Jon Gruden Supports Derek Carr, Praises Effort Despite ‘a Lot of Moving Parts'

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Scott Bair

ALAMEDA – Jon Gruden has taken a look at Derek Carr's performance from Sunday's 40-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, including a standard interception and a pick six.

"The first one was a blitz, a five-man rush, and I credit Tyrann Mathieu for making a great play. He fooled us there," Gruden said. "The second one, I think Derek could have perhaps gotten off Tyrell and looked to someplace else."

That's as far as the critique went. Gruden certainly had more to say in private about Carr's day at the office, where he was 20-for-30 for 222 yards a touchdown and two interceptions, including one Juan Thornhill returned for a touchdown. Those passing numbers were inflated by a garbage time touchdown drive, and don't reflect the Raiders struggles moving through the air.

Gruden didn't excuse the showing, either, but is right to say he isn't getting a ton of help in the pattern.

"I'm not going to sit here and criticize my quarterback," Gruden said. "He has done a lot of good things. He is competing and has done very well with a lot of moving parts. If you think that's easy, you're mistaken. I compliment him for his competitiveness and his preparation and his ability to compete each week."

Gruden also addressed Mathieu's postgame comments, that the Chiefs were able to tell when Carr would throw down the field based upon pre-snap formations.

"I hope I can get a copy of his tip sheet," Gruden said. "You're going to hear stuff like that here and there. I credit the Chiefs. They did a great job. If they had something on us, then that's another reflection of me. I have a lot of pride in our preparation, and we'll just have to leave it at that."

Carr will dissect this performance like he does every other, searching for ways to be better or areas where he could've made better choices.

"You just go through every play. You think about everything, and that's after a win or a loss," Carr said. "That's how I was taught. You replay it in your head and you think, ‘was there anything else I could've done in that situation? You take that snapshot and try to train yourself. You train your body. You train your mind. Do you make this decision or that decision? Those are things you always try and sit there and figure out."

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