The Starting Quarterback For The Oakland Raiders Is...

Terrell White – Oct 19, 2011

Holla me Raider Nation!

Terrelle Pryor!! HEY, I didn't say I was talking about this Sunday, now did I?

Of course Raider Nation is all "abuzz" with quarterback news; after the acquisition of Carson Palmer how could they not be? Now that the ink is dry, and the Oakland Raiders have added Palmer to the roster a few things have become very clear to me. For the purposes of this article (I'm not trying to write a book) I'll jut give you my top two.

The first thing the Carson Palmer signing tells me is how important this season is to the "Raider Family". When they look back on the season that saw the loss of Al Davis, they want (more than anything) for it to have been seen as a successful one.

A record of seven and nine, eight and eight, or even nine and seven just isn't going to "cut it". The Raiders need (want) a double-digit win season (at the very least), and their going to do whatever it takes to get it! (Just Win Baby in its purest form)

The second thing this move tells me is that  the Raiders are looking to "protect" Terrelle Pryor. Since we're on the latter of the two, let's start here.

Being honest, Pryor isn't even close to being ready to start. Hell, this kid isn't ready to be a back up in the NFL (yet). We all know that the back up quarterback is only one snap away from being the starting quarterback, and that's just too close to the fire for this kid right now.

If Pryor truly is that "special talent" the last thing the team wants or needs to do is put this kid in too early. One of the Raider specialties has always been "repairing" quarterbacks that other teams have made that very mistake with!



Let's also remember that Pryor is one of the last players selected by Al Davis. I believe that everything is going to be done to give Terrelle an opportunity to be a "playing-tribute" to Al Davis. The Raiders (I believe) are making this move, in part to give Pryor every opportunity to be their quarterback for the next decade (Carson is not going to play that long, and neither was Jason Campbell).

Now, let's get back to the first.

Under "normal" circumstances, just maybe the Raiders "roll the dice" and ride out the next month and a half (the amount of time the team would need to be without the services of Jason Campbell). Over the next few weeks, including a bye, the only "threat" is the Thursday night game against San Diego. This week we play the Chiefs (2-3), a team that we were going to run all over, even if Jason Campbell was playing. The next week is the bye, then its: the Broncos (1-4), the Chargers (4-1), the Vikings (1-5) and the Bears (3-3); This is hardly a line up to be feared.

I could have seen the team starting Kyle Boller, bringing in a vet (can you say Brett Farve?) and then seeing what happens at the end of the six weeks. I could see, with ease the Raiders going nine and three, and at worst eight and four.

However, this is the NFL and anything can (and often does) happen. It's clear that the Raiders did not want to "roll the dice" with their back up quarterback, not this season. The Raiders went out and got a starter. Oh by the way, when I say starter, I mean that Carson Palmer is going to start THIS Sunday against the Chiefs.

Keep Ya "Eye" Open

That's right I wrote it! Carson Palmer is going to start on Sunday!

I told you we're going to be running all over the Chiefs. Look for heavy doses of Darren McFadden, the resurgence of Mike Bush, as well as for Carson to introduce himself to Kevin Boss.

The Raiders will also have the occasional deep ball, to Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford, or Darrius Heyward-Bey (take your pick). The incomparable Sebastian Janikowski, not to mention a strong defensive performance all pretty much should give the Raiders everything they'll need to "Just Win (another one) Baby".

Raider from birth.