Quarterback Derek Carr
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr didn't have his best game against the Philadelphia Eagles Monday, but the team has moved passed its 19-10 loss. For the season finale, the Silver and Black will head to Los Angeles to face the Chargers at StubHub Center. Wednesday afternoon, Carr kicked off preparation for the game by addressing the media, and during his time at the podium, he reflected on the season as a whole.
Here are the quick hits from his press conference:
Even though the team has been eliminated from playoff contention, the former Fresno State Bulldog wants to compete.
"We just want to go out there, I just want to go out there and compete. I love playing this game. My mindset is to prepare like I always do and just go lay it all out there like I always try to. I'm pumped up to play against a division rival. They have a lot that they're playing for and we want to go in there and finish the season with a win. That's the most important. We just want to go in there and get a win against a really good football team. But I just want to go out, compete. That's what I love doing. I love going out there and playing against some of the best players and going out there with your teammates and playing as hard as you can."
Carr discussed whether expectations were too high for the team entering the season.
"I don't think so, no. I don't think so, because when we show flashes of what we can be, then everyone is like, 'Oh, there it is.' But then we weren't consistent enough. We're not consistent enough all year, especially in the details of our assignments. That's one area that has to and will be cleaned up – from thinking about little things that come to mind right now. But I don't think any expectation is ever too far out there for any team in the NFL. You see a team that's in first place and all those things that we just played on Monday night and we're right there, as ugly as it was, to try and get a win. So, any time the expectations, too high or too low, I don't really think that there really is a difference."
No. 4 opened up about how it felt to watch the playoffs last year, as opposed to how it'll feel this year.
"You know, it sucks. It's two different kind of sucks too. Last year I broke my ankle, couldn't do anything about it. This year we didn't win enough games. It's a different feeling, but it's still the same kind of feeling. It's an opportunity that we don't get. If it fuels the right people, it will propel us going forward."
Carr shared how the team makes corrections without playing the blame game.
"You just have to address it. Just like a coach would with a player. The best coaches just come to you directly and say, 'Hey man, this is what I expect out of you and this is what we need,' and it's not in a bad way. You just try to give good correction, some help that will prepare you going forward. Same thing with a teammate. You know how to approach people, it can't all be the same. You go to certain people and you address it. You have awkward conversations. I've had plenty of those. Awkward conversations that have to be had so that this team and this organization, going forward, we can be better."
He expects there to be a plethora of Raiders fans in Los Angeles this weekend for the Chargers game.
"Anytime we've traveled south, that would be L.A., San Diego in the past, our fans travel really well. Gives a good atmosphere. Going in there, different cadences you can use and on the road, you're thinking a silent cadence, but just having experienced other kinds we can go by our voice. It's just little things like that."
