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Oakland Raiders: Biggest takeaways from Week 1 of OTAs

By Maurice Moton

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Keelan Doss #3 of the UC Davis Aggies catches a pass in front of Paulson Adebo #11 of the Stanford Cardinal during the second quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Keelan Doss #3 of the UC Davis Aggies catches a pass in front of Paulson Adebo #11 of the Stanford Cardinal during the second quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Oakland Raiders
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders talks on the sidelines with head coach Jon Gruden during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Turning the Page on Quarterback Speculation

We all saw the mock drafts and reports leading up to April 25. At No. 4, the Raiders were linked to quarterbacks Kyler Murray, Drew Lock and Dwayne Haskins until they selected defensive end Clelin Ferrell, which became a different type of shocker.

Carr, being human, heard the whispers about his job security in danger and grew tired of the speculation. He admits an open invite to fight ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman in the octagon may not have been the best response.

“Honestly, it got annoying after a while,” Carr said (per Raiders.com). “I’m like, ‘Really, they don’t have nothing else to talk about?’ And I didn’t help the situation, trying to challenge people to fights.”

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Again, it’s a human reaction when someone questions another person’s toughness in a physical sport, especially after playing through and coming back from gruesome injuries.

Carr’s pinky finger looked like a capital “L” when he jammed it in a game against the Carolina Panthers during the 2016 term. He drove his team downfield twice for a fourth-quarter comeback in that contest. The 28-year old also broke his leg later that season. In 2018, the five-year veteran took 51 sacks. There’s no room to question his fortitude.

What about Carr’s ability on the field? After the first OTA session, Gruden seemed fed up with questions about his quarterback. He refrained from providing criticism and looked through the lens of optimism.

"I think he’s pretty well respected as one of the best arm talents in football. I think he’s a lot more athletic than people think. I think if we can [maintain] continuity in this building with the system and with the supporting cast, improve the defense, I think he can be one of the best in football."

The Raiders didn’t waver on their stance concerning Carr. Before, during and after the draft, team brass touted him as the franchise quarterback. While many refused to believe the message, he’ll have another year under center for the Silver and Black.

Oakland added a massive right tackle in Trent Brown (6-8, 380 lbs) and arguably the league’s top wide receiver, Antonio Brown, along with one of this year’s coveted free agents in wide receiver Tyrell Williams.

There’s an in-house feeling that Carr will show improvement in his second season within Gruden’s system. Despite the fact he’ll work with a new set of receivers, the talent upgrades suggest we should see a much better version of the quarterback who’s experienced some struggles over the last two seasons.

If Carr wants to avoid the same chatter next offseason and remain the unquestioned starter for the franchise, he must show notable improvement. Even if the Raiders finish with a losing record, his production cannot hit a rut in a league that often asks, what have you done lately?

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