Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jarrett Stidham reinvigorated Raider Nation with his performance on Sunday. Though his teammates were not surprised, the fans were. Many took to social media to vent their excitement at seeing No. 3 play. Many couldn’t recall the last time a Raiders’ quarterback extended plays with his legs all game. Another person who was thoroughly impressed was Raiders’ legend Rich Gannon.
Gannon, now an analyst for “The 33rd Team,” broke down some of what he saw with Stidham recently. In particular, he highlighted his poise under pressure and his ability to deliver the ball downfield despite getting laid out.
What did Rich Gannon say about Derek Carr and Jarrett Stidham?
“He’s going to get flushed; he’s going to buy some time; he’s going to move to his left. Now, I was surprised at how long he held this football. He held it to the very last second. He’s going to get unloaded on, but watch his eyes, his focus, and his demeanor down the field. You’re going to see Davante Adams; he keeps moving and keeps the play alive. Stidham makes the best throw of the night, makes a great throw, takes a big hit, and he did it on the Raiders’ sideline. All of those players and coaches saw that; they saw his toughness and his resolve. They saw his willingness to sit in there and make a big throw and take a hit for the team.”
Stidham’s ability to extend plays surely won him some fans on Sunday. For years, many within Raider Nation have been clamoring for Derek Carr to do the same. In his defense, Carr would on occasion do it, but not nearly enough on a consistent basis to prove doubters wrong. In one fell swoop, people are falling in love with Stidham’s potential. Of course, Gannon couldn’t just simply give “Stiddy” his flowers. Of course, he threw in the following gem at the end of his analysis:
“I’m not suggesting that Derek Carr has never done that, but this is how you win over your teammates. This is how you win over your coaching staff, and this is how you win over a fan base.”
I’m not suggesting but…
Rich Gannon is a beloved figure in Raiders’ lore and is highly respected around the league. The former NFL MVP has occasionally ruffled some feathers with what many consider to be a personal vendetta against Carr. Regardless, do what you will with that final segment.
As far as Stidham goes, fans will be watching closely on Saturday to see if this was a one-hit wonder type of performance. Either Stidham is the second coming or he’s Matt McGloin 2.0, the preseason legend.
*Top Photo: AP Photo/David Dermer