Oakland Raiders handling Terrelle Pryor correctly
The Oakland Raiders, especially head coach Dennis Allen, are very high on backup quarterback Terrelle Pryor, and there is a chance that the 23-year-old won’t be a backup much longer. The Raiders have reiterated that they will give Pryor a shot at starting over veteran Carson Palmer, and there will be a quarterback competition this offseason in Oakland.
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
But Allen isn’t just going to give the starting gig to Pryor and told Bill Williamson of ESPN’s fantastic AFC West blog, “When he shows he is ready to be the guy, he will be the guy. I’m all for that. I want to win.”
The former Ohio State Buckeyes product is just 23 and has some upside, but consistency will be key. There is no doubt, though, that Allen believes Pryor deserves a strong look at starting, and I don’t blame the Raiders wanting to find out if Pryor can “be the guy”. Palmer doesn’t have much left in the tank, and there is no sense in leaving the supplemental pick hanging out there.
Allen, of course, will play it safe and make sure that he isn’t tossing the young QB into the flames before he is ready. Pryor was extremely raw coming out of Ohio State, but his size (6’6″, 233 pounds) and athletic ability make him a QB with plenty of upside who could potentially inject life into the organization. While I don’t see a Colin Kaepernick effect happening (as the title of Williamson’s post asks), but I do think the larger point that starting Pryor could invigorate this franchise is one that is well-taken.
The Raiders head coach also stated, “You just can’t roll the dice in this league and hope something pans out. That’s not the way it works.”
But calculated risks? That’s how the league works. With creative offensive coordinator Greg Olson now in the fold instead of the subpar and ineffective Greg Knapp, the Raiders have a much better chance at making the read option- or some other scheme that best caters to Pryor’s unique abilities- is much more achievable.
Unlike Palmer, Pryor actually has potential, but Palmer is certainly the more safe option and will likely be the starter in Week 1. But don’t rule out the thought of Terrelle Pryor winning the gig in the offseason, and it sounds like he has a very ardent supporter in his new offensive coordinator. There is nothing wrong with at least giving the guy a shot in a competition, and I think the Oakland Raiders are handling Pryor perfectly based on the comments Allen made to ESPN.
You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates @SorianoJoe.