Oakland Raiders: Jon Gruden frenzy takes pressure off Derek Carr
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden’s return makes quarterback Derek Carr‘s push for a bounce-back season a secondary headline. And that’s a good thing.
When Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr signed a five-year, $125 million deal June 2017 to become the highest-paid player in the league at that time, a bulls eye appeared on his jersey. Analysts already witnessed his MVP-caliber 2016 campaign before he suffered a fractured fibula, but the contract made it known to everyone: He’s the guy.
Naturally, the quarterback takes the majority credit for most wins and the lion share of the blame after losses. To Carr’s credit, he took it on the chin week after week during the 2017 season. He didn’t hide from the media, answered questions and put the responsibility on his shoulders. Some fans called him a stand-up guy and others viewed it as lip service.
Carr will share the spotlight in glory or defeat in the upcoming term. Ever since head coach Jon Gruden decided to leave the Monday Night Football booth and return to the sideline, he’s dominated the headlines.
The Raiders starting signal-caller ceded the title as the highest-paid player to Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford months ago, but the focus in Oakland has shifted to the celebrity head coach who also signed a massive deal worth $100 million over 10 years.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Competitors in the business, analysts and fans want to know if Gruden can still keep up with the young players of today’s game after a nine-year gap in the coaching ranks.
Based on the results, we’ll either say he’s lost his touch or personal passion still fuels the magic. The 54-year old made it known to SI.com reporter S.L. Price that he’s aware of the whispers:
"Everybody’s going to want to kick my ass, step on me. They can’t wait to talk about what a dumbass I am, and how s—– I was to start with. How ‘overrated’ I am. I hear it all. I know it’s going to happen. And I’m like: Come on! Just like Al Davis. When I was here, he said, ‘The great thing you’ve got going, Jon, is they’re never going to rip you. They’re going to rip me.’ ”"
Ironically, Al Davis’ overshadowing effect over a young Gruden will repeat itself between head coach and quarterback in 2018. Carr will still shoulder the blame for poor performances and earn praise as a new-wave top-flight quarterback after his brilliant moments, but Gruden will garner the credit for putting his 26-year old signal-caller back on track.
In a storybook sequence, it’s set up for Gruden to take the modern-day crown as a quarterback-fixer. Carr went to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for New England Patriots field general Tom Brady, which indicates he didn’t have a terrible year, but his offense fell way below expectations. Now, here comes Gruden wearing his Raiders visor with one eyebrow raised ready to save the day in Oakland. The script couldn’t have been written any better.
Next: NFL Free Agency: Top 50 players, signing predictions
In the big picture, Gruden’s arrival serves as a sigh of relief for Carr. Instead of questioning whether his 2016 step back becomes a downward trend or a blip, we’re putting the burden on the celebrity head coach to put the quarterback, offense and franchise back on the map.
It’s Carr’s team, but it’s Gruden’s show.