ALAMEDA – Derek Carr’s decision to throw the ball away on 4th down late in Sunday’s loss to the L.A. Chargers has been dissected and discussed every which way, and remains a topic as we encroach on next week’s game at Arizona.
The Raiders quarterback said after the 20-6 loss that running back Jalen Richard was the only option on the play, and there was no good look with Richard delayed moving into the pattern and covered well, with Chargers edge rusher Melvin Ingram bearing down.
Head coach Jon Gruden blamed his play call. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson, however, hoped to see something different than what happened that day. The incomplete pass killed any hopes of a comeback, with the Raiders down 14 points with roughly four minutes left.
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Olsons want to see Carr at least try an extend the play, even with stiff odds against him securing a first down.
“Especially in that situation, the fourth down situation, you try to keep the play alive as long as you can,” Olson said Thursday, in his only media availability of the week. “You sprint out and scramble and try to get it with your feet or reverse direction but try to put the ball in play to somebody.”
Carr has done spectacular, improbable things on a football field, but he didn’t have much of a chance in that situation.
Carr addressed 4th-and-5 again on Wednesday, lamenting tough circumstances.
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“You wish you could make (Ingram) miss like I tried to earlier in the game, and try to find somebody else who really isn’t looking for the ball,” Carr said. “We designed that for him to get open a certain way and there wasn’t a lot of time to try and make something happen. There’s been times where I’ve tried to run around and do things, there was a time earlier in the game where I tried to break a tackle and do something more. I wish the outcome was different, everybody does.
“You watch everybody’s reaction, we all feel the same way. I ripped my chinstrap off. I said some things. Everyone wishes it was different, but it is what it is. I wish I could explain it in a better way, but it sucks.”
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The Raiders offense must rebound well after nine consecutive quarters without scoring a touchdown. That will be harder without Martavis Bryant and the likelihood of Jordy Nelson being unavailable.
Carr has been alternately criticized for being too careful and too cavalier with the football, for checking down too much or going being too often.
Olson wants him to walk that tightrope, and operate the Raiders scheme well.
“We always want him to remain aggressive,” Olson said. “Let’s be aggressive with the football, but let’s not be careless. We want to maintain the aggressiveness but there is a fine line there and we’ll continue to find that. There are a number of things around him and we’ve all got to get better from the play calling to the protections up front. We need everybody’s involvement, running backs, offensive line, the route running, the execution at the quarterback position and I think we can all get better. We still want him to maintain the aggressive behavior.”