Oakland Raiders' Derek Carr, Amari Cooper get head start on chemistry

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Amari Cooper, Pro Bowl alternates in their first year together, both feel as if they've got a head start this year.

Carr missed nearly all of last year's offseason program with an issue with the ring finger on his throwing hand. With an entire season as well as this off-season, Carr can feel the difference.

The two hooked up on a handful of plays Wednesday during the Raiders' second minicamp practice.

"I'm able to throw the ball a lot earlier," Carr said. "I'm able to trust where he's going to be. I'm used to seeing his routes run a certain way. Those are things that take time."

Carr passed for 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns in his second year, with Cooper catching 72 passes for 1,070 yards and six scores as a rookie.

Cooper sees the off-season as a better time to iron out details and feel.

"It's a lot easier to do in the offseason when we're training, because in the season we're focused on a certain amount of plays," Cooper said.

--Carr was humbled when he heard that wide receiver Michael Crabtree had called him a "gunslinger" and compared him to Brett Favre.

"Man, I'm very honored, very thankful," Carr said. "Brett is somebody I looked up to as a kid the way he played the game, so I wore No. 4 ever since I could remember. I always wanted to wear No. 4 somehow, some way. I don't think I've told (Crabtree) that."

Then again, the comparison made Carr wonder about some of his decisions.

"For him to come out and say that it made me think, 'Do I take too many chances sometimes,'" Carr said. "But I think the wide receivers like that. They know that no matter what, I'm going to give them a chance."