Raiders' offensive coordinator: QB Derek Carr 'may not need to redshirt'

Derek Carr has only been an Oakland Raider for a month, but the coaching staff is already admitting he may earn the starting quarterback job.

Offensive coordinator Greg Olson told the San Francisco Chronicle that Carr is "better than we thought he would be". 

Olson continued to gush about the pivot chosen 36th overall in May's NFL Draft:

I really, really like him. Everybody knew he was accurate, but he is more accurate than we thought. … We'll have to wait and see how he does against a live rush, but so far his intelligence, accuracy and quickness in getting the ball out has been excellent.

The Raiders traded a sixth-round pick to the Houston Texans for veteran quarterback Matt Schaub in March.

“When we got Matt Schaub, we needed to do that,” Olson said. “We didn’t know who would fall to us in the draft. It was a good decision, a decision we had to make.”

Olson says despite Schaub's experience, Carr may not need to watch from the sidelines.

“We drafted a pretty good player,” Olson said. “He is very intelligent, and he may not need to redshirt. We like his comfort level. Right away, you can see that this is not too big for him.”

The Fresno State product racked up 5,083 passing yards, 50 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 13 games for the Bulldogs last season.

For now, though, the Raiders' starting quarterback job is Schaub's to lose.

“They didn’t allow him to do much in Houston,” Olson said. “I don’t know why. A guy with his experience ought to understand the protections and what a good run is, and what a bad run is. So, give him more rein and let him use what he sees.”

[H/T CBS Eye on Football]