Many things come to mind when the Oakland Raiders are mentioned. Strong quarterback play (or winning in general) is not one of them. The Raiders have been stuck in QB purgatory for more than a decade now. Quarterback purgatory is the area in between having a franchise QB for the future, and only having QB's that you already KNOW aren't the answer for the future. The teams stuck in this gray area are often talented enough to string together too many wins to get a high draft pick (top 5), and are simply not good enough to make deep playoff runs.
Since Rich Gannon's MVP season in 2002, the Raiders have had over 10 quarterbacks start games for them, none of which ended up with winning records. Among these players are names like Kerry Collins, Charlie Frye, and Jamarcus Russell. I hope you cringed as much as I did when you read those names. Carson Palmer was brought in as a last beacon of hope for this struggling franchise, but led the team to an 8-15 record over a season and a half. When Palmer was subsequently traded to the Arizona Cardinals, the door opened for three young quarterbacks: Matt Flynn, Terrelle Pryor, and rookie Tyler Wilson. The latter was cut before the season ever started, leaving Pryor and Flynn to battle it out to become the starter.
Coming out of Ohio State, Pryor was regarded as one of the most athletic prospects. A dual athlete in high school, Pryor ran an unofficial 4.40 forty-yard dash standing at 6 ft. 6 in. tall. He had a poor outing at his Pro Day, and with lingering allegations of receiving payment while at Ohio State, went undrafted. The Raiders selected him in the third round of the 2011 supplemental draft, and he rarely saw the field through two years. Pryor got the chance to prove himself this year after he was named the Week 1 starter against the Indianapolis Colts. Although the Raiders lost the game, Pryor broke the Raiders single game rushing record with 13 carries for 112 yards. The following week he led the Raiders to their first win of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The next two games were ugly ones for Pryor, as he received a severe blow to the head against the Broncos and sustained a concussion that sidelined him for the rest of the game, as well as the following week against the Redskins. Matt Flynn did nothing to steal the starting job and Pryor was all systems go for the Week 5 matchup against the Chargers.
Pryor got off to a great start, completing his first ten passes and throwing for two touchdowns with no interceptions. His ability to escape pressure and keep his eyes downfield provided the Raiders with something they haven't had in a long time; a playmaking quarterback. Bill Polian from NFL insiders recently claimed that, "Pryor has improved more than any other player I've seen." Anyone watching his progression since Week 1 would have to agree. His pocket presence, downfield awareness, and ability to make plays with his arm have steadily improved week by week. Barring injury, Pryor has a chance to develop into a quality NFL quarterback, which is music to the ears of the Raider Faithful. The coaching staff would be wise to use next year's draft to surround him with more offensive weapons. With a rapidly improving young quarterback and a consistent defense, there is finally a glimmer of hope for the Oakland Raiders.
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