Aug 15, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Lions 27-26. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Schaub’s elbow issues and Matt McGloin’s Pro Football Focus fuelled preseason hype aside, the wild card in the Oakland Raiders quarterback carousel in 2014 is going to be second round draft pick Derek Carr and the already impressive rookie is about to get his biggest chance to show what he can do when he features heavily tonight at home against the Seattle Seahawks.
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Several media outlets have reported that Carr will start for the Raiders tonight as well as being expected to feature well into the second half, perhaps getting a real good look at Carr’s potential as a starter or just ensuring their rookie gets as many snaps as possible before sticking with their plan of going with veteran Matt Schaub poor preseason or not.
Derek Carr will start tonight vs the #Seahawks..what will @BuckyBrooks look for from Carr & the #Raiders? Listen to him w/ #Haberkauff NOW!
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) August 28, 2014
Excited to watch #Raiders rookie QB Derek Carr start against Seattle. OFF should be much more explosive in the air
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) August 28, 2014
Getting the start against the Seattle Seahawks, Carr has his biggest chance to prove critics who doubted him after the USC pass rush (along with having a Mountain West offensive line in front of him) led to a subpar bowl game performance in what was his most high profile start and also his final collegiate chance to show that he was a first round talent to NFL scouts. Slipping to the second round and the Raiders, Carr can show that he can handle perhaps the most fearsome defense in the NFL against the defending Super Bowl champions.
Should Carr impress tonight it will be interesting to see how the week leading up to the Raiders regular season debut in New York plays out, the team plays on the road so Carr winning over the crowd tonight may be less of a factor but the growing support for going with any other option than the team’s original plan at quarterback is growing by the day. Another promising performance by Carr, this time with the first unit, may just push a decision to go with the rookie from Week One