Carr Connection: Ruggs Gives Raiders Threat

As the offseason progresses, no new game film exist, forcing fans to begin looking back on their team’s previous season. Time and time again, Derek Carr finds himself ranked in the top three deep passers in the NFL. While the general frustration surrounding Carr is his fondness of checkdowns and throwaways, Carr has been keeping a major secret from the rest of the league.

Drought

It has been quite some time since Carr enjoyed a top target. Now, the Raiders move to Las Vegas with two impressive targets: Henry Ruggs and Nelson Agholor. While Agholor has proven his ability to get deep behind defensive secondaries, he has also proven his inability to consistently catch. Henry Ruggs, on the other hand, has consistently proven his potential as an elite wide receiver, that makes the simplest route, a big play.

Need

The Raiders expected to bring in an elite wide receiver, similar to Ruggs, for the 2019 season, but things obviously did not work out. The Raiders were then forced to place Tyrell Williams into the #1 receiver spot. The changeup caused confusion for Carr’s outlook as well as the play calling specifically designed for an elite receiver. 

New Era

Bringing in Ruggs sets a precedent for the Raiders. Carr will now have his deep threat as well as an impressive receiver corps. While the questionable checkdowns and throwaways may not completely cease, fans can expect a significant decrease due to the bolstering of the roster. Despite the Raiders improving their wide receiver corps an impressive amount, their biggest addition is Henry Ruggs.

Tools

Ruggs brings proven speed, hands. Not only will Ruggs become Carr’s number one target, he will also free up space for Waller, Williams, Renfrow, and Edwards. The Raiders are poised for an impressive offensive onslaught. The talent is there for success at all offensive positions, but the biggest question mark is Carr’s confidence. Despite Carr being the question mark, it seems vastly unlikely he stirs up frustration similar to last year.

Last Chance for Carr?

Not only does Carr now have zero excuses for subpar play, but Marcus Mariota also sits as the backup. While the threat may push Carr to push his game to the limit, Mariota’s biggest influence on Carr will be heating his seat up. Mariota did not significantly impress in the 2019 season. Yet, perhaps the fear of losing his job will bring Carr’s intensity back. Hopefully, the addition of Ruggs to Carr’s repertoire will leave the Mariota situation nothing more than a hypothetical.