In the 2015 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders showed several flashes of being a playoff team for years to come. Led with strong offensive play by quarterback Derek Carr and rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper, and a stellar defense led by linebacker Khalil Mack, the Raiders were one of the most improved teams in 2015.
One player that will be a key to their success in this upcoming season is the previously mentioned Derek Carr. The former Fresno State quarterback was a second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was a Pro Bowler in 2015 and put up phenomenal numbers. He threw for almost 4,000 yards with 32 touchdowns and a 91.1 passer rating. These impressive numbers look to be a sign of things to come for the 25-year-old quarterback. They also indicate that Carr may be the next great Raiders quarterback.
Derek Carr Bound for Stardom
Last season, Carr displayed a phenomenal pocket presence that is very rare to see from a quarterback in only his second NFL season. Carr improved tremendously from his rookie season in terms of efficiency. His completion percentage rose by three percent and his quarterback rating (QBR) rose by a whopping 11 points. Not only was Carr more efficient, he was also more productive. Carr threw for over 700 more yards in 2015 than he did in 2014. He also threw 11 more touchdowns with only one more interception. With these tremendous increases, Carr is certainly bound to improve yet again in 2016.
Mobility
In today’s NFL, having mobility and speed all over the field is becoming increasingly important for teams around the league. This is particularly true for quarterbacks, as the world has witnessed a new age of young, mobile quarterbacks take over the NFL in recent years. Quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck have experienced great success in the early years of their respective careers in part due to their scrambling abilities and ability to extend plays with their legs. In the first two years of his career, Carr has proven to be a rather mobile quarterback who can do essentially everything that a team would want from their quarterback.
Carr can extend plays with his legs, scramble when needed, and can pick up a few first downs as well. He also displayed big play ability with his legs, as his longest rush in 2015 was for 21 yards. Additionally, Carr had a career-long 41 yard rush in his rookie season.
Offensive Weapons
After his rookie season, the Raiders front office made it a point to acquire offensive weapons to place around Carr. Oakland certainly accomplished that goal, as they drafted both Amari Cooper and Clive Walford in addition to signing Michael Crabtree. These additions certainly played a key role in Carr’s phenomenal 2015 season, as did the rise of running back Latavius Murray into a Pro Bowler and the development of a solid offensive line.
In the end, Derek Carr is bound for an even better season in 2016, and he should become one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL next season.
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