Olson is link between opposing QBs
Derek Carr and Blake Bortles are the only quarterbacks from the 2014 NFL draft class currently standing, and they both had the same guy help prop them up.
One of the central figures in Sunday’s game between the Raiders and Jaguars will be Jacksonville offensive coordinator Greg Olson. Olson had the tough job of being Carr’s teacher his rookie year when the receiver-deficient Raiders started 0-10.
Now Carr leads a 4-2 team into Jacksonville, throwing for 12 touchdowns against three interceptions and carrying the league’s worst-ranked defense. His 53 touchdown passes in 2014-15 are second in NFL history by a player in his first two seasons, trailing only Dan Marino (68).
Olson “is up there when it
“I tried to pick his brain and learn what I could with our time together. I owe him a lot of credit.” Derek Carr, Raiders quarterback, on former offensive coordinator Greg Olson, above, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars
comes to quarterback knowledge,” Carr said. “He’s really second to none. He knows what he’s doing. I tried to pick his brain and learn what I could with our time together. I owe him a lot of credit.”
Bortles is more of a project than Carr when it comes to mechanics, and he hasn’t had the protection that Carr has had — Bortles has been sacked almost twice as much (120 to 62).
But Olson sees the similarities.
“They’re both tremendous competitors,” he said. “They’re young quarterbacks that were thrown in the league and had to play early as rookies. They both have gone through changes in coordinators, but they’re just tremendous competitors, and they both prepare very well. They’re both very intelligent players.”
While no one would say going 0-10 is good for you, Olson thinks the rough start helped Carr develop some “mental and physical toughness.”
“A lot of the responsi bility that goes on in terms of leadership for a quarterback to be able to stand up in front of the team or in front of the media and be able to handle the scrutiny of something like that,” Olson said, “I think it just shows a tremendous amount of mental toughness and mental fortitude.”
Carr said Olson paid extra care to make sure he didn’t take any unnecessary hits.
“He puts a lot on the quarterback to know protections, to know their blitz schemes,” Carr said. “A lot of that has to do with knowing where to go with the football also, because if you don’t know and you’re holding onto it that extra half second, you’re going to get hit.”
If anything, Carr may have gotten rid of the ball too fast his rookie season. But he’s learned to read things better, with experience and his next offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave.
For his career, Carr has completed 61 percent of his passes in 38 starts for 8,865 yards and 65 touchdowns with 28 interceptions. Bortles, drafted higher (third overall, compared with 36th for Carr) because of his bigger size and bigger arm, comes in at 59 percent, 8,657, 54 and 42 in 35 games.
All that while mechanics (he’s been cutting back on a long windup) and protection have been issues. Bortles thinks the tempo could be something in his favor Sunday.
Last week, the Jaguars came back from a 13-0 fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Bears 17-16, thanks to increased use of the no-huddle offense. Bortles. was 13-of-18 for 187 yards and a touchdown over the last 17 minutes of the game.
“We were able to find a rhythm,” Bortles told reporters. “It’s easier to find a rhythm. I feel comfortable in it. I feel good in it. And we do a good job moving the ball.”
Olson thinks Bortles started believing in himself again.
“I just think he got into a great rhythm,” Olson said. “I think that more so than anything he gained some confidence after the first score.”
Olson and head coach Gus Bradley will decide when they want to use the no-huddle against the Raiders — right after the offensive coordinator shares some tips on how to beat Carr.