Q&A with Derek Carr: Why the quarterback believes big things are ahead for the Raiders
Prior to Derek Carr joining a Wednesday morning Zoom meeting with his Valley Children’s Healthcare DC4Kids supporters, the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback had a couple visitors at his home in Nevada.
Rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III and rookie running back Lynn Bowden Jr. were getting lessons.
“Having a walkthrough in my living room,” Carr said. “They wanted to come over and teach them the playbook and go through it and give them details.”
Carr said he has stayed busy in the offseason working out with most of his offensive teammates at a park.
Carr said this Raiders team is close, comparing them to his Fresno State 2013 team when the Bulldogs went 11-2 and won the Mountain West Conference.
“I think we have a special group,” he said. “The 2013 Fresno State team, we were so close and tight. That’s the (kind of) group we have and I’m excited for the season.
“We have a healthy receiver group and you’ll see a lot more touchdowns. It’s going to be a fun year.”
Here is the rest of the Q&A with Carr:
Q: In 2016, you guys had a playoff run, but the following season things crumbled. However, the team improved last season. You talked about how close this team is. Can you elaborate about what gives you hope?
The next year (after 2016) we added more talent and talent doesn’t always mean success. We ended up getting a new coach and they ended up saying we’re going in a different way. They rebuilt the team all over again, which is the third time I’ve been through that and you sit there and watch. But the thing I’ve seen about what we’ve done this time is we don’t keep the best players in the room; we keep the best person, and as long as the talent gap isn’t too much ... if there’s a guy that out of a 100 is a 98 or a guy that is a 92 they’re going to keep 92 because that’s a better guy. What I’ve seen with that is when things get tough and when they may be a little banged-up and when people may doubt them, their work ethic doesn’t change. They stay the same and stay the course and trust the process and they listen to their coach; they obey and honor what he’s teaching. The more I just watch this happen, and it’s not even been a few guys, it’s the whole team. When you have the whole team going in that direction, that’s a recipe for success. Does it equal wins? In a way, yes, but it doesn’t promise you anything. You still have to do the work to do and all that, but I will say that what coach (Jon) Gruden is doing and what (general manager) Mr. (Mike) Mayock is doing ... this is the best thing that’s ever happened to the Raiders. I say that not as a knock to everybody else, but the way they’re doing it together it’s been really impressive to watch those two work together and work their tail off. I’ve been around great coaches; I’ve been around a great GM and I’ve been around all those things, but from the top down, everything is working one heartbeat and going in the same direction. You saw it the first year, we blew the whole team up and it was a tough year, and the next year they picked us to win five games and guess what? We came out, honestly we should’ve won nine, 10, and if it wasn’t for me sliding inbounds and then calling it out and a two-point conversion at the end of the game where a lazy defensive lineman put his hand up, we’re talking about a different story. I say my hope and my faith is there because I’ve seen it and it doesn’t change whether we win or lose. They came out and they’re the same people everyday ... our team is. I would say my excitement level is because of their commitment and consistency. Everyone can be great once a day. Everyone can be great every now and then, but to be great and get great effort on a consistent basis everyday, every single day of the week, every year, year in and year out, not a lot of people can do that. We have a group, a team, a lot of guys that do that everyday. That’s where my excitement comes from.
Q: You had a throwing session with Ruggs and Bowden recently. You mentioned they came over to your house. Does that excite you to know they want to learn the playbook before training camp?
Those are the little things I’m talking about. They reached out to me and said, ‘Can we come over?’
Q: Last season, you broke Ken Stabler’s record for most passing yards in franchise history. You have a chance to break his touchdowns record, just needing eight. When you break that record, how do you think you’re going to reflect on that?
That is going to be insane. That’s all I have been hearing about from my dad growing up, hearing only about Stabler. It was surreal for him and for me. The one thing I regret is never meeting him. With that being said, it is something I’m trying to do with respect and honor. I know of his greatness as a football player.
Q: This is the Raiders’ first year not playing on the baseball field. Do you have wounds on you that you’re taking with you to Allegiant Stadium?
There’s one right here (pointing at his arm). I got one here on my knee. It’s nice when teams would come, they would walk on the field and try to sack me or slip. They tell me they don’t like this field and I was like, ‘You’re talking about my home.’ I am going to miss it, I’m taking the scars with me. To know we have grass on the whole field is a nice thing for me.
Q: If you could pick one team you want to open the season against, which team would that be and why?
I was kind of hoping we get the Chiefs the first week. It reminds me of my days at Fresno State when we played against Boise State and we beat them in my final year. You want to play them right away. I want to beat Brady and beat them (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) pretty good. They got a good young team, and with all due respect, you always want to play the best and we have the opportunity to do that this season.
Q: By moving to Las Vegas, did that present any challenges and how has the preparation been in advance of the season with the coronavirus?
We definitely have to be creative, that’s for sure. Mandates, keeping up with that is a whirlwind. I think moving out here was a blessing during all the COVID stuff. Having an electrician come out was delayed. We’re settled in and going into the season with no stress. It’s a blessing that we’ve been able to be here so long.
Q: This is your third year with Gruden. Quite different when coaches came and went when you arrived in 2014. How do you look at this season?
We have an advantage third year in the system. The number has gone up and as we add the new guys, our team is getting better. We were a top 10 offense and nobody wants to talk about that, and we’re healthier and we’ve added more talent. The sky’s the limit and we’re at an advantage, but for the most part we’ve played together and had a big advantage. To be honest, they were talking about playing without fans. I love the excitement and home field advantage. I love all that stuff and I just want to play football.
