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ALAMEDA https://www.raiderslockerroom.com/authentic-antonio-brown-jersey , Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr feels much more relaxed in Jon Gruden’s offense than he did at the beginning of the year.It’s too late to salvage the Raiders’ season but for a team that is 2-9 and in the hunt for the No. 1 overall pick next year, baby steps are important.For Carr, whose future as the team’s franchise quarterback is no longer a certainty, it is even more critical.“I just think he’s a really good decision-maker,” Gruden said Wednesday. “He’s never been one to throw a lot of picks. I think he realizes right now winning the turnover battle gives this team right now the best chance to win. He’s done a great job taking care of the ball.”Carr has not thrown an interception in the last ix games, the longest stretch of his five-year NFL career.That’s a significant turnaround after Carr was picked off eight times in the first five games, making him an easy lightning rod for criticism from media and fans and, at times, from Gruden.“Just trying to figure the offense out, feel things out, being too aggressive, trying too much to help us win,” Carr said of his early turnovers. “That’s always been a problem I’ve always tried to hold back on. With coach Gruden coming in I’m so aggressive and fired up all the time. We’ve learned to mellow that out a little bit so I can do better for our team.”Carr’s last interception came Oct. 7 when San Diego defensive end Melvin Ingram picked him off in the end zone on a 1st-and-goal play from the 1.Since then, Carr has been much more efficient taking care of the ball. During the six-game stretch, Carr has passed for 1,186 yards with six touchdowns. He failed to throw a touchdown in three of those games but completed 63.8 percent of his throws and compiled a 94.7 passer rating.A more patient approach in the pocket, Carr said, has been the key.“Just doing my best to take care of the football to put our defense in good situations,” Carr said. “Taking care of the football so it’s easy on our offense so we’re not playing from behind and things like that. Just trying to do my best that way. When it comes to throwing interceptions, just making good decisions to put our team in the best situation.”Carr’s interceptions early in the year were part of a problematic offense that has been among the NFL’s least effective for most of the season.The Raiders are 24th in overall offense and 18th in passing heading into Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.Carr has spent much of the season playing behind an injury-riddled offensive line and an equally banged up receiving corps that lost its best weapon when Amari Cooper was traded to the Dallas Cowboys.Carr declined to use that as an excuse but acknowledged the changing roster has made it difficult to get the passing game in rhythm.“Having continuity is a huge thing,” Carr said. “We’ve got some receivers right now that it’s the first time out there with them. We’re still learning certain coverages, certain routes that are good for them and for me throwing to them. It’s not like Crab’s back and Coop’s back for years. We’re learning each other. It’s going to bode us well in the future. It’s going to be nice but right now there’s growing pains.”Notes: Tight end Jared Cook was named recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award. . Linebacker James Cowser and wide receiver Johnny Holton were signed to the practice squad. ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Three years after his last 1,000-yard season Womens Derek Carr Jersey , Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin is getting another chance to prove he can still be an effective player in the NFL.Marshawn Lynch’s groin injury and subsequent surgery created a vacancy in the backfield and the Raiders are turning to Martin to fill the gap.“I feel good, fresh legs,” Martin said Thursday. “I was just making sure that when it was time to go I was ready.”A two-time Pro Bowl back during his six-year stay with Tampa Bay, Martin expected to be a major part of coach Jon Gruden’s running game when he signed a one-year, $1.475 million contract with Oakland in the offseason.The 29-year-old Martin instead has spent the majority of time as Lynch’s understudy, rushing for 99 yards on 27 carries.That figures to change significantly with Lynch on injured reserve and out for at least two months.“I’ve been a lead guy since high school so it was definitely something that was difficult for me,” Martin said of his limited work. “But I’ve got people behind me, in my ear, telling me to keep working hard and keep pushing and your time will come.“I’m 29, pushing 30 . so it’s definitely an opportunity to show the rest of the league and the Raiders and everybody, all my doubters, that I can still play.”Offensive coordinator Greg Olson doesn’t expect Oakland’s running game to change much despite the difference in running styles between Lynch and Martin.Lynch is a more bruising runner who powers his way through defenders and often pushes the pile an extra three to five yards downfield while Martin tends to be more of a finesse back.“There’s a different style, a little bit, between those two runners,” Olson said. “Marshawn has a package of plays that suit his skills and Doug has a package of plays that suit his skills. They both fit within the system. We’re excited to see what he can do.”How effective Martin can be remains uncertain. While he will be the primary back this week against Indianapolis, Oakland is also likely to lean more on third-down back Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington. Washington was inactive for the first six weeks of the season.“We think Doug is the feature back,” Gruden said. “He’s ready to go. Jalen Richard has carved out a unique role. We’ll try to get more out of him as we have been doing in recent weeks. To have DeAndre back . gives us some versatility that we’ll try to use as well.”Martin rushed for 4,633 yards during six uneven seasons with Tampa Bay. He twice ran for more than 1,400 yards but failed to reach 500 in the other four years while missing extensive time with a variety of injuries.Those injuries, Martin believes, were both a curse and a blessing. While it forced him to miss 28 games over five years, it also saved a lot of wear and tear on his body.“I still have a lot of miles left on these wheels,” Martin said. “This is my seventh year in the league. I’m going to go out there and just play like I’ve been playing. I’ve started for about six years so I’m just doing what I do.”Notes: LG Kelechi Osemele (knee) did not practice. Osemele also sat out Wednesday and has not played since getting hurt against Cleveland on Sept. 30. . Former Raiders players and members of the front office will team up with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday to assemble care packages for U.S. troops overseas as part of Operation: Care and Comfort.
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