Las Vegas Raiders: 3 reasons Derek Carr will outplay Justin Herbert in 2021
By Alex Perl
Las Vegas Raiders: 3 reasons Derek Carr will outplay Justin Herbert in 2021
Continuity
The Raiders are now going into their fourth season with head coach Jon Gruden, and the team has improved in the win column every season since his hire. The familiarity in the system has paid dividends for Carr, as he has also improved statistically every season under Gruden.
Carr has developed quite a rapport with the coach and is mastering the very complex system in which Gruden runs. When it comes to Herbert and the Chargers, this is the complete opposite, as the Chargers have a completely new coaching staff led by former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
The former defensive coordinator turned head coach recruited quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi from the New Orleans Saints to be his offensive coordinator. The move could be a winner or loser for Herbert and the Chargers, but one thing is for sure, Herbert has to learn a completely different playbook and system in only his second season.
Herbert does have the talent to overcome such setbacks, but to what degree? Also, how much of his rookie success was due to the playbook and play-calling from former head coach Anthony Lynn and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen?
The jury is still out on this, and we will just have to wait and see, but nevertheless, you would have to score another one for Derek Carr in this department.