Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr no longer thinks of himself as the callow youngster with barely any NFL experience under his belt. More accurately, he can't think of himself that way as he enters his third season in the league. Veterans such as Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck have retired, leaving something of a vacuum of leadership in Oakland.
As is the case with most talented young quarterbacks, it's time for Carr to step up and take more ownership of the team. To his credit, he's prepared to do just that as the team's 2016 offseason training program begins.
"I felt older," Carr said of walking into Oakland's facility Monday. "I don't know if it's maturity or just a sense of, hey, man, you've got to pick it up now. Pick it up where they left it.
"I don't know what it is exactly, but you can definitely feel it. It's time to really take over."
The Raiders are primed to take another step forward this year after an offseason that saw them become a prime destination for free agents for the first time in years. Oakland added solid talents such as offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele, linebacker Bruce Irvin, cornerback Sean Smith and free safety Reggie Nelson in free agency, all of whom are expected to play big roles in 2016.
None of this surprises Carr, who expected the Raiders to emerge as a go-to destination when the team drafted him in the second round back in 2014.
"They told me, 'You'll play, probably two years from now,'" Carr said. "'We think you're a great player but more importantly, we want you to change the culture. We want you to be yourself, be the leader and hard worker you are. Show them what it takes.'"
For many young players, this would prove to be a daunting task, especially given the prolonged misfortune the Raiders have endured for the last decade-plus. But for Carr, this was an exciting challenge he embraced head on.
"I said, 'OK, (I) want this to be a place people want to come, want to work like we work, want to play the way we play," he said. "I just had it in my mind...I can't do it for everybody, but I can do it for myself."
There's a culture change going on in Oakland and it has permeated every level of the organization. The players feel it and set out to exemplify the new swagger in even the most everyday activities.
"We were going to set the standard for how we practice, how we lift, how we take care of our bodies, how we study film," Carr said. "And so far it's led to, three years later, people want to come play here.
"Guys see, yeah, man, they're only a few pieces away - I want to be a part of that. We've got a young, talented team that guys just want to be a part of. It's really cool to be here and see that. It's not like we have to beg people to come play here, or guys don't have anywhere else to go. No. We got some of the top free agents that picked us over teams that have won Super Bowls in the recent past, so it's pretty cool to be here."
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
