LAKE TAHOE – Joe Theismann is one of the most knowledgeable quarterback experts I’ve ever met.
I’ve talked the position with Theismann – a Super Bowl-winning quarterback for Washington and one hell of a good dude – many times. I jumped at the chance to do it again today at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship.
We talked about a lot of quarterback subjects (we will have a piece on his thoughts on the AFC West quarterbacks soon). Of course, the conversation turned to your Oakland Raiders and Jon Gruden and Derek Carr.
“This is going to be great for Oakland,” Theismann told RaidersSnakepit.com. “I love the Jon-Derek fit.”
Theismann said he often talked to Gruden when he was broadcasting. He said Gruden told him he’d only come back to coaching if the team had a quality quarterback in place.
“That was very important to Jon,” Theismann said. “So, clearly he feels very strongly about Derek and he should feel good about him.”
Theismann said he isn’t worried about Carr continuing to struggle in 2018.
He said he thought the play-calling of Todd Downing contributed to his down year as well as less than great play from his offensive teammates.
“It wasn’t all on Derek,” Theismann said. “There were other factors that I think will be cleared up.”
Theismann said the key for Carr is to stay within his own game. He said Carr has to just play his own game and not try to do too much. Carr admitted last year that was sometimes an issue.
Oh and Theismann has no concerns that Gruden will have rust after a decade away from the sideline.
“Anyone who thinks the game has passed Jon by is stupid,” Theismann said.
You gotta love Joe Theismann.
Gruden will get everything he has out of Carr, good or bad.
I do believe that Carr now has a better opportunity to become another HOF Raider QB.
Theismann is a good interview and I miss hearing him as a analyst on TV during games. I thought he was insightful.
Hope that the Gruden- Carr team will be effective. Time will tell.
I agree to an extent that Gruden will get Carr and the offense closer to the 2016 level. But, I do fear that Carr has issues which affect his play because of how his brother’s career went. He seems hesitant to take a hit and is more comfortable with a dump off. The thing that infuriates me the most about Derek is his penchant for the dump off when a Hail Mary is needed/required. I love the guy for the most part, but some of his warts are problematic for me.