The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. At least, that’s the definition commonly attributed to the late great Albert Einstein. But it’s an apt saying for the Las Vegas Raiders, too.
How so?
The Silver and Black were married to a quarterback who much preferred to win with his arm and refused to use his legs. For nine seasons, the non-modernizing Raiders spat in the face of the changing NFL landscape. They stuck with Derek Carr, a quarterback who, despite coaches trying to switch it up and get him to scramble more, didn’t do it consistently enough to become a dual-threat type despite his solid 4.69 40-yard dash time. I once wrote about how a tiger doesn’t change his stripes regarding Jon Gruden’s coaching style and play calling, and the same can be said about Carr’s unwillingness to use his God-given athleticism.
Maybe it’s time the Raiders catch up to the rest of the NFL.
But it harkens back to the point: The Raiders did the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. Insane, right?
Don’t fall back into the same hole now that the Silver and Black have broken free—ahem, Tom Brady. Go land a quarterback that can win with both his arms and legs. Get one that’s decisive, whether throwing the ball or taking off to make a go of things by scrambling.
That’s what’s required in today’s game: A quarterback that’s athletic and decisive on when to stick in the pocket and drop dimes or take off and churn out yardage with his feet. This isn’t some fad that’ll go away soon, mind you. It’s a byproduct of defenders in the NFL right now. They’re getting faster, stronger, and sometimes bigger at positions designed to ruin a quarterback’s day.
Just look at what Daniel Jones accomplished as he led the New York Giants’ ouster of the Minnesota Vikings in Super Wild Card Weekend this past Sunday. Danny Dimes didn’t waste time in the pocket; he either threw it quickly or decided to run—nothing in between.
Remember when Daniel Jones pump faked 5 yards downfield and it worked? pic.twitter.com/ya75GfqgGh
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) January 16, 2023
And when he did scramble, boy did it pay off: 17 carries for 78 yards. He also completed 24 of 35 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns. That made Jones only the third quarterback in NFL playoff history to throw for over 300 yards and scramble for more than 70 more. The Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and legendary San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young are the other two. And here’s the kicker: Jones was clocked at 4.81 in his 40-yard dash.
Perhaps timed speed isn’t indicative of true jets—at least not for a quarterback.
Yet, the Raiders would be best served by deploying a quarterback that can attack the opposing defense with an accurate and strong arm and legs that can steer clear of trouble by scrambling in the pocket or outracing defenders for first downs and potentially touchdowns.
*Top Photo: AP Photo/Matt York
