Carr's Youth, Track Record Rare Treat for Gruden

Jon Gruden coached four seasons during his first stint for the Silver and Black. He never started a quarterback under 30 years old.

Rich Gannon was the man from 1999-2001. Jeff George, Donald Hollas and Wade Wilson got Gruden through 1998, before Gannon signed as a free agent and experienced a career renaissance working with the offensive mastermind.

Gruden enters a different quarterback situation this time around. The former and, as of Saturday night, current Raiders head coach will work with 26-year old Derek Carr, entering his prime and the second year of a five-year, $125 million contract.

Gruden has had options looking for an ideal return to coaching. The 10-year, $100 million contract and assumed personnel influence/control surely went a long way, but Carr was also an attraction to this new gig.

The two-time Pro Bowler, a legitimate MVP candidate in 2016, regressed some last season. Gruden and offensive coordinator Greg Olson will have to get him back on track.

Even with Carr's struggles last season, Gruden hasn't had a quarterback with an attractive mix of youth, arm talent, past production and experience.

Gruden's glory days in Oakland and Tampa were spent with Gannon and Brad Johnson respectively. Both guys were in their mid-30s. Jeff Garcia was in his late 30s when he and Gruden won a division title over a pair of 9-7 seasons in Tampa.

Gruden started nine quarterbacks in Tampa Bay, never able to find stability at that important position.

Gruden drafted two quarterbacks in Tampa Bay. Chris Simms was a second-round pick in 2003, and Bruce Gradkowski was a sixth-rounder in 2006. Simms was the only quarterback drafted high enough to carry great expectations being developed under Gruden, but he dealt with significant injuries and some lackluster performance throughout his time with Gruden, though he helped win a division title in 2005.

Ultimately, Gruden struggled to find quarterback stability outside Gannon, Johnson and Garcia. He'll have that with Carr heading into 2018.

Let's take a look at quarterbacks who started under Gruden in Oakland and Tampa Bay:

OAKLAND (1998-2001)
Rich Gannon
Starts:
48
Seasons with Gruden: 1999-2001
Age: 34-36

Jeff George
Starts:
7
Seasons with Gruden: 1998
Age: 31

Donald Hollas
Starts:
6
Seasons with Gruden: 1998
Age: 31

Wade Wilson
Starts:
3
Seasons with Gruden: 1998
Age: 39

TAMPA BAY (2002-2008)
Brad Johnson
Starts:
33
Seasons with Gruden: 2002-04
Age: 34-36

Jeff Garcia
Starts:
24
Seasons with Gruden: 2007-08
Age: 37-38

Brian Griese
Starts:
21
Seasons with Gruden: 2004-05; 2008
Age: 29-30; 33

Chris Simms
Starts:
15
Seasons with Gruden: 2003-06
Age: 23-26

Bruce Gradkowski
Starts:
11
Seasons with Gruden: 2006-07
Age: 23-24

Luke McCown
Starts:
3
Seasons with Gruden: 2007-08
Age: 26-27

Tim Rattay
Starts:
2
Seasons with Gruden: 2006
Age: 29

Rob Johnson
Starts:
2
Seasons with Gruden: 2002
Age: 29

Shaun King
Starts:
1
Seasons with Gruden: 2002-03
Age: 25-26

Copyright CSNBY - CSN BAY
Contact Us