Seal of approval: Saints can win with Carr at QB

by Ed Daniels

By Ed Daniels, Sports
Clarion Herald

As training camp in California approaches quickly, I will answer the question again: Can the Saints win with Derek Carr?

And, the answer is, yes.

Carr’s body of work for the 2023 season was statistically quite good, and over the last five games – 14 touchdown passes against two interceptions – it was very good.

Consider: Carr was 10th in the NFL in touchdown passes with 25 and 10th in quarterback rating, one spot behind Detroit’s Jared Goff and five spots ahead of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes.
Carr was sixth in completion percentage at 68.4. He threw only eight interceptions, the fewest of any quarterback who played all 17 games.

Carr accomplished the above behind a patchwork offensive line that didn’t steady itself until maligned guard Andrus Peat moved to left tackle.

The Saints’ running game, a quarterback’s best friend, was putrid. New Orleans averaged only 3.6 yards per carry, second worst in the NFL.

What else do you want Carr to do?

He likely will not be the quarterback who will carry a team on his back. But, he also will not be the quarterback who will get you beat.

Carr is above average, and if you put an above-average team out there with him, he’s plenty good enough.

Carr also stands to gain the most from the Saints’ new offensive system, one that relies on play-action passing and disguise.

On offense, the Saints still have a ton of question marks.

Can Trevor Penning, painful to watch at left tackle, settle in at right tackle and be a solid player?

Can Nick Saldiveri, whose rookie season was marred by injury, be the answer at left guard?

Will first-round pick Taliese Fuaga be as good as he appears at left tackle?

Can wide receiver Chris Olave go from very good to great?

Is A.T. Perry, who averaged 20.5 yards a reception, the Saints’ third-best receiver?

Can running back Kendre Miller, solid in the final game of last season, stay on the field, or will he again be set back by injury?

Will Alvin Kamara and the Saints strike a deal in time for the start of training camp?

Those are all legitimate questions. But, Derek Carr answered a lot of questions last season.
Early in the season, with his protection shaky, Carr struggled at times, often feeling phantom pressure. But, as soon as he got comfortable, the Saints got better.

If the Saints don’t win this season, Carr most likely won’t be the reason, but for sure, he will get the blame.

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