The quarterback controversy in the Bay Area has become a major topic of discussion over the last few weeks with head coach Dennis Allen of the Oakland Raiders being forced to make a tough decision before Week 1. Allen has praised both Terrelle Pryor and Matt Flynn for different things as of late, but it has become clear the majority of the support lately has been directed toward Pryor.
As for Pryor, the Ohio State product is ready to step up and assume the role as the team’s starter under center following the preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle:
“I feel like I am. Just today, I’m still angry at myself after that pick. At the end of the day, we drove down on the next drive and got three points before the half. We were still in the game. There are things I did today that I can grow off of, definitely. I think that’s the main key. But I’m definitely ready.”
The Raiders’ coaching staff will need to cut the current roster down to 53 players by Saturday night making today and tomorrow a difficult process to say the least. Although the roster cuts that need to be made will be a difficult process, naming the starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts might be even tougher.
Once training camp got underway for the Raiders, the consensus was that the starting job under center was Flynn’s to lose. Even starting running back Darren McFadden claimed that Flynn being the starter was the worst kept secret in the NFL, but now it appears the tables have turned on the veteran for a second straight year.
Flynn was beat out by rookie Russell Wilson last season while with the Seattle Seahawks and the same thing may happen this time around with the Raiders. Pryor has looked like the better option for Oakland due to his playmaking ability. Flynn is clearly the better pocket-passing quarterback, but with a weak offensive line, Pryor seems to make more sense as the starter.