Raiders QB Carr gets creative with in- game audibles

Derek Carr may be even more creative before the snap than he is after it.

Carr has earned raves from Raiders coach Jon Gruden for his ability to turn nothing into something when plays break down. His choice of audibles, however occasionally leaves Gruden scratching his head.

“You think I came up with Purple Walrus?” Gruden said Wednesday. “I don’t know here he comes up with some of this.”

Quarterbacks use audibles to change plays at the line of scrimmage based on the way the defense is aligned. Teammates hear the magic word or words and change their assignment on the fly. With small crowds or no fans at all in the stands due to the coronavirus pandemic, television microphones have been able to pick up Carr’s colorful cadence.

In the Raiders’ 35- 31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, NBC broadcaster Al Michaels got a chuckle out of“Purple Walrus.”

In the Raiders’ first meeting with the Chiefs, Carr barked out “Bruce Springsteen” and “Joe Montana.”

A big NBA fan, Carr has used James Harden,”“Pistol Pete” and Chris Mullin.

He even used “Cindy Gruden” — the name of his head coach’s wife.

When the Raiders visit the Falcons on Sunday, Carr could have an entirely different list of calls.

Gruden wasn’t about to divulge the language of changing plays any more than a baseball manager would give out instructions for a bunt or hit and run.

“Just so you know, a lot of it is fake chatter. It’s like a baseball coach at third base, giving signals,” Gruden said. “You know what it means? Nothing.”