Quarterback Derek Carr
In a strange turn of event, last season, both Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota each suffered a broken fibula on the same day. Now, both are healthy and ready to lead their teams into the 2017 season, and will square off against one another in the regular season opener this Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. Before heading out to the field for practice Wednesday, the Raiders signal-caller met with the media to talk about the team's preparation.
Here are the quick hits from his time at the podium:
Carr thinks that the year off from the NFL has served his new running back, Marshawn Lynch, well.
"I think anybody with a year off from football would bode well. It's hard on your body, especially the way that he plays, and he plays running back. We talk about it all the time – I think running back, physically, is one of the most demanding positions in all of sports; the pounding it takes, the speed you have to run with, the knowledge you have to have, your job and assignments. I think a year off did him well, to be honest."
No. 4 talked about what he's seen from Mariota through his first two season in the league.
"He's very poised, very accurate, very mobile, makes great decisions, especially in the red zone. Situational football, him being able to do that at such a young age, it's only going to get easier for him as he gets older. As long as he doesn't try and do too much. I wish him the best."
He also shared what it's been like to go up against the Titans defense the past two seasons.
"Very good defense, very stingy. Good against the run and the pass. They don't pick one. They're good against both. Well coached. Obviously [Defensive Coordinator] Coach [Dick] LeBeau, he's been around a long time, Hall of Famer. Anytime you have that kind of knowledge as your leader on the defensive side of the ball, they're going to be a good unit."
**While many people probably don't enjoy the noise on the road, Carr likes playing in opposing teams stadiums.
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"I love the noise because I don't hear anything else. I'm just so locked in on my assignment and everyone else's assignment that there's no time to hear anything else. So, I'm not going to lie, I love when it's loud, I love when it's like that."
After going 12-4 last season, the former Fresno State Bulldog is determined to continue helping the team grow.
"We just keep growing and the thing that I love about our team is no matter what's going on, when we step out there or step in the weight room or the film room, we work our tails off. We try to get every little note, we try to get every little thing out there on the field ironed out and cleaned up. As long as those things are happening, we can continue to grow. Now, 12 wins is not easy to do and I'd never make projections and things like that but, we always want to continue to grow in our process and what we're trying to do."
