

“There is still a feel around town, ‘Oh, the Raiders are playing in town,’” Carr said. “So, it’s still exciting and I got people driving up next to my car and waiving and going nuts and stuff.”

If fans are going berserk early in the week, Monday night should be a celebration to remember in Las Vegas, especially if the Raiders beat the Saints. And with a halftime show on a casino rooftop, it’s obvious that the Raiders’ tenure in the entertainment capital of the world is off and running.

For Raiders QB Derek Carr, creativity outside the pocket still a work in progress

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is still tasked with doing more to impress his head coach, Jon Gruden.

When Raiders coach Jon Gruden rejoined the franchise in 2018, he said the job was appealing, in part, because of quarterback Derek Carr.

But it appears there’s still a bit of work to do if Carr is to tap into the full potential of Gruden’s offense.

Since his return, Gruden has tried to mold Carr into his ideal QB. Carr, by all accounts, has done what he can to absorb his coach’s lessons.

For instance, Carr adapted to Gruden’s demand to mitigate risk and avoid turnovers, and his completion percentage hit a career-high in 2019. But as Gruden stymied any gunslinger mentality that Carr possessed, there were growing pains.

The Raiders’ 2018 loss in Miami against the Dolphins is one example. With three minutes to play and a 1st-and-goal situation, Carr threw a risky pass to former Raiders wide receiver, Martavis Bryant. The ball was intercepted, and the Raiders lost, 28-20. Gruden voiced his displeasure with the play postgame, of course.

Carr’s decision-making in the pocket slowly improved after that game, however, and it’s hard to imagine him making another such throw on first-and-goal in the future.

But there’s yet another trait that Gruden wants Carr to possess. It also involves decision making, but after the play breaks down.

Offensive coordinator Greg Olson, who is always on the same page as Gruden, said Carr can still improve his ability to gain yards when the unexpected happens.

“[I] want to see him create and I think if you said that about Derek’s career, can he be more creative?” Olson said via conference call on Tuesday. “When a play breaks down, can you get out and create and be the play after the play call? That’s been an emphasis. He sees it, he’s athletic enough that he can create with his legs, so we are just working on him to create more outside the pocket.” 

As Olson noted, Carr is certainly athletic enough to be a threat when the play breaks down, which keeps the defense on their toes and slows their aggression. Also as Olson mentioned, Carr is aware of the situation. The QB was asked about his ability to create offense after Olson’s comments on Tuesday.

“Before coach Gruden got here, I barely did it,” said Carr via conference call, after learning of Olson’s critique. “I’m going to sit in the pocket. These reads are going to beat you and my arm is going to beat you. Then he came in and the first year was a struggle just trying to figure out how to move and run around in the pocket. Then last year happens … and we’re getting more first downs with my legs. We’re winning football games with me scrambling. The arrow is trending up. But we want to still do more.” 

Fortunately for Carr, it shouldn’t take much more to unleash the full potential of Gruden’s offense. With his skills inside the pocket, merely being a consistent threat to leave the tackle box and make a positive play — even it’s just a few yards — is enough to make an impact.

That skill is simply a must if Gruden’s ball-control offense is to reach its max potential. And if a QB with Carr’s athleticism can evade sacks and avoid a loss, he’ll eventually begin to break plays for decent yardage, or even better, hit his targets on the run with regularity.

Even as Carr attempts to improve in that area, Gruden has made it clear how much he covets such a quarterback. Before facing Andrew Luck and the Colts in 2018, Gruden raved about Luck’s ability to create offense when the play goes awry.

“That’s what I think the great quarterbacks do. They don’t just make the throws and fix plays at the line of scrimmage. When’s there’s no blocking or nobody open, he can still make big plays,” Gruden said.

Additionally, during Week 14 of the same campaign, Gruden said there are natural QB scrambling lanes in his offense when skill players are double-teamed, especially if it’s the tight end or running back.

