Matt Schaub is not the starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, nor will he be for the remainder of the season. This is certainly not the way the veteran quarterback saw the 2014 season going for him. After a down year with the Houston Texans, Schaub was acquired by Oakland to be a stop-gap option while they developed a rookie quarterback. However, an injury saw Derek Carr inserted into the starting lineup immediately and the Raiders have not looked back since. Now Schaub adjusts to a different role.
Schaub spoke with the media on Thursday and was quick to say that his arm is totally healthy and he could easily play if the Raiders needed him to. The issue is that while the team has not won a game this season, newly appointed head coach Tony Sparano is fully invested in making the rookie succeed. So instead, Schaub hold the clipboard and helps Carr whenever he can.
"He's doing a great job putting guys in position to make plays, all that he's being asked to do in this offense, really handling the whole game plan and managing everybody in the huddle, making calls, protections and routes," Schaub said, via Contra Costa Times.
Schaub understands that he is the primary backup now with the Raiders while former starter Matt McGloin sits in third string. The veteran quarterback says that he is satisfied helping Carr develop into a starter. In terms of rookie quarterbacks, Carr kept up with the likes of Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater. He has been the only one to start every game for his respective team. Despite hitting his rookie hurdles, Carr hit a breakthrough in Week 6 that could carry positive momentum into Week 7. If it does not, Schaub says he is ready to play.
"I'm available, I'm here," Schaub said. "I'm not one that's going to worry just about myself and not try to help out him and the other guys, because we're all in this thing together. He's definitely vocal, he definitely asks questions and he's in to hearing things. So, it's a good relationship."
If Carr is going to be successful the rest of the offense needs to play accordingly. Right now, the ground game is struggling at the legs of Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew as well as receivers like Andre Holmes and James Jones. However, the team started putting things together, almost upsetting the San Diego Chargers and Oakland certainly hopes they can really finish things out next week.