The season got off to a rough start for the Oakland Raiders, but things are finally looking up for Jon Gruden‘s team. After a close loss to the Houston Texans last week, the Raiders came back with an answer in Week 9, beating the Detroit Lions, 31-24, to move to 4-4 on the season.
Much of the Raiders’ success, of course, can be attributed to quarterback Derek Carr as he is putting together perhaps his best NFL season.
Although Carr’s raw talent is undeniable, he himself feels that much of his success is thanks to his connection with Gruden as they continue to get more comfortable together, via Scott Bair of NBC Sports:
“We’re seeing the fruits of Coach Gruden and I being together,” Carr said. “We’ve been given time. This league does not give quarterbacks enough time to develop. This organization has done that. It has given me time. It’s steady. We know who the coach is and who the quarterback is. We have been allowed to grow.”
Although Carr and Gruden are only in their second year together, their chemistry has been undeniable. Carr has been the quarterback Gruden needs to execute his offensive schemes. On the other hand, Gruden has proven why he is such a revered coach, consistently making timely play calls each and every game.
Thus far, Carr and Gruden have only accomplished an 8-16 record, but time is on their side. Raiders owner Mark Davis seems committed to Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock‘s vision for the team heading forward while the young Raiders are still figuring out their identity as a team.
Carr, as one of the few veterans on the Raiders, is becoming very familiar with Gruden’s system. He believes that because of his knowledge of that, he can successfully operate in any scenario:
“The more you can be in the same system, the more confident you can be,” Carr said. “I can make that first [31-yard completion to Jalen Richard] because I know where the ball should go based on the coverage I get. There were a few times on blitzes where I know what to do, and we were able to get some big plays on things.
Carr, Gruden and the rest of the Raiders still have a lot to figure out, but they are definitely on their way. For the first time since 2016, the Raiders are in the mix for a playoff spot. With Carr and Gruden at the helm, anything may be possible for this Oakland squad.
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