Power ranking all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks

13. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

The members of Raiders Nation are hoping Jon Gruden can ride in and get Derek Carr back to his Pro Bowl form that he showcased in 2016. Getting Carr back to that level of production is actually a very simple proposition. If the Raiders can find a way to give Carr a comfortable pocket, he can carve defenses up with his exceptional arm talent.

When Carr is feeling the pressure things go downhill pretty quickly. The fifth-year pro really panics when defenders get into his face. That’s a big reason why he threw 13 picks last season.

The chances of Gruden coaching him to make better decisions in the face of pressure are pretty small. He might convince him to throw the football away instead of forcing the ball into coverage, but that’s about it. Raiders fans need to accept the reality that Carr isn’t a quality quarterback when he’s under pressure.

As such, Gruden and his staff need to tailor their system to fit his strengths and diminish his weaknesses. That means a renewed emphasis on running the football. The less times Carr is forced to throw on obvious passing downs the better his production will be. Play action and early down throws will be his best friend moving forward.