Raiders Opinion: High Octane Offense Looks To Break Scoreboard

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When the Las Vegas Raiders committed to competing for excellence in the AFC West by trading for Davante Adams, the team also provided Derek Carr with the most offensive talent he has ever had. Adams will join Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow, Josh Jacobs, and Kenyan Drake as Carr’s main options. In 2016, when equipped with Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, Carr led both receivers to 1000+ yard seasons and thirteen combined touchdowns.

More Is Less

Despite Adams going over 1000 receiving yards in three of the last four seasons, it is very possible that the trend does not continue in his first year in Las Vegas, simply due to the number of targets Carr has to utilize. If Adams came to Las Vegas to pad his stats, he may have come to the wrong place. As many have noticed, Carr is very reliant on the players he trusts, and with at least three years of experience with Renfrow and Waller under his belt, it would be shocking to see Adams taking a massive chunk of the duo’s targets from the start.

Old Friends, New Place

However, Adams is not exactly a new face to Carr, as the pair spent two years playing together at Fresno State University. With the last time the two shared a uniform being over ten years ago, there could very well be some (team chemistry-based) rust to shake off. Regardless of how quickly the chemistry will click, acquiring Adams has Carr poised to earn every penny of the extension he is reportedly preparing to sign, en route to what should be his most productive season.

Stacking Stats

As the Raiders continue to find pieces to add to their offensive arsenal, Carr has increased his passing yards in each of the last five seasons, with last year’s 701-yard jump being the largest in this stretch. While a similar jump would put him near 5,400 passing yards and Peyton Manning’s 5,477-yard record, repeating his growth should not be expected (despite being possible). With Waller, Renfrow, and Adams garnering increased defensive attention, the Raiders should have more space to involve Jacobs, Drake, and currently less-than-star receivers like Bryan Edwards in the passing game.

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Improves Team Dynamic

Due to Adams’ unmatched level of talent, he also brings the ability for his teammates to improve and shine in their own right. An additional bright spot to mix in with this dangerous offense is Carr’s ability to exploit one-on-one coverages. Should Adams warrant double coverage, Carr certainly has the ability to find Renfrow or Waller in more advantageous situations, while a single-covered Adams should not have much difficulty reeling in one of Carr’s phenomenal touch passes.

Whole Picture

Alone, Davante Adams is an elite receiver, and arguably the best doing it right now. But, after landing in Las Vegas, he has an opportunity to do something new: play alongside high-end offensive weapons. Aaron Rodgers’ biggest gripe with the Green Bay Packers was their unwillingness to draft or sign supporting wide receivers. However, in a strange turn of events, it is now Adams gaining receiver support, while still playing with a high-caliber quarterback.