Going from Jack Del Rio to Jon Gruden may not exactly be a magic fix to all of the Oakland Raiders’ problems.
In an appearance this week on 95.7 The Game in the Bay Area, Greg Papa, the longtime radio voice of the Raiders, reported that quarterback Derek Carr lost the faith of the team’s coaching staff towards the end of the 2017 season.
“This coaching staff turned on Derek Carr,” said Papa, according to Jon Breech of CBS Sports. “After the Kansas City game [a 26-15 loss in Week 14], they called him out in front of a whole team meeting. It wasn’t just the offense or the quarterbacks, [or] a segment of the team. It was the whole team. And they ripped him in front of everybody, and Derek’s a prideful guy.”
After two consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns (including leading the Raiders to a remarkable 12-4 record last season), Carr came tumbling back to earth in 2017. He threw for 3,496 yards (his lowest since his rookie year) with 22 touchdowns to 13 interceptions as the Raiders finished just 6-10.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that Gruden and his new coaching staff (which could include this legendary Raider) give Carr a longer leash and create a more positive environment to help him succeed. But ultimately, the Raiders may continue to disappoint until their franchise QB starts performing.
