ALAMEDA – Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has thrown nine touchdowns this season.
Michael Crabtree has four of them. Seth Roberts has three. Clive Walford and Andre Holmes have one each.
Amari Cooper has zero.
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That a surprising after four games, especially for a No. 1 receiver off to a solid start. He has 20 catches for 318 yards, worth a 15.9-yard average, with at least five catches in every game.
Cooper isn’t worried that one hasn’t ended up in the end zone. He believes his touchdowns will come.
“It’s not frustrating,” Cooper said. “You obviously want to score every game, but you just have to be patient.”
Carr has been good finding lapses in coverage or preferable matchups this season, which has led to solid efficiency during the Raiders 3-1 start. Cooper often draws double teams or is shadowed by an opponent’s top corner. That’s a sign of respect for the second-year receiver, known as a excellent route runner dangerous after making the catch.
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Carr pondered that topic earlier this week, and was surprised he and Cooper hadn’t formed an AC/DC touchdown connection.
“I never really pay attention to (stats), but it hit me one time and I couldn’t believe it,” Carr said. “I was thinking about the games and I was like, ‘Wow, that’s true.’ Obviously Atlanta was playing soft coverage, taking him away and trying to do those things. Certain other aspects of coverages that people do towards him, he’s going to get special attention.
“He knows that and he’s learning that. It’ll be just a matter of time. He’ll get back in there. That’s what he does for a living so he’ll get back in there. It’s funny that he doesn’t have one yet.”