Fansided

5 burning questions the Raiders must answer in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/TNS via Getty Images)
Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/TNS via Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 24: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders speaks with head coach Jon Gruden on the sidelines during their NFL game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 24: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders speaks with head coach Jon Gruden on the sidelines during their NFL game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

1. Is Derek Carr truly Jon Gruden’s quarterback?

There were a lot of mind and lip readers at work this past season whenever it was assumed that Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr and head coach Jon Gruden weren’t seeing eye-to-eye. The former’s performance in 2018 was erratic to say the best and it picked up somewhat from the previous year when the five-year pro didn’t quite look his three-time Pro Bowl self.

Over the past two seasons, the 2014 second-round pick from Fresno State has played and started all but one contest. There have been 41 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions. There have also been a combined 20 fumbles – 10 of those lost. It adds up to 33 turnovers in 31 regular-season outings. Now compare that to his first three seasons in the league. A total of 47 outings has seen the talented hurler throw 50 more TD passes (81) than interceptions (31). There were 25 fumbles, with 10 of those going to the other club. But there’s little doubt that the last two seasons has seen a bit of slippage in Carr’s play.

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So what does that mean in terms of the big picture and the Raiders’ franchise? With a new supporting cast and hopefully better play from the offensive line (Carr was sacked 51 times in 2018), could the 28-year-old performer recapture the form that made him a league MVP candidate in 2016? In any case, there’s probably a bit of pressure on a player that has seen a lot of teammates leave the organization the past two offseasons.

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