Aug 15, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub (8) prepares to take a snap against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Assessing Matt Schaub
When it comes to assessing Matt Schaub, it’s very simple. He’s proven effective, but looked terrible last season. Which Schaub are you going to get moving forward? The answer lies in the team’s ability to bring out the best in the veteran QB. Can you surround him with a strong offensive line? Does he have a running game that takes the pressure off pushing the ball downfield? Do you have a competent defense ready to step up when you struggle?
In the NFL, a quarterback’s success is determined by these specific factors. Dennis Allen and Reggie McKenzie feel they can give their QB these types of luxuries in 2014. When it came to acquiring a new quarterback this off-season, they knew they had to bring in the best option available. When free-agency began, Matt Schaub was the obvious and only option. Oakland needed to bring in a veteran QB, period.
Entering the 2014 off-season, McKenzie obviously had money to spend. Much speculation surrounded Matt Schaub’s future, but no one knew how it might play out. McKenzie knew he would receive a late round pick for Pryor and he easily abandoned a 6th round pick for the risky veteran. If anyone expected the Raiders to acquire a Pro Bowl QB this summer, they’re lost in delusion if you go back and look at the weak market for proven talent.
Fans need to realize the Raiders had extra change to throw at Schaub. After restructuring his contract, Schaub will earn most of his initial salary; but Oakland has the ability to dump him next season if it doesn’t work out. Why is everyone mad that we paid him half of Jay Cutler’s salary? I’d rather take my chances on an average 1-year deal than be stuck with an underachieving QB that I’ve overpaid for 7 years.
What is experience and advice worth in the NFL? If Schaub ensures Carr and Mcloin don’t “lose their mojo” like he did, then I view it as money well spent. According to Spotrac.com, Schaub is the 18th highest-paid-presumed starting quarterback. In my opinion, the only player that deserves to earn more would be Andrew Luck ($1.2 million less). I can live with that.
If Schaub doesn’t earn the starting role then turn your attention to a 2nd round draft pick and an UFA that McKenie hand-picked. Fans need to stop discrediting and bashing their own GM and head coach. Why isn’t the Raiders quarterback situation considered a win-win? It should be. No one knows the starter and everyone has an opinion on who it should be. Options anyone?
You have to understand that Oakland needs to give Schaub every opportunity to be their 2014 starter. In order to reproduce his confidence they needed to show him they’re confident in his ability to lead, just as they did for Matt Flynn last season. Flynn disrespected his old GM by failing on all levels, and McKenie couldn’t have seen that coming. If you’re a proven quarterback in the league, then it’s your job to lose, and he lost it. The discussion regarding Schaub and Flynn’s sore elbow pattern is irrelevant. Team’s miss on QBs all the time and Oakland shouldn’t be ridiculed because they lacked of options. The Raiders organization is not clueless.
Dennis Allen continuously naming Matt Schaub the starter is not a game. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t know what he’s doing. It shouldn’t relay an inability to assess a quarterback or manage a football team. For number 1, he is standing firm in his evaluation process. Just because Carr was drafted high doesn’t mean he should start right away. Carr may have lit up the defending champs the other night; but it was preseason.
Matt Schaub is being given every opportunity to win and rightfully so. If he fails to do so, don’t blame DA. The Raiders cannot abandon Schaub’s ship just yet as we all knew the Raiders quarterback situation was going to be a process. With 3 players being a determining factor, the young QBs needed to provide reliability while Schaub simply needs a team to believe in him again. With poor blocking and receivers failing to get open, Allen knows Schaub needs improvement from his supporting cast before giving up on the veteran. This is why Oakland will wait until the last minute to conclude this decision.