Schlereth: Derek Carr, Not Jack Del, Changed The Culture In Oakland

The Raiders are 19-13 with Jack Del Rio as head coach and months before Derek Carr’s record-breaking contract extension, it was Del Rio who signed a new long-term deal with the Raiders.

Undoubtedly, the Raiders resurgence coincided with Del Rio’s arrival, but former Bronco and current Denver radio host Mark Schlereth says it was Carr, not Del Rio, that changed the culture in Oakland.

“Every coach that has come in there has said the number one priority is changing the culture,” Schlereth said Wednesday on his The Stinkin’ Truth podcast. “Jack Del Rio is no different. Was it Jack Del Rio who changed the culture? No. You know who it was? Derek Carr changed the culture. As soon as [Carr] got hurt last year, the Raiders deflated. You could see that they had no chance.”

To Schlereth’s point, Carr missed just over 9 quarters of the season in 2016. The Raiders were outscored 74-20 in what amounted to be a little more than two full games.

“You’re paying him not only for his talent which is immense, your really paying him because he is the guy who set the tone,” Schlereth said of Carr’s new contract. “He is the guy who has established the culture and he is one of those guys that you want on your side. Derek Carr is 1. he’s salt of the earth, 2. he’s intelligent enough to have learned from his brother’s mistakes and his brother’s trials and tribulations. That to me makes him intelligent. Good players learn from their mistakes. Great players learn from the mistakes of others. He’s a great player.”

As many have said in the past (Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo being one), “the best-coached teams are player-coached teams.”

Credit to Del Rio for creating an environment where his 26 year-old quarterback is encouraged to lead.

Next order of business for the head coach?

Change the culture of his defense.

twitter: @raidersbeat

Share:

4 thoughts on “Schlereth: Derek Carr, Not Jack Del, Changed The Culture In Oakland

  1. Sounds like sour grapes to me Schlereth. Got an issue with the former Donkey defensive coach now doing well in Oakland now do ya?

  2. I have been a Raider fan close to 50 years.
    I am thrilled by the Raiders for so many
    reasons, not the least of which is
    the comraderie and unity of the players,
    The Leadership of Derek Carr, and the
    coaching staff lead by Jack Del Rio.
    I am proud to call myself a Raider Fan, and
    absolutely believe that they will win
    The 2018 Super Bowl.

Comments are closed.