ODD Couple

Gruden, Carr bring diverse personalities, same goal

- Michael Wagaman

Jon Gruden has always had a passion for working with quarterbacks and he’s had great success doing so. He turned journeyman Rich Gannon into an MVP then later helped turn Rob Johnson in Tampa Bay into a Super Bowl winner.

Now for the first time in his NFL coaching career, Gruden inherits a young quarterback in Derek Carr who seemed on the fast track to join the league’s elite before regressing in 2017 after the team changed offensive coordinators.

Getting Carr back on track will be one of Gruden’s top priorities as he settles in for his second go-round with the Raiders.

“It is very exciting,” Gruden said. “I think there is a huge ceiling in Derek Carr. I think he has proven that. It’s up to us as a coaching staff to improve around him, get more consistent, and come up with an offense that really allows him to soar into another level. It is exciting and I think if I was a Raiders fan, I would come every week very excited to see No. 4 under center.”