Adversity Won’t Faze Derek Carr
February 21st, 2014
Fresno State QB and family friend of Bucs OC Jeff Tedford, Derek Carr, speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine today in Indianapolis.
A lot of people are trying to connect dots, ones that would land Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr with the Buccaneers via a first-round draft pick. Their reasoning is Carr’s older brother, former Houston and New York Giants quarterback David Carr, played for Jeff Tedford in college.
Tedford, of course, is now the Bucs’ offensive coordinator.
“Teddy,” as Derek Carr refers to Tedford, and the younger Carr have a long, strong bond. The two have known each other for nearly two decades, before Derek Carr went to grade school.
“I go way back with Teddy,” Carr said. “I was five years old and I would go to practice with my Nerf ball and [Tedford would] let me do drills at Fresno State practices way back when. We are so close as families. It would be great to play for him in Tampa Bay. I know how much better I could be as a quarterback [with Tedford as coordinator].”
But that’s a long way from happening for Carr, who almost welcomes the adversity that comes with being a young NFL quarterback.
“I have seen a lot,” Carr said. “I saw what my brother went through in Houston. I have seen a lot of things.”
One of those things that makes anything related to the NFL trivial by comparison. Carr, 22, has a son, Dallas, who was born on the dawn of last season’s training camp. He was born with an intestinal disorder that wouldn’t allow him to pass his food.
The condition for Dallas, who was born eight days premature, was so bad that Carr didn’t know if his son would survive.
“I remember running up a ramp crying knowing there was nothing I could do,” Carr said. Doctors’ prognoses were grim.
“I had doctors come in and said, ‘Your son might not make it,’” Carr said. Three surgeries later, Dallas was finally able to go home with his parents.
Hearing how his son may not live? Gut-wrenching. Hearing how he may not be the best quarterback in the 2014 draft? So what, Carr said.
“There’s not anything – anything! — people can say that will affect me,” Carr said. “You can say whatever you want about me, I will give everything I have.”
Carr also saw the harsh times his brother had in Houston and learned from his sibling how to deal with negativity.
“You are going to be praised a lot. You are going to be criticized a lot,” David Carr told his younger brother. “Ignore both because neither matter.”
But Derek Carr’s son matters. And compared to the rigors of football, his son’s triumph will negate any shortcomings Carr may experience on the field.
February 21st, 2014 at 6:09 pm
I would be totally fine if we end up with Carr as our QB from this draft.
Of course I have a scenario or two I’d prefer but this would be fine.
February 21st, 2014 at 6:14 pm
If we take him in the 2nd, i’d be all for it
February 21st, 2014 at 6:18 pm
@PRBucFan
I agree,plus you could get him without using the 1st pic.
February 21st, 2014 at 6:23 pm
@Arealbucsfan
I agree
February 21st, 2014 at 6:37 pm
If we get a second round QB, I would hope Glennon get’s a fair shot during the offseason to win the gig. If it were Teddy or Johnny, that would be a no brainer. Offseason SUCKS!!!!!!
February 21st, 2014 at 6:50 pm
Sounds like a good man. Wouldn’t mind at all if we picked him in the later rounds.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:09 pm
at least it seems his head is on straight. also, it is noted that he has a quicker release than garopolo.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:12 pm
IMO Carr is not a 1st round QB, but may get selected because of demand. If he falls to the 2nd and the Bucs haven’t taken a QB get him or Garropollo.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:17 pm
If the Bucs can get him in the 2nd than I wouldn’t mind but not worth picking in the 1st.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:21 pm
Another hit Joe, good post. Its wonderful to hear that Dallas is doing better, and that they were able to take him home. Derek is interesting because he has pretty much everything your looking for in a franchise QB- hes got the size, smart, poise in the pocket, scrambling ability, strong arm, very accurate in the short passing game- But the major flaw in his game is that he struggles mightily with his accuracy on passes of more than 15 yards. It might be the reason why Fresno designed the offense to use primarily the short passing attack. Having said that, maybe Tedford can work with him on this area and get him to really improve. If thats the case, then the bucs might feel comfortable enough taking him with the 7th pick.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:22 pm
you guys don’t know his worth or value.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:25 pm
keep in mind im not a scout or anything, just things I noticed watching him play.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:33 pm
Tedford knows this kids weaknesses and strengths in and out.
Major reason why I would feel comfortable with him being a Buc.
IMO Tedford could design an offense he would thrive in.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:40 pm
No expert here but this guy throws every pass off his back foot and a lot of them are jump balls.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:43 pm
If they take him I’d prefer to see Glennon get the start. If Tedford is suck a Guru, than imagine what he can do with Glennon compared to Schiano/Sullivan going into his second year. If he were to beat out Glennon than fair is fair. Sounds like a smarter move either way to wait tull the second round. I really want a big play threat receiver brought to Tampa to play with Williams and Vjax. Our offense needs it!!!
