2020 NFL Power Rankings: Cowboys defense has hopes high
By Randy Gurzi
28. . . Previous: 24th. Las Vegas Raiders. 28. team
The Las Vegas Raiders fall from 24 to 28
It’s getting harder and harder to take the Derek Carr defenders seriously. Ever since Jon Gruden took over the Las Vegas Raiders (for his second stint) there has been speculation that Gruden was going to go after his own guy.
Fans have vehemently denied these rumors claiming Gruden is happily committed to Carr. That came in question when he signed Marcus Mariota, the former No. 2 overall pick of the Tennessee Titans in the offseason. Again, the detractors said he was there simply for depth and not competition.
Now that camp has started, even the most ardent Carr supporters have to have at least raised an eyebrow at the way Gruden droned on and on about Mariota and what he brings to the table. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Gruden called him a “dazzling playmaker” and said he had him fired up.
Marcus Mariota “really fired me up today,” Gruden said. “He has turned a corner with his ankle (injury) and he is a dazzling playmaker. He had a very nice day.” #Raiders
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 14, 2020
Maybe it’s just coach speak but Gruden seems to do nothing to stop the rumors — but if we are being honest, neither has Carr. While he did improve in 2019, he has led them to five losing seasons in his six years. No, that;’s not fair to put it all on the quarterback but that’s how it goes in the NFL.
This season will be huge for Carr. He has more weapons around him following the draft and if he can’t start winning games, the Mariota experiment could begin in Vegas.