Carr, Olson know exactly what the winless Bengals experiencing as season winds down
ALAMEDA >> Derek Carr knows the feeling of desperation.
As a surprise rookie starter at quarterback, the Raiders were 0-10 with Carr at the helm after falling 13-6 to the San Diego Chargers on Nov. 16, 2014.
Dennis Allen was fired as head coach after an 0-4 start, interim coach Tony Sparano buried a football at the practice facility to represent burying the old ways, and the losing continued.
So when the 0-9 Cincinnati Bengals visit the Coliseum on Sunday, Carr has a pretty good idea how they feel.
“I’ve been there and a lot of those guys have been on some good teams,” Carr said. “Playoff teams. I imagine they are a little frustrated, but they are all professionals, and they’re going to bring it.”
The Raiders got to 0-10 before beating the Kansas City Chiefs 24-20 en route to a 3-13 season.
“You feel like everything is against you because for the fans, sometimes for the older players, they don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel,” Carr said. “They
just see what’s in front of them at the moment, and it’s hard, man. If you can grind through those moments, work really hard, stick to your process, when the good moments come it will make you thankful for those other moments.”
Carr’s offensive coordinator was Greg Olson, who came back with the same job last season under Jon Gruden. The grind, according to Olson, is more mental than physical when the losses pile up.
“It’s more of the above the neck work on the players to keep their minds in it an let them know there’s something better coming at the end,” Olson said. “It’s easier said than done. But that’s part of your job as a coach to continue to motivate your players to play to the best of their ability. Try to find different ways and find some positives to build upon each week.”
While the Raiders changed coaches a quarter of the way through 2014, Cincinnati is led by first-year coach Zac Taylor, 36, a former Los Angeles Rams assistant. Taylor benched veteran quarterback Andy Dalton in favor of rookie fourth-round pick Ryan Finley last week, a 49-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
While the 2014 Raiders had no idea who would be leading them in the future — Jack Del Rio was hired before the 2015 season — Taylor just came aboard and players realize they’re auditioning to remain with the Bengals under the same leadership.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. It’s a hard league,” Taylor told Bay Area reporters by conference call. “We can’t let the first nine weeks affect our preparation going forward. We still believe that there is a lot of wins in this team as the season gets going and we are going to do everything we can to start this on Sunday. The preparation hasn’t changed. The energy level is still really good. We had a great practice and I’m encouraged from what we see of our guys.”
If the Bengals are anything like the Raiders, five years from now there won’t be many people left from this season’s team.
Carr, guard Gabe Jackson and defensive end Benson Mayowa are the only players on the 2014 roster currently playing for the Raiders. Mayowa, the Raiders’ sack leader with seven, has played for Dallas and Arizona in the interim.
“It’s changed a lot,” Mayowa said. “But it’s great to be back.”
• Rookie defensive end Clelin Ferrell got good news when he stepped on the scale for weighin day.
“I was so happy today when I weighed in at (266) and said, ‘Thank God. I’m finally back to my weight,’ ” Ferrell said.
In October when the Raiders played the Chicago Bears in London, Ferrell was not only inactive because of concussion symptoms but also had the flu and fell as low as 250 pounds.
“I haven’t been 250 since I came out of high school,” Ferrell said.
So it’s been an uphill climb for the Clemson star, winner of the Ted Hendricks Award as a senior. There’s been some outside criticism, although the Raiders have played him both inside and outside and seem fine with his development.
“I think he’s who we thought he was,” general manager Mike Mayock said on the “Rich Eisen Show” this week. “He’s going to be a really good NFL player. He’s stout against the run, and he’s a power rusher who’s got just enough slip to be a good pass rusher also. I’m happy people got to see a little bit of what we think he can be.”
Ferrell has come on in the last two games against Detroit and the Chargers to the point where defensive coordinator Paul Guenther told him “the light went on.” Ferrell’s draft status as the No. 4 overall pick carries with it considerable expectations, especially considering he plays for the organization that took Khalil Mack No. 5 in 2014. Ferrell is just a halfsack away from Mack’s rookie sack total of four.
Ferrell had 2 ½ sacks against the Chargers. Against the Lions, it was his pass rush against Matthew Stafford that forced an end zone pass that was intercepted by Joseph on fourth down.
“I’m all about personal player development growth and how we’re winning games,” Ferrell said. “I don’t really focus on the stats. I never have. When you take the stats you can get caught up in things and you’re not focused on what you need to do to win.”
• Defensive end Dion Jordan had two practices under his belt after serving 10-week suspension, and Guenther pronounced him ready.
“I think there’s a very good chance he makes his Raiders debut,” Guenther said.
With Jordan on the roster and Josh Mauro expected to play after missing two games with a groin injury, it gives the Raiders more depth at the end positions to go along with Ferrell, Mayowa and rookie Maxx Crosby.
“He’s a good looking rascal,” Guenther said of Jordan. “This guy is big, long, he’s getting in to football shape. He should really help us out. He’s real smart, he’s picked up the playbook real quick. He’s been in there working with the first team on some of the stuff today so he’s been impressive.”
Swearinger, who was signed when Karl Joseph went on injured reserve with a foot injury, had a bit of a head start on the Raiders’ defensive system. His previous stop was Arizona, whose defensive coordinator, Vance Joseph, coached defensive backs in Guenther’s defense with Cincinnati.
“It’s kind of the same terminology and he’s a smart guy to begin with,” Guenther said.
Asked if Swearinger would play — the Raiders other safeties along with starter Erik Anderson are Curtis Riley and Dallin Leavitt — Guenther said, “I do. It’s all hands on deck with the guys we got.”