February 21st, 2014 at 7:47 pm
Again, Glennon lacks a major attribute that is pretty much necessary in todays NFL.
He would have to compensate by becoming elite in the other areas in his game to excel as a QB.
He only has 13 games on his belt, no commitment has been made.
I don’t think he beats out Carr if he comes in.
February 21st, 2014 at 9:07 pm
Great story
February 21st, 2014 at 9:10 pm
Use this years second with next years second to move back into back end of first to grab Sammy Watkins 7th over all and address defense in FA
February 21st, 2014 at 9:11 pm
Plus sign Vick. Open competition at QB this year
February 21st, 2014 at 9:35 pm
I can’t believe the things people think. It’s common knowledge that he struggles mightily with his accuracy on passes of more than 15 yards. Then they’ll say, “Maybe Tedford can work with him on this area and get him to really improve.” Haven’t you people learned yet? Accuracy is not something that can be taught or learned. You either are an accurate passer or you are not. It’s foolish to draft a guy hoping his lack of accuracy can be fixed. It can’t. You need to draft a QB who is accurate from the git-go. We already have a QB who throws an inaccurate deep ball – and it won’t get better for him either. Why do you think Schiano limited him to mostly dinks and dunks? Carr would be a mistake. Just say no to Carr.
February 21st, 2014 at 9:39 pm
If the Bucs take Carr with the seventh pick and theres a blue chipper on the board ahead of Carr, they would have reached for Carr. I project Carr late 1st round early second.
February 21st, 2014 at 9:57 pm
bull lol
February 21st, 2014 at 10:14 pm
Glennon is better, and I’m not a huge Glennon fan.
February 21st, 2014 at 10:15 pm
@ willie
For the most part you are right, but some QB Guru’s like jaws are of the mind that if that if you can fix a QB’s mechanics, it can greatly improve their accuracy. Now… I’m not saying Tedford is a miracle worker and that he is going to get Derek Carr to hit every single 50 yard bomb that he throws, BUT he could get Derek Carr to, IMPROVE, improve being the key word there just in-case you missed a a third time, on his deep ball accuracy. Would that be enough improvement for the bucs to take a chance on drafting Carr? idk.
February 21st, 2014 at 10:23 pm
Again misunderstanding that Tedford would be able to design a system that caters to Carr’s strengths.
And generally speaking he is not inaccurate.
February 21st, 2014 at 10:29 pm
AND if you go back and watch Glennon in college, he didnt really struggle much with his deep ball accuracy, not as much as Derek anyway.
why he is struggling with it in the pros, I cant answer that either. It at least gives me hope that hes got it in him if we decide to stick with Glennon.
February 21st, 2014 at 10:34 pm
Carr is terrible about throwing off his back foot. He racked up his numbers against very weak competition and stunk against good opponents. I really don’t want to spend a high draft pick on someone that you’ve got to bring in and “fix.” And when I said inaccurate I was referring to the longer throws.
February 21st, 2014 at 10:38 pm
Probably should have said “stank,” huh? Stink, stank, stunk? Ok, he stinketh.
February 21st, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Rah chose his QB pick in the first round and Schiano brought in his choice of QB, then Tedford could bring in his choice of Carr, if the right spot makes sense for the pick.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:04 pm
@ willie
lol stinketh. but thats what why was talking when I meant fixing his mechanics, him throwing off his back foot can be corrected. But I see what your saying, you dont want to draft a QB high if you got to fix his mechanics, and you got a point. Personally my favorite is Bridgewater, but seeing how thats not going to happen, our options are limited.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:58 pm
Carr=poor man’s Bortles, but would still love him over Glennon….
Go Bortles…. (please have a shitty combine and fall to us)
UCF shats on green cows all day
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:02 am
Not accurate = no thanks. Would rather grab Arron Murray in later round.
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:26 am
I like Bridgewater a lot, too, Andrew. That’s why I think it’s essential to do whatever we need to do to move up and secure him while we’re within striking distance. The extra games that Lovie’s defense wins us next year will really put us out of range to move up and get a top prospect, so we need to strike now when we have the shorter distance to move. Next year will be too late and it will be unreachable. Let’s bite the bullet now and for once get a franchise quarterback. We can continue to build the team as he grows into the job. Let’s do it now (exciting just to contemplate it happening).
