Oakland Raiders: Why Fans Need to Calm Down About Terrelle Pryor

Aug 16, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (6) goes to the ground in front of New Orleans Saints cornerback Corey White (24) in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. New Orleans defeated Oakland 28-20. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Terrelle Pryor is a bit of an enigma.

When the Raiders drafted him in the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft, they weren’t quite sure what they were getting.

Two years later, they are in a similar position.

Pryor threw for nine yards on 1-of-5 passing and had 15 rushing yards during the Raiders’ preseason loss to the Saints, yet somehow fans continue to hype him up as the next best thing. Why is that so?

Look, we all know that Pryor can run the football. There is no question about it. Look at any of his college highlight reels during his time at Ohio State, and you will see that the former Buckeye has long had the ability to make plays with his legs. But it’s a different story in the NFL. You must be able to pass efficiently.

Even the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL today can throw effectively. Look at Colin Kaepernick, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Cam Newton. If Pryor wants to be next in line to those guys, he must work on his mechanics.

“…his throwing accuracy is so poor and the Raiders’ overall talent so thin that it’s hard to imagine the best-case scenario happening for Pryor”, said ESPN about the young quarterback.

The Raiders acquired Matt Flynn this offseason, and it seems that he will take over the helm of the Raiders offense. He has the most experience under his belt and his fundamentals and throwing mechanics seem to be the best on the team. Flynn must have learned a lot while playing under the legendary Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, as every player should take full advantage of being able to learn from one of the best.

My point is, Pryor has a ton of potential. He’s explosive, he’s got the athleticism and the work ethic, but he still has parts of his game that he needs to prove. I would love to see Pryor take over the reins of the Raiders’ offense, but only after he is as established as he needs to be. He has work to do, but the starting role is still definitely attainable for the youngster.