New Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio appears to be happy with second-year quarterback Derek Carr.
The veteran defensive coach shared these comments on Monday’s Jim Rome Show.
Carr’s a special young talent. He’s got a really quick release, good decision-maker; he’s shown some of that grit we’re looking for, some of that toughness, so he’s a guy that we feel like we have an opportunity to build around.
While Carr did have his struggles in 2014, he also had an inconsistent receiving unit to work with and seemed to look more comfortable as the season grew on.
The 2014 season saw Carr outperform the entire rookie class of quarterbacks, three first round picks included. He put up 3,270 yards with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in an impressive debut season. It’s also important to note that Carr helped the Raiders overcome a 16-game losing streak and wins three games on the year.
These certainly aren’t the type of numbers most teams would brag about. However, they can be seen as positives for a previously fledgling Raiders team.
Elated to be coaching his “hometown team,” Del Rio’s presence should help boast the Raiders morale following some disastrous seasons.
It’s a little bit of dream come true. I grew up in Hayward, which is about 10 miles away”, Del Rio said on the show. “So being able to come home from a storied franchise like this and the welcome I’ve had from the Raider Nation has been awesome.
A promising young quarterback in Carr and $50 million in salary cap room could have the Raiders spending some good money to secure more quality players to begin the 2015 season. This would certainly help Carr’s improvement moving forward.
Photo: Fansided