Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

A First Look at Fresno State’s Quarterback Battle

47 minutes ago

Israeli Columnist Alleges Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Gaza

1 hour ago

Tesla to Roll out Bay Area Robotaxis With Safety Drivers, Report Says

2 hours ago

Thailand and Cambodia Exchange Heavy Artillery Fire as Border Battle Expands

3 hours ago

California Cannot Require Background Checks to Buy Ammunition, US Appeals Court Rules

1 day ago

TikTok Will Go Dark in US Without Chinese Approval of Sale Deal, Lutnick Says

1 day ago

Fresno County Authorities Still Searching for Missing Mother and Infant

1 day ago
Will Raiders Win Big This Year? It's All About Carr & Gruden.
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 7 years ago on
September 7, 2018

Share

ALAMEDA — When Jon Gruden was hired for a second stint as Oakland Raiders coach, there were immediately questions about how quarterback Derek Carr would respond to Gruden’s intensity, cursing and hands-on approach after four seasons with more low-key coordinators and defensive-minded head coaches.

“He wants me to get up in front of the room and show them the way I do things and hear it from my voice. Just the way the quarterback position is treated. He’s a quarterback guy, being the head coach is completely different.” — Derek Carr, Raiders quarterback
Carr laughed off those doubts, pointing out that he’s familiar with the swear words Gruden sometimes spews even if Carr doesn’t use them, and he said he welcomes the challenge of a coach who will always keep him on edge.
“I have to be on my game in front of my teammates,” Carr said. “It’s awesome, man. I absolutely love it. He wants me to get up in front of the room and show them the way I do things and hear it from my voice. Just the way the quarterback position is treated. He’s a quarterback guy, being the head coach is completely different.”
Carr began his career with Dennis Allen as head coach back in 2014 and Jack Del Rio came in the following year for three seasons. Their expertise was defense, leaving much of the offense and the tutoring of Carr to the coordinators.
It’s been completely different with Gruden in charge, as he will call the plays, runs the offensive meetings and frequently peppers Carr with questions about how he would handle all types of situations.

The Relationship Between Gruden and Carr

“Whenever we’re not doing something, we’re together,” Carr said. “If we’re in an offensive meeting. If we’re not in an offensive meeting, I’m sitting right next to him in the quarterback room. If I’m not in on a rep, I’m standing right by him. He’s (saying,) ‘Hey what do you think? What would you get to here? What would you do? What would you do?’ That’s the way it should be. He challenges me. He pushes me. He wants the best for me. You can tell that with his preparation every day. He’s ready every day to give me something to let me dominate that day. It’s awesome.”

“That’s the way it should be. He challenges me. He pushes me. He wants the best for me. You can tell that with his preparation every day. He’s ready every day to give me something to let me dominate that day. It’s awesome.” — Derek Carr, Raiders quarterback
The success of the relationship between Gruden and Carr will go a long way in determining the success of the Raiders this season as they try to bounce back from a disappointing six-win season.
After showing steady progress his first three seasons that helped Carr grow from a second-round pick in 2014 to a quarterback with MVP support in a breakthrough 2016, Carr took a major step back last season under first-time coordinator Todd Downing.
After breaking his leg in the next-to-last regular-season game in 2016 to cost him an opportunity to play in the postseason, Carr had another injury early last season when he broke a bone in his back in a Week 4 loss at Denver.
He missed only one game because of the injury but never looked completely comfortable in the pocket after that as he matched his career high with 13 interceptions and recorded his worst totals in yards, touchdowns and passer rating since his rookie year in 2014.
Carr has looked like a new quarterback in practice this season.

A Promising Young Quarterback

“Derek looks like a completely different person in my eyes, just from the way he’s attacking the game,” tight end Jared Cook said. “From the way he’s attacking the challenges that Gruden has been giving to him. Every time that Gruden asks him a question, he gets it right, no hesitation. Every time Gruden asks him to get up in front of a meeting room and call out a play, run a play, get to the right check, get to the right audible, he does it every time. That’s a responsibility that Derek never had last year. You see a totally different player out of him. He’s attacking the game differently mentally and he has a totally different attitude going in to this year.”

