Tough Loss Points to Bright Future For Oakland Raiders

Emerging Corner

It looks like corner T.J. Carrie has emerged right in front of Raider Nations very eyes on Sunday against the Chargers. After he gave up a 20-yard catch Malcolm Floyd, I thought, “Here we go again with this guy getting cooked.” Because from the preseason on to that play, it seemed like every time I saw him in the game, he was getting beat.

But last Sunday, after giving up that catch, Carrie didn’t give up another one as they tried him four more times and he had two passes defensed. Allen, who Carrie covered for most of the day, had 3 catches for only 27 yards as Floyd was the only one that scratched him. I didn’t see this coming from Carrie at all this year but the light seems to have come on for the rookie.

Tarrell Brown and Carlos Rogers are getting beaten like drums routinely so Carrie should easily be the starter going forward. Fellow corner and 2013 1st-round pick D.J. Hayden will be back at practice tomorrow so the Raiders’ pass defense will improve. If Hayden stays healthy and Carrie keeps on the way he is, corner won’t be a position of need as the Raiders continue to build.