In 2019, Carr’s progress off-the-cuff was a focus on the first day of training camp, with a scramble by the QB making news. Later in the same camp, Gruden prepared Carr for unblocked pass-rushers by running into Carr’s face himself while shouting instructions at his pupil.

The effort yielded some results during the season that followed, as Carr mentioned. In the Raiders’ loss in Oakland to the Jaguars, Carr scrambled from the pocket when his team needed a first down to put the game away, and it appeared he did enough to win. Unfortunately, due to a questionable call from the official, the Raiders lost that game, their last in Oakland.

But that consistent threat has to develop if he’s to take another step at QB. And it appears Gruden needs to see more progress if his wandering eye for signal-callers is to subside.

The coach’s affection for dual-threat quarterbacks dates back, at least, to former Raiders QB Rich Gannon, who was in Oakland with Gruden from 1999-01. Recently, Gruden had rumored interest in former Oklahoma QB and 2019 Rookie of the Year, Kyler Murray.

And Gruden brought an experienced, dual-threat QB to Las Vegas, Marcus Mariota, to compete with Carr. As a draft analyst, the coach raved about Mariota, as did Raiders general manager, Mike Mayock.

Carr is still the clear choice as starter, but he’d do well to improve in this area, shutting the door on talk of a possible demotion that followed the Mariota signing. Such rumors will continue until Carr leads the Raiders to the playoffs, signs an extension or is let go.

Amazingly, though Carr is in his seventh year as the Raiders’ starting QB and the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards, he’s still a work in progress regarding a skill his coach covets. It’s his third year in Gruden’s offense, however. Carr’s never had such continuity in his career, which bodes well for his chances.

Still, it doesn’t figure to be easy, even if Carr only has to show consistent, competent ability outside the pocket. It’s not a rudimentary skill. As Gruden said, it’s a trait shared by great quarterbacks.

But Carr will give it all he’s got. It’s his job to realize the potential of the Raiders offense, and if he does so in 2020, he could be Gruden’s long-term solution at quarterback, and they can both finish what they started in 2018.

Raiders coach Jon Gruden channels Al Davis, praises QB Derek Carr’s ‘will to win’

Raiders coach Jon Gruden seems to enjoy keeping the franchise’s tradition, created by former team owner Al Davis, alive.

With the Raiders’ offseason schedule wiped out due to COVID-19, players gathered in Las Vegas to run simulated practice on their own. It was undoubtedly beneficial for the team’s progress, even if all they did was bond.

But judging from videos produced at the scene, the players were running a fairly tight ship, and it was clear that quarterback Derek Carr was running the show.

And that’s no surprise. It’s Carr’s seventh year with the club and the franchise is about to enter its first year in Las Vegas. Carr knows it’s crucial for the Raiders to set a winning tone in their new town.

Coach Jon Gruden was so impressed, he used a phrase made famous by the late, great owner of the Raiders, Al Davis, in praising Carr during a Zoom call with reporters on Thursday.

“It’s a credit to Carr,” Gruden said when asked about the workouts. “It’s a credit to his passion for the game, his will to win and his leadership.”

That phrase, the “will to win” is part of a famous line from Davis: “The fire that burns brightest in the Raiders’ organization is the will to win.” The line is etched onto the Al Davis Memorial Torch displayed proudly at Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders’ new home.

The fact that Gruden worked closely with Davis during his first stint as Raiders coach from 1998-01 is one of the most remarkable aspects of the franchise today. It’s a truly unique and special circumstance. 

Especially because Gruden knows more about Davis than most and keeps his legend alive. Gruden seems to enjoy upholding the Raiders’ tradition, which Davis created. 

As far as Carr, though Gruden says he has the will to win, not everyone in the NFL believes that’s the case. He was recently ranked the 20th-best signal-caller in the NFL by a survey of anonymous league sources.

But Carr was No. 7 in the same survey just a few years ago. With an influx of versatile talent on offense, including first-round draft pick, Henry Ruggs III, Carr has a golden opportunity to prove his will to win can carry the Raiders to contention.

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