How Tony Sparano Can Coach Oakland Raiders Beyond 2014

Sep 28, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws the ball during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

Unleash Carr

For this whole thing with Moore and McFadden to work out, Sparano is going to have to remove quarterback Derek Carr’s training wheels. After watching Carr perform well throwing down the field this preseason, the game plan was to go short all the time in the regular season. That’s actually holding the offense back because opposing defenses have been stacking the box and and jumping short routes.

Trying too hard not to get beat instead of trying to win usually gets you beat much worse than when you’re trying to win. When a player proves to you that he’s the best quarterback you have, you have to believe in him, not hide him. Part of having a rookie quarterback is turnovers but Carr’s mind seems strong enough to handle that, come back and make good throws after.

Sparano seems like he’s willing to allow unleash Carr as he said a couple of days ago at a press conference, “Pushing the ball down the field is something we can do with Derek [Carr] and something we’d like to do here going forward.” There will be some rookie moments but as Carr starts to use that big arm down the field to guys like Moore, the Raiders will score more points.