Las Vegas Raiders

Derek Carr Ready to Step up to Elite Quarterback Status

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates after completing a two point conversion to take the lead during the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Raiders defeated the Saints 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Derek Carr looks like he has arrived among the game’s elite!

When quarterback Derek Carr first went to the Oakland Raiders, you can tell he was different. He didn’t start out as an elite quarterback but he wasn’t like the other 17 starting QBs since 2002. The Raiders have always had big-armed QBs but Carr could actually handle himself.

He never looked lost, out of place or like the NFL game was simply too big for him. There wasn’t much around him like the other quarterbacks between 2002 and 2014. But he got all that he could with what little was around him, managing to look good in the process.

Instead of complaining and blaming others, he worked hard to make himself better. Carr kept his goal of starting a winning culture on his childhood team in mind. His hope was that at some point, the organization would surround him with talented, hard-working players like himself.

And through free agency and the draft the last few years, the Raiders added such players to him. Carr grew throughout this process and in Year 3, he looks ready to step up to elite status. He shootout with elite quarterback Drew Brees is a sign of it.

Turn the page for a look at his evolution.

Sep 21, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) blocks a pass by Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie Year

The Raiders picked Carr at the beginning of the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. So his situation was no different than a quarterback that went in the top 10. He went 3-13 as a rookie, but had his moments, showing the NFL wasn’t too big for him.

He almost out-Bradyed New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in his own back yard. Carr had the Raiders near the goal line as the Patriots led 16-9 with time running out. But the Patriots intercepted a pass that bounced off then Raiders receiver Denarius Moore’s chest.

Carr didn’t light it up as a rookie but showed the poise and mental fortitude of an elite quarterback. And he would get his 4th-quarter comeback later on in the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. Raider Nation was excited to what he could do making the jump to Year 2.

To make that jump, he needed to connect on the deep ball more and work better against the blitz. Carr went 15-of-71 for two TDs on deep balls and his passer rating was 61.2 against the blitz. He completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 3,270 yards 21 TDs to just 12 INTs for the season.

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks to pass during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Year 2

Carr’s problem throwing the ball down the field as a rookie was his receivers not getting open. So the Raiders drafted Amari Cooper in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. They also brought in Michael Crabtree in free agency that offseason.

And with those weapons, Carr made that jump to Year 2 with a new head coach and system. He completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 3,987 yards, 32 TD, 13 INTs and a QB rating of 91.1. Only Dan Marino threw more TD passes in his first two seasons in NFL history.

And yes, connecting down the field and performing against the blitz were a big part of it. He was 25-of-67 for 12 TDs throwing deep and had a quarterback rating of over 100 vs the blitz. That’s how quarterback win so Carr’s jump to Year 2 included a much improved 7-9 record.

Coming from behind in the fourth quarter is also how you win and Carr did that four times in 2015. That makes five in his first two years as Brady and Peyton Manning had eight a piece at that point. So you can see he’s well on his way to be an elite quarterback.

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws against the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1 of Year 3

For Carr to end up with elite quarterback status, he would have to make another jump to Year 3. It’s usually around that time that we find out if he is either elite or elite quarterback material. From what we saw in Week 3 against the Saints, he’s already there.

Carr completed 63 percent of his passes for 319 yards, 1 TD and a quarterback rating of 98.5. He was accurate on his deep balls and ate the blitz up with 120 quarterback rating against it. He even somersaulted at the end of a run to pick up a first down and 3rd-and-9.

Then at the end of the game, Carr out-Breesed elite quarterback Drew Brees. He brought the Raiders back from a 14-point deficit to throw the game winning TD and 2-point conversion. Carr showed his improvement and imposed his will on the Saints.

In Week 1, everyone is hard to beat at home, especially the Saints in that loud Super Dome. But if you saw the look in Carr’s eyes before the last drive, you knew what was going to happen. The rest of the NFL is definitely on notice about Carr going forward.

Bottom Line

In the NFL, you can’t succeed if you can’t make completions down the field and handle the blitz. Obviously, your arm talent dictates what your ability to complete passes down the field. Your ability to think quickly and work ethic dictate what you do against the blitz.

You have to make quick decisions and that takes preparation set your protections correctly. The elite quarterbacks in this league are among the hardest-working, best prepared football players. That’s why they eat the blitz up and can throw the ball down the field with success.

Elite quarterbacks also come through under pressure with 4th-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives. They make their respective teams believe they’re always in the game. That belief is the biggest impact a quarterback can make on his team.

Carr put the work in since entering the NFL and has improved his deep ball, hitting Cooper Sunday. And to a man, the Raiders knew they would get that game-winning TD and 2-point conversion. From where I’m sitting, it looks like Carr is arriving as an elite quarterback.