Derek Carr
You have to feel for Derek Carr a little bit here. He’s once again learning a new system, so there is definitely going to be bumps in the road. However, it will never matter how profound he is in any system if he doesn’t shake the mentality of trying to be a hero.
Carr wants to do so much in one play that it’s leading to his downfall, which is his decision making. Coaches can correct mechanics, but changing a player’s mindset is difficult. That’s something that is going to take time and it might not even be possible. To mold someone’s psyche is a toss up because it varies from person to person.
Can Derek Carr pump the brakes on trying to force a play? Only time will tell, but it’s something we’ve seen from him for years. Gruden and Carr finally acknowledged that about him during their postgame press conference.
Now that it’s been publicly acknowledged, they have to correct that. If they don’t, then Derek is not the quarterback of the future. Decision making is a critical trait for a quarterback. Situational awareness is as well. Five of Carr’s interceptions have been on first down. Those interceptions weren’t even from taking a deep shot.
Derek Carr has league-worst 5 INTs on 1st down this season for #Raiders
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) October 7, 2018
At least if they were, it’d essentially be a punt. These interceptions have been at critical moments of a game that are complete momentum killers and this is a team that desperately needs momentum.
It’s unfortunate that Gruden put Carr in that spot on the Chargers one yard line, but that throw was inexcusable. It’s easily one of if not his worst interception of his career. Some of his throws were off this game as well.
Next week he’s going to have to polish himself and be ready when the Raiders take on the Seattle Seahawks in London.