Raiders training camp preview: Quarterback

Raiders training camp starts this week. The players arrive this Wednesday with the first practice taking place Friday. And in preparation for that, I will be putting out a string of training camp previews for each position all this week. The previews start in the usual place -- the quarterback position,

The players

Matt Schaub, Derek Carr, Matt McGloin, Trent Edwards

What's new

Trent Edwards was signed early in the off-season to a futures contract. Raiders traded a sixth round pick to the Texans to acquire Matt Schaub. Soon thereafter, they traded Terrelle Pryor to the Seahawks for literally the last tradable pick in the draft. They then used their second round pick (36 overall) to select Fresno State quarterback, Derek Carr.

The big question

Will Matt Schaub rebound or continue his downward spiral?

He had a terrible season in 2013 and was benched in favor of Case Keenum at midseason. Schaub had thrown interceptions returned for touchdowns in four-straight games, and a total of six. He made the Pro Bowl in 2012 and has a career passer rating over 90 despite his down season last year. If last season was an anomaly, the Raiders may have gotten a steal. If it isn't, it could be another rough year even if Derek Carr or Matt McGloin can step into the starting role.

Best case scenario

As I said, Schaub returns to form. He was a perennial 4000-yard passer prior to last season, including just the season before. The Raiders are counting on him to give them at least one good season, if not a couple.

Worst case scenario

Schaub shows the Texans were right to give up on him. He was rattled and made many poor decisions, prompting many to say he is not as good as his previous numbers suggest. That he is a good quarterback who must have everything working well in a system. This could cause the Raiders to start Derek Carr sooner than they would like. Even some of the best quarterbacks have struggled as rookies. Matt McGloin was the starter last year and he is an option as well but Derek Carr will go into training camp as the number two quarterback on the depth chart.

Random facts

Matt Schaub replaced Texans former number one overall pick, David Carr, in Houston. Now the Raiders draft David's little brother Derek in the hopes he can eventually replace Schaub in Oakland. It's funny how things can come full circle like that.

Matt McGloin came into camp last year behind a drafted rookie (Tyler Wilson) and by midway through camp, he had surpassed him on the depth chart. By midseason, he had been named the Raiders starter, where he remained the next six weeks. He won his first start... against Matt Schaub and the Houston Texans.

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