Derek Carr
Derek Carr has had a respectable first five years of his career, but it is time for him to make the next big step in his career. Even though Carr did have career highs in completions, completion percentage, and yards in 2018, he did have a career low in touchdowns and touchdown percentage.
There is much more that goes into Derek Carr’s decrease in success than just his own skill set, as he was sacked a career high 51 times in 2018, but it is clear that he was not the same Derek Carr we saw in 2016. Carr is hesitant to scramble, does not take the same risks that he used to, decreasing his ability to extend plays, and making less big plays in general than he used to.
This could be credited to the new offensive scheme he is in, but throwing the ball away on fourth down seems like more than getting used to Gruden’s offense.
There are many excuses that can be made about why Derek Carr has not returned to his former self, and whether one believes the blame can be put on him or not, he needs to find a way to do more in 2019.
Sometimes the best quarterbacks in the NFL have to make due with what they have, whether it is an injury filled team, or a roster that lacks talent, the best quarterbacks find a way to win games, and Derek Carr needs to do just that.