“He’s got tremendous leadership and style. But, I think we’re making progress. I can’t speak for him, but I sure enjoy coming in here and working with him every day.” — Jon Gruden, Raiders coach
The Raiders hope that translates on the field starting with Monday night’s opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Carr didn’t get tested much in the preseason, playing just two drives.
But Gruden has done his best to challenge him at practice and sees the quarterback he was so high on back at the “Gruden QB Camp” four years ago. Gruden has never had a promising young quarterback like Carr.
He had success with veteran Rich Gannon his first time in Oakland and won a Super Bowl with Brad Johnson in Tampa Bay. But Gruden struggled to find a consistent passer in his later years with the Buccaneers. He believes Carr can be that guy.
“I try not to over-coach him,” Gruden said. “He is a blast to be around. He is extremely talented. He’s a great worker. We’re trying to give him a system that he can sink his teeth into and take control of when the game starts. He’s got tremendous leadership and style. But, I think we’re making progress. I can’t speak for him, but I sure enjoy coming in here and working with him every day.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

New Madera Bypass Project Aims to Ease Traffic on Highway 41 Near Tesoro Viejo

DON'T MISS

Key Player in California’s Water Wars Embraces Controversial Newsom Plan

DON'T MISS

A First Look at Fresno State’s Quarterback Battle

DON'T MISS

Israeli Columnist Alleges Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Gaza

DON'T MISS

US States to Get $608 Million From FEMA to Build Migrant Detention Centers

DON'T MISS

Trump: Strong Dollar Sounds Good but ‘You Make a Hell of a Lot More’ With a Weaker One

DON'T MISS

US Appeals Court Rejects Challenge to Washington Laws Concerning Transgender Minors

DON'T MISS

Tesla to Roll out Bay Area Robotaxis With Safety Drivers, Report Says

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He Has Not Considered Clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Felon in Connection With Drive-by Shooting

UP NEXT

The Entz Era Begins at Fresno State With QB Job Up for Grabs

UP NEXT

US Olympic Officials Bar Transgender Women From Women’s Competitions

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens Washington Stadium Deal Unless NFL Team Readopts Redskins Name

UP NEXT

Age Is Just a Number: 80-Year-Old Conquers Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Ultramarathon

UP NEXT

Wonderful Co. Has a New Face Promoting Pistachios: MVP Josh Allen

UP NEXT

Uber Named Official Rideshare, Delivery Partner for Los Angeles Games

UP NEXT

Trump to Attend Club World Cup Final, FIFA Opens Office in Trump Tower

UP NEXT

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

UP NEXT

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

UP NEXT

Boxer Chavez Jr Expected to Be Deported to Mexico to Serve Sentence, Mexican President Says

Israeli Columnist Alleges Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Gaza

1 hour ago

US States to Get $608 Million From FEMA to Build Migrant Detention Centers

1 hour ago

Trump: Strong Dollar Sounds Good but ‘You Make a Hell of a Lot More’ With a Weaker One

2 hours ago

US Appeals Court Rejects Challenge to Washington Laws Concerning Transgender Minors

2 hours ago

Tesla to Roll out Bay Area Robotaxis With Safety Drivers, Report Says

2 hours ago

Trump Says He Has Not Considered Clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell

3 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Felon in Connection With Drive-by Shooting

3 hours ago

US Clears Way for $8 Billion Paramount-Skydance Merger

3 hours ago

Thailand and Cambodia Exchange Heavy Artillery Fire as Border Battle Expands

3 hours ago

Trump Says US May Not Have a Negotiated Trade Deal With Canada

3 hours ago

New Madera Bypass Project Aims to Ease Traffic on Highway 41 Near Tesoro Viejo

After nearly three decades of planning, Madera County officials officially broke ground Thursday on a major road project that promises to ea...

7 minutes ago

7 minutes ago

New Madera Bypass Project Aims to Ease Traffic on Highway 41 Near Tesoro Viejo

Salmon on California's American River
29 minutes ago

Key Player in California’s Water Wars Embraces Controversial Newsom Plan

47 minutes ago

A First Look at Fresno State’s Quarterback Battle

Palestinians inspect the damage at an UNRWA school sheltering displaced people that was hit in an Israeli air strike on Sunday, in Gaza City, June 30, 2025. (Reuters/Mahmoud Issa)
1 hour ago

Israeli Columnist Alleges Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Gaza

An aerial view shows "Alligator Alcatraz" ICE detention center at Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida, U.S. July 24, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

US States to Get $608 Million From FEMA to Build Migrant Detention Centers

President Donald Trump speaks after disembarking Marine One, as he departs for Scotland, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., July 25, 2025. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
2 hours ago

Trump: Strong Dollar Sounds Good but ‘You Make a Hell of a Lot More’ With a Weaker One

Family members and advocates gather inside the Lutheran Church of the Reformation near the U.S. Supreme Court after justices supported a Republican-backed ban in Tennessee on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, during a rally in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 18, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

US Appeals Court Rejects Challenge to Washington Laws Concerning Transgender Minors

A Tesla robotaxi drives on the street along South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, U.S., June 22, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Tesla to Roll out Bay Area Robotaxis With Safety Drivers, Report Says

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend