Waller has really been quite the catch
Welcome to Waller World. Nothing like a 13- catch, 200yard game across the Hudson River from the Big Apple to make people sit up and take notice.
The focal point of the Raiders’ passing offense, Waller is listed as a tight end but liable to line up almost anywhere. On one of his two touchdowns in a 31-28 road win over the New York Jets, Waller ran a simple hitch route, Derek Carr hit him for a 5-yard gain and Waller did the rest to complete a 38-yard scoring play.
Waller and Carr have come a long way from the first time they took the field together after the Raiders had claimed the tight end off the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. Waller may be 6-foot- 6, 256 pounds, but he isn’t Dave Casper or Todd Christensen.
“I just remember throwing him his first route at practice, I threw it like 10 feet behind him and was like, ‘ Oh wow, this guy can run,’ Carr said.
In his second full season, Waller is second to Kansas City’s Travis Kelce in both receptions (77), yards (742) and touchdowns (7). The Jets blitzed early and often, leaving Waller with one- onone matchups, and they paid dearly. It’s unlikely the Indianapolis Colts will employ the same strategy when they visit the Raiders Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
“He is one of the special guys in this league,” Indianapolis coach Frank Reich said on a conference call. “This is what makes this league fun to watch, guys like him. It’s going to be all hands on deck to try and play good, solid defense against him.”
Waller caught 90 passes for 1,145 yards last year, so his receiving skills were well known,
What has set Waller apart in 2020 are his contributions without the ball in his hands and his drive to be a complete player. The maximum protection Carr called on the game- winning 46- yard touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III kept Waller in as a blocker. He helped give Carr enough time to throw the game-winner.
“There’s been games where the numbers weren’t what people expected, but I feel like I’ve grown every week,” Waller said. “Whether I have 20 yards or 200 yards, I still come to work the next week with the same mindset and stay on top of my habits and let the results take care of themselves.”
Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson went so far as to call Waller “arguably our most valuable player on offense.” Olson cited an all-round game that goes well beyond receiving skills that resulted in Waller becoming the fourth tight end in NFL history to have 200 yards and two touchdowns in a game.
“Of all the receiving, Hback type tight ends, not many will come in line and protect like Darren can do or help in the run game,” Olson said.
Now three years sober after struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, Waller has become more outgoing and vocal after initially keeping to himself. He credits Carr with helping him come out of his shell.
“I remember when I first got to the team, he would make me tell him what I saw,” Waller said. “I was a quiet guy, always in trouble, so Id keep my mouth shut and do my business. My voice is valued here and it took me a while to kind of branch into that. Derek helped me out with that process and now we communicate and nothing really goes unsaid, no stone unturned.”
Car r said once he learned of Waller’s backstory, he offered his support.
“E v e r y b o dy goes through stuff, everybody has their own problems,” Carr said. “I said if there’s anything we can do, I’m here to help. Let’s keep growing, let’s be special. And it’s grown into something, a relationship, that really is special.”
Spotted by Olson while running pregame pass routes on the field in Baltimore as a member of the practice squad, Waller was a raw talent who was a college wide receiver at Georgia Tech who aspired to be like his idol Calvin Johnson, who also went to Georgia Tech. Coach Jon Gruden said Waller has made “astonishing” strides and gives tight ends coach Frank Smith credit as well.
“They have really connected. The smallest detail is important to Waller,” Gruden said. “The pride he has in pass protection and blocking running plays is something he wants to be known for. It has to do with Waller’s personal desire, his incredible talent level, and if you combine that with a great position coach that helps him play after play, week after week, day after day, I think it’s a great battery.”
Waller says he can sense the trust Raiders coaches have in him because he’s playing in situations where he would have been on the sideline a year ago. A check of the snap counts says that’s not true — Waller played 91 percent of the snaps last season and is at 91 percent this season. But Waller believes his focus and concentration level is better.
“I feel like sometimes last year, I’d be doing well but my mind would wander,” Waller said. “This year I feel like I’m locked in all the time, and whatever is asked of me, I’m not complaining about it, I’m willing to do it.”
INJURY UPDATES >> Gruden stopped short Friday of proclaiming three key Raiders good to go for Sunday’s game.
Leading rusher Josh Jacobs and safety Johnathan Abram were listed as questionable Friday to play against the Colts.
After declaring cornerback Damon Arnette and safety Jeff Heath out of the game while in the concussion protocol, Gruden said of Jacobs, Trent Brown and Abram: “The other men are going to be questionable .. They did practice a little bit today but we’ll have a better feel for everybody on Saturday.”
In reality, Brown has done more than “practice a little bit.” He has been a full participant with the starting unit at right tackle all week and was nowhere to be found on the final injury report.
It could be Gruden is merely keeping proprietary information to himself. Or that he was taken by surprise a week ago when Jacobs and Abram couldn’t go and doesn’t want to make that mistake again. In Brown’s case, perhaps it’s best to play it close to the vest until he actually takes the field given he’s played in just two games and none since Oct. 11.
MARIOTA WILL BACK UP CARR AGAIN >> Marcus Mariota, who is earning $7.5 million in salary to back up Derek Carr this season, will be the backup against the Colts. Mariota suited up for the first time against the Jets as the backup.
The former Tennessee quarterback was healing various injuries when training camp opened and then had a pectoral injury which placed him on injured reserve.
Carr, like most starting quarterbacks, takes almost every practice rep, which hasn’t exactly hastened Mariota’s development within the system.
“We don’t practice much like we used to, and we have a lot of players that miss practice. You have to use your imagination, trust your instincts and your hunch,” Gruden said. “Mariota has a lot of playing experience, and he’s played against the Colts, having been a Titan. He’s had some familiarity with them.
“I don’t like to think about anything happening to our quarterback. But Marcus is finally healthy. He’s proven it on the practice field the last 10 days. Hopefully that’s good things to come for him because I think he’s a hell of a quarterback.”