In each of the previous five years, Derek Carr arrived at training camp with the starting job in hand, without fear of looking over his shoulder at a replacement-in-waiting. The signing of veteran Marcus Mariota changes things a bit. For one, head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock gave Mariota a contract that
Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota faced with unfamiliar situations after years of status quo
Carr’s arm > Mariota
Carr’s grasp of the offense > Mariota
Mariota’s mobility > Carr
Mariota’s ability to improvise > Carr
Gruden’s offense doesn’t necessitate a big arm. Carr has the advantage of 2 years in Gruden’s offense but Mariota, once he comes up to speed, can become effective. The ability to improvise when things break down is a clear advantage for Mariota. I saw a video of Mariota running like 60 yards for a TD when the pocket collapsed. We’d never see that from Carr.
It will be a push between the two once Mariota learns the offense. We’ll see.
I have a name, Jalen Hurts. Not being tied to Carr or Mariota long term tells me that Gruden is looking hard for “his” QB.
And its just as easy to keep both QBs around next season too, but I am doubtful that happens.
I still say that if Gruden and Mayock get a serious offer for Carr during the draft, he is gone.
Just can’t shake the feeling that the all seeing eyes in Foxboro are looking at Carr and lining up a trade bid…. Mariota takes the reins this year and Gruden picks Hurts to be his man going forward.
Makes a lot of sense…..
Hmmmm, I could see that. The Raiders don’t have a second-round pick, while Belichick stockpiles those like a kid hoarding Good ‘N’ Plenty. Gruden would have Mariota in place, could draft another quarterback, then use the $16.5 million in freed-up cap room to add more players. Something does suggest that Gruden isn’t through remaking his quarterbacks room. Great comment, Andy, as usual.
I keep hearing Jalen Hurts linked to the Raiders. Scary thought. Not a fan of his accuracy and decision-making. I’ll break down more film, seek the opinion of two scouts, then write about Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts.
Wow, Andy, that is an interesting thought! I am not sure that Carr has the fire that Belichick enjoyed with Brady (maybe that is a good thing?). I just hope that whoever the QB is for the Raiders, that QB brings wins! I’ve lost faith that Carr is the QB to do that, but am open to him proving all of us naysayers wrong!
So, taking Andy’s and ThankAVet’s comments together, the Raiders trade Carr to the Pats for the Pats’ first round pick (No. 23)? I don’t see that the Pats have a second round pick. Then, they either find a way into the late second round and draft Hurts or hope he is there in the third? Which round is Hurts projected to go in?
Or, the Pats trade out of their first round pick to get into the second round and trade that second rounder to the Raiders for Carr?
Either way, if Belichick thinks Carr could be his guy, he will do everything he can to make Carr a winner which would chafe us Raiders fans to no end, no doubt!
Michelle, maybe a trade might put the fire there – a giant sized chip on the shoulder which might come back at us as you say….
On trade details, I don’t claim any expertise but would think a first would be too much for NE to pay straight up…. probably want DC and our final third rounder but I bow to others expertise on that. A trade back from 23 into the second or end of the first would be great but, come draft time, Hurts’ stock may have risen so far we have to take him in the first anyway.
All speculation right now, of course!!
If the pats offer a 1st for Carr, he is gone. No way Gruden and Mayock pass that up.
Gruden loves college QBs who win. Hurts won a lot of games. At times looked ugly, or relied on his D, doing it. But the games go down in the win column non the less.
Gruden said the same thing about Mariota, the guy we just signed.
Gruden also, and this scares the crap out of me, loved the same thing about Manziel. Shaking my head just thinking about that again.
I am not ruling out anything when it comes to Gruden and QBs, on the team or otherwise.
Well, when you invoke Johnny Manziel and how much Gruden loved him, that is a scary thought. Almost forgot how much Gruden stumped for Manziel that year. Yikes.
I’m so glad we just need a QB. Because the team is full of stars. Carr is a top 15 qb we dont have hardly any other players at are in the top 15 in there group. It’s a short list RB, TE, DE, C, G and T if he can play 16 games.
I hated at the end of the year when Carr though the ball away when he could have run for a 1st down. I also remember Carr doing a cartwheel over a defender on the sideline. I say we roll the dice one more time and add WR to my list as top 15.