Oakland Raiders: Terrelle Pryor Puts Himself In Quarterback Competition
Aug 9, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (6) runs with the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at O.Co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Entering this his third season as a pro, Terrelle Pryor appeared destined to end his NFL career as a footnote, remembered only as the last man drafted by Al Davis. Pryor is a freakishly athletic quarterback taken in the third round of the 2011 supplemental draft who represents the stereotypical size and speed long coveted by the Oakland Raiders’ legendary and cantankerous former leader, before Davis passed away in October of 2011.
Pryor’s own career as an NFL quarterback looked in mortal jeopardy this summer after second-year GM Reggie McKenzie traded a fifth-round draft pick for Matt Flynn and then drafted Tyler Wilson in the fourth round of this year’s draft. It was hard to fault local and national media for suggesting Pryor’s athletic gifts were being sized up for some wide receiver gloves under the new regime in Oakland, or perhaps ready to be shown the door.
But Wilson failed to impress early in training camp; the rookie’s now fighting for his roster spot behind undrafted rookie Matt McGloin. Flynn has been designated as the starter, but coach Dennis Allen has also made it clear Pryor will have a package of plays tailored to his strengths.
Pryor’s performance against the Dallas Cowboys during the Raiders’ first preseason game on Friday likely cemented him as the No. 2 QB, as the young signal caller created big plays both running and passing; he also led a very nice two-minute drill.
Matt Flynn’s strengths seem to include phrases like “ball security”, and while the 28-year-old journeyman with two NFL starts may currently be a more polished passer than Pryor, who is still only 24, what is the reality of Matt Flynn’s ceiling as an NFL quarterback? Accomplished game-manager?
Pryor has the perfect skill-set for the read-option offenses decimating NFL defenses at the moment (which is what he ran while starring at Ohio State), and he offers major upside. Pryor’s performance against the Cowboys received praise nationally, although it did include one atrocious goal line pick. But nearly every other snap found Pryor demonstrating one critical quality for NFL QB’s which he also showed plenty of in his only NFL start last fall — poise.
May 20, 2013; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor at organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Pryor worked extensively this offseason with QB guru Tom House, who tutors Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Pryor’s throwing motion and accuracy have improved, and this summer represents just his second NFL training camp with significant reps. He also seems to be demonstrating the type of commitment, and perspective, required of an NFL quarterback.
“I look back on last year, and I just knew I wasn’t ready,” said Pryor, “I truly believe that after spending a month and a half with Tom (House), I can now sit back in the pocket and throw the ball.”
With all the focus on Pryor’s (shrinking) shortcomings as a passer, the elite nature of his running ability seems to have been lost; Pryor is not just another mobile QB.
Robert Griffith III set the NFL combine QB record in 2012 with a 4.41 40-yard-dash. Pryor scorched a 4.38 at his 2011 pro-day, and at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds he’s an instinctive runner with breakaway speed, elusiveness and nasty stiff-arms – see his running exploits for yourself.
Pryor may be destined for a couple series a game in some type of read-option this season, but it might prove far more illuminating if the Raiders allowed Terrelle to get all the snaps he needed to either fail in spectacular fashion, or prove he’s far more than than a footnote. As opposed to snoozing as Flynn avoids making big mistakes, or big plays.
The next two preseason games will likely tell us a lot about the pecking order in Oakland behind center, Flynn is still the heavy favorite to be the opening day starter but Pryor has inserted himself in the conversation, with plenty of questions still left to be answered.
Can Pryor surprise and win the starting job? Is Pryor an NFL QB? Is the Raiders’ QB of the future currently on the roster? Is Al Davis going to get a final last laugh?
Stay tuned.