Pryor’s debut just leads to more questions for Raiders

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When the time expired after yesterday’s 24-21 loss to the San Diego Chargers, I only had two things on my mind. One, #ThankYouTankExpressGod for making sure that the Raiders were able to retain their first round draft pick position. I’ve been banging the Tank Express drum over the last couple of weeks for the Raiders that they were able to at least make me a little happy with being able to keep their 1st round spot in the draft. Now losing the 2nd round pick to the Bengals for Carson Palmer is an entirely other issue so let’s stay focused.

(AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Second, I’m glad I finally got to see Terrelle Pryor play for the entire game, warts and all. Sure Pryor’s stat line doesn’t jump out at you 13-28 for 150 yds, 2 TD’s, 1 INT, and 9 rushes for 49 yds and 1 TD. To me the question was never if Pryor would be a savior for the organization but rather just to see what Al Davis saw in him since it was his last and final draft selection.

There will be those who say Pryor will not be a productive NFL player let alone Quarterback but the fact that the Raiders Coaching staff and front office were only able to get a 1 game preview of Pryor amidst a lost season is absurd. Pryor should have been a part of the Raiders game plan for the last 3 games to at least see what he could do and have his playing time culminate in his start on Sunday. Instead, coach Allen made every excuse possible not to play him despite the need to evaluate Pryor.

(AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Look Dennis, we get it you didn’t want to try and jeopardize your job by going full Tank Express. But you could have done some things to make sure that the Raiders had a better chance of evaluating Pryor instead of just getting a 1 game look. Allen was quoted as saying,

I think he earned the chance for us to evaluate him some more, that was a good first step in that direction.

In reality, that statement should have been made in week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs when Pryor should have gotten a couple of series versus the Chiefs instead of just 4 plays, where 2 were hand offs and 1 was an incomplete pass on third down. Who gets the blame for that, Allen, Knapp, or both? All I know is in a meandering season for the Raiders, they did not take every opportunity to look at Pryor and truly evaluate him as a legitimate QB option for next season.

(AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

Instead Raiders fans were treated to big helping of Matt Leinart last week versus the Carolina Panthers after Carson Palmer got broken in half but what exactly did that prove? That Leinart is a known commodity at this point in his mediocre career and should be treated as such and not given more then mop up duty in a blow out. Or that Gregg Knapp really loves Leinart enough to forego getting an even better look at Pryor for next season because he has got to make sure that his Bro is able to get some kind of gig next season as a 3rd string back up?

This is the exact kind of lurch that the Raiders should not have been left in when it comes to evaluating Terrelle Pryor. So now another year will pass without the proper evaluation of Pryor but at least the Raiders were able to lock up the number 3 draft pick even though they are giving up their second rounder to the Bengals. Let’s just hope for Raiders fans sake that something is done about the offense and Greg Knapp or they might be in this same spot come next year.

Update: As of this posting, the Raiders have fired Offensive Coordinator Greg Knapp as well as Offensive line coach Frank Pollack, Special Teams Coordinator Steve Hoffman, and Linebackers coach Johnny Holland. Now starts the waiting game to see who the Raiders go after for their open Offensive Coordinator position.