Oakland Raiders’ Derek Carr Ascending To Top Of AFC West
The Oakland Raiders‘ Derek Carr has quickly risen up the hierarchy of AFC West Quarterbacks.
The retirement of Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Peyton Manning has made the race for AFC West supremacy a wide open competition in more ways than one. Manning’s departure from the Super Bowl Champions Denver Broncos has not only opened the door for a new team to claim the division title, for the first time since the 2010 Kansas City Chiefs, it has opened the door for a new signal-caller to become the division’s premier leader.
All eras must come to end. In the NFL, the end can come quick and without warning. However, there are times where the end can be seen coming. When an end of a great era is in sight there tends to be two overwhelming emotions. First, a feeling of remorse may set in, based on the knowledge you may never witness that level of greatness again. Anticipation may also take center stage. Anticipating the next great athlete or team that will grasp a hold of an era and won’t let go for another decade.
These are the emotions and opportunities created when a dominant force like Manning retires. The race to fill the void left behind by an exiting “Superstar” can have many participants, but usually will always have a front-runner. In the AFC West, Derek Carr stands out as the leading candidate to fill the enormous size shoes, left behind in the wake of Mannings’ historic run through the NFL record books.
Some may argue Carr’s road to the top of the division has already started, and he is either already at the top or in close pursuit. If stats were the only basis in determining which quarterback ruled the AFC West, there would be no arguing Manning over Carr last year. While Manning was suffering through his worst statistical season in his career, compiling a 67.9 passer rating, while throwing 17 interceptions and only nine regular season touchdowns, Carr was having the best season of his young career.
Carr backed up a solid. if not spectacular, rookie season with an inspiring sophomore campaign that has given Raider fans a sense of optimism that hasn’t been felt in decades. In his second season as a starting NFL quarterback, Carr began showing the big-play qualities that were missing from his rookie year. The Raiders free-agent acquisition of Michael Crabtree and selection of Amari Cooper in the draft allowed Carr to utilize his dynamic arm talent that made him a star at Fresno State.
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Carrs’ 3,987 passing yards were only second in the division to the San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers, who threw for 4,792 yards. Carrs’ 32 touchdowns led the division, and his continued development over his first two seasons has not gone unnoticed by those outside of the silver and black family.
"“This is another young kid with great potential,” former NFL star Kurt Warner told csnbayarea, “We’ve seen solid growth from year one to year two, which creates excitement about what the future can be,” Warner said."
The throne to the Afc West quarterback crown won’t just be handed over to Carr. His continued growth will be vital in determining is ultimate rank in the hierarchy. Carr’s hard work and dedication to mastering his craft has led to his early success. Putting in more work hours, whether it was studying game film or tightening mechanics, is what separated Manning from his peers. Raider Nation can only hope Derek Carr will take that same path and lead the Raiders into a great new era.