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:33 am
Bortles is a project and not ready to play now, unlike Bridgewater. As for Murray (or McCarron or Mettenberger) – meh. To me they are just different versions of Glennon, nothing to get excited about – more of a lateral move than an advancing move. Why even bother with them when you’ve already got Glennon? Not interested in wasting a high draft pick so the Bucs can have six of one and a half-dozen of another.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:05 am
carr showed at the senior bowl. did arguably the best. led a td drive. didn’t throw an int unlike most of the qb’s that played. showed a quicker release than garopolo.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:32 am
I think everyone is misinformed about Carr’s arm strength and downfield accuracy since he played in a spread short passing offense. Check out this highlight video. He completes like 30 50yd bombs with ease.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guk3kvrFBzc
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:57 am
a few qb measurable:
*espn has this size, sbnation linked has 9 3/4″
manziel………….5’11 3/4″……….207……….9 7/8″ hands*
bridgewater………6’2″ ……………214……….9 1/4″
bortles…………….6’5″ ……………232……….9 3/8″
carr……………….6’2″ …………….214……….9 1/8″
garopolo………….6’2″ ……………226……….9 1/8″
others can be found below…
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/2/21/5432976/nfl-scouting-combine-quarterback-measurements
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:13 am
If tedford has been a lifelong friend to Carr then I would think that a lot of the things he struggles with tedford has already tried to address. I mean, if i’m a qb and i’m struggling with something and i’m really close to a guy that specializes in fixing what im struggling with then i’m going to that guy. Especially if he just had a year off. Maybe tedford has taken Carr as far as he can go already.
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:01 am
Patrick in VA, that is probably the strongest point made in this thread.
I would add also that if Carr is brought in, Tedford would favor him and there would be no real competition.
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:09 am
I slso don’t think Carr is an upgrade. He is a larger gamble than Glennon.
If you are not upgrading, draft a QB in round 4 or later.
I prefer Bortles myself, but will settle for Johnny.
Completely against Vick, and if the Bucs bring him in I won’t attend games, but it WOULD show they want a mobile QB. That would be bad news for Glennon.
If they bring in Schaub I would settle for not drafting a QB at all, because he is perfect to help Glennon develop. Personally, I prefer Sanchez to be the vet they bring in. But Ryan tends to hold QBs hostage.
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:18 am
I’m OK with a second round pick for Carr or if we have to. I’d like to trade down in the first to get an extra 2nd.
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:21 am
Need to find out what kind of Carr it is, could be a lemon!
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:53 am
I would be seriously happy if somehow they could get Watkins in the first round and follow up with either Carr or Garoppolo in the second
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:15 pm
Please NO Vick. Would be big mistake. Also not big on Bridgewater. Like Bortles alot.
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:46 pm
This would be a bigger reach than Freeman. Aaron Murray would be a great value pick in the later rounds if we can’t pull off the miracle of landing Johnny Football.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:07 pm
I disagree
There’s a difference between tutoring him when he had time and mentoring him as a friend and spending every minute of every day attempting to make him better because it is now part of his job and livelihood.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:08 pm
And no one is saying pick him with the 7th,
As a pick later on he will not be a reach, if anything his stock is only rising.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:21 pm
After watching the video of Carr that Jacobucs provided for us, Carr is a big upgrade over Glennon because he threw a lot more accurate deep balls than Glennon and knows how to lead his receivers–great placement–and he can extend plays with his feet as well. This kid is not a reach in the first round and shows me why the experts are rating him the fourth best QB in the draft.
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:23 pm
@owleycat – glennon did that I college too
@prb – tedford is the offensive coordinator, not the qb coach. He won’t be able to spend every minute of every day with him if we were to draft him. Besides, do we want a qb that needs that much attention? I mean, glennon isn’t allowed to have a learning curve so it would be a glaring double standard if it were allowed to the new guy
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:34 pm
Quit nitpicking
You know what I meant
He would get the attention that only an OC could give his actual QB.
End of story
Way different than what he could give him prior.
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:39 pm
And bet your ass Tedford is going to make QB’s a priority of his whether he’s the OC or the actual QB coach.
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:03 pm
Is it more attention than he could’ve gotten with some one on one work they could’ve had in the offseason? If so and he needs more attention than that to fix his problem then how is that an upgrade? If rather tedford spend that time with the guy we already have on the roster that never got any help with mechanics and already has experience under his belt
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:08 pm
It’s not comparable.
It being his job and it being when he gets the chance.
Not comparable in the slightest.
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:10 pm
And “never got any help with mechanics” really??? Ahahaha
At this level? Please lol
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:14 pm
Your debating just to debate now.
There’s simply no way to spin this to where it seems like a negative thing.
It was commendable effort though and definitely was worth the initial thought.
Done here, On to the next thread 😀