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Oakland Raiders' Derek Carr pushing limits in preseason

By The Sports Xchange
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

NAPA, Calif. -- A throw-it-up-for-grabs interception tossed by Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr in the second preseason game was familiar for a known risk-taker.

Carr, however, insisted the pass intended for second-year wide receiver Amari Cooper wasn't a mistake he would duplicate once the regular season begins. Quarterbacks coach Todd Downing has urged Carr to be bold in August.

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"Sometimes people are going to be mad at me for certain things in the preseason," Carr said. "Coach Downing always tells me, 'It's a great opportunity to see what you can get away with.' I take that to heart and do it."

The Raiders host the Tennessee Titans on Saturday in their next preseason game, and Raiders offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave is fine with Carr's approach. In fact, Musgrave can see a big difference with the quarterback in the second year of the offensive system.

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"Not having to learn a new language and having been around the block once before, he's able to take it to the next level, take it to the graduate level from undergrad, and put his own spin on things,'' Musgrave said. "He can solve problems almost before the problems emerge at the line of scrimmage.''

--Undrafted free agent running back Jaylon Richard was back at practice two weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and Musgrave was glad to see him.

Richard was signed to the roster in the offseason after coming to rookie camp on a tryout basis. He is similar to fifth-round draft pick DeAndre Washington in that he is 5-foot-8 and compactly built, but he may be more explosive.

`"For a while he was doing something spectacular each and every day in practice and so it's good to have him back out there,'' Musgrave said. "It really reminded us of what we missed in practice the last two weeks with him not being there.''

Richard feels he is quickly getting back in the mix but isn't sure if he'll play Saturday night against Tennessee.

"I definitely feel good to be out there as far as the intensity standpoint,'' Richard said. "It's a day-by-day thing. You're really doing your best to push it every day trying to be seen. It feels good to be back out there.''

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--The Raiders Week 3 preseason opponent is the same as their Week 3 regular-season opponent, creating a scenario coach Jack Del Rio termed "unorthodox . . . both sides, I'm sure will hold a few things back."

Linebacker Ben Heeney, however, sees it as an opportunity to go out and be physical. The Raiders were pushed around on their opening drive by Green Bay, and Tennessee comes to Oakland with running backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry in tow.

"It's preseason, so they're not going to be showing too much," Heeney said. "But we won't be, either. Just to get out there and get a feel for the type of team they're going to be in Week 3 will be good."

--Tight end Colton Underwood, a longshot to make the roster, seemed surprised that his video proposal to Olympics gold-medal gymnast Aly Raisman went viral.

"I was just asking a girl on a date," Underwood said. "It turned into something much bigger."

Raisman accepted Underwood's offer. The potential romance was pushed along by backup long-snapper Andrew East, who is married to Shawn Johnson, a former Olympic gymnast.

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--Seth Roberts emerged from training camp last season as the Raiders' slot receiver with starters Amari Coooper and Michael Crabtree. He caught 32 passes for 480 yards and five touchdowns.

Roberts, who leads the Raiders with five catches for 59 yards, including a 33-yard hookup with Connor Cook against Green Bay, looks at the younger receivers and realizes he was in their shoes a year ago.

"They ask a lot of questions,'' Roberts said. "I feel like that's cool, but what I did, I just sat back and watched. I'm the type of guy I don't say much. I just check my surroundings and watch the veterans.''

While Roberts' spot on the roster appears secure, Del Rio sounded as if he didn't want him getting too comfortable.

"He's been OK. I think he's starting to feel pushed a little bit, which is what we'd like to have,'' Del Rio said. "He's been a good player for us.''

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