With The First Pick
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Derek Carr Ready to Step up to Elite Quarterback Status

By Carl Cockerham

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates after completing a two point conversion to take the lead during the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Raiders defeated the Saints 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates after completing a two point conversion to take the lead during the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Raiders defeated the Saints 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks to pass during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks to pass during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Year 2

Carr’s problem throwing the ball down the field as a rookie was his receivers not getting open. So the Raiders drafted Amari Cooper in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. They also brought in Michael Crabtree in free agency that offseason.

And with those weapons, Carr made that jump to Year 2 with a new head coach and system. He completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 3,987 yards, 32 TD, 13 INTs and a QB rating of 91.1. Only Dan Marino threw more TD passes in his first two seasons in NFL history.

And yes, connecting down the field and performing against the blitz were a big part of it. He was 25-of-67 for 12 TDs throwing deep and had a quarterback rating of over 100 vs the blitz. That’s how quarterback win so Carr’s jump to Year 2 included a much improved 7-9 record.

Coming from behind in the fourth quarter is also how you win and Carr did that four times in 2015. That makes five in his first two years as Brady and Peyton Manning had eight a piece at that point. So you can see he’s well on his way to be an elite quarterback.

Next: Week 1 of Year 3

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