The Oakland Raiders made headlines when they managed to bring head coach Jon Gruden out of retirement to help turn their fortunes around. It appears he has already gotten off to a good start with quarterback Derek Carr.
There was plenty of optimism that the two would hit it off. Carr solidified that notion during an appearance on the Jim Rome Show:
“Everything I dreamed of and thought of about him, it’s been all that and then some,” Carr said. “We are so similar. It’s so funny. When he was going to be a coach, the number one question was like, ‘How are you guys going to get along?’ And both of us would just sit there and laugh together. . . . We love football, we want to win, we love to compete. We love to demand from one another. I demand from him, he demands from me. I’m in his ear every day, ‘What do you have for me today? What are you teaching me today?’ And he’s in there pushing me. I can complete in practice — go 30 for 31, we’ll spend an hour talking about that one I missed and how it can be the difference in a game. And that’s exactly how I want it.”
Carr's comments are music to the ears of Raider fans everywhere. There was some concern that Gruden's intense approach would be a bit overwhelming for the young quarterback. However, it seems Carr is already accustomed to his new head coach.
It goes without saying that there is plenty of work to do. Carr was once pegged as a potential MVP-candidate before his tumultuous 2017 campaign. Oakland has since done what they can to help prepare him for a bounce-back year.
While it is encouraging to hear Carr sing Gruden's praises, only time will tell whether or not they are able to put it together on the field. Oakland has set high expectations for the 2018 season. They will not have the luxury of getting off to another slow start in what is expected to be a competitive AFC West Division.
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