After his impressive performance in the Oakland Raiders' Week 5 victory over the Chargers, we suggested the team brass would initiate discussions about Terrelle Pryoras the quarterback of the future.
Although Pryor accepted the blame for absorbing 10 sacks in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, coach Dennis Allen used the occasion to affirm the organization's belief that it has stumbled onto a potential solution behind center.
"He's still a young player," Allen said Monday. "He's still got a lot of growing to do and a lot of getting better to do. He's a talented player and we're going to continue to try to build with him and try to grow with him."
Allen stopped short of anointing Pryor as the face of the franchise, but it's clear that teammates and fans have been buoyed by the young quarterback's accelerated development.
"Coach Allen's saying that for everyone on the outside looking in," fullback Marcel Reece said, via CSN Bay Area. "It's always great to have that affirmation from a coach because it just shows that everyone here is on the same page and everyone is buying in."
A franchise that seemed to fall on the quarterback side of the premature Clowney vs. Bridgewater debate one month ago is now shifting in the other direction. Credit Pryor for keeping a level head, though, realizing he "won't be here very long" if his Week 6 troubles carry over.
Raiders fans should consider the altered trajectories of Vince Young, Derek Anderson and Josh Freeman as examples of how quickly the tide can turn for a promising young quarterback with a big arm and/or flashy tools.
Pryor's dynamic athleticism has been his calling card through six weeks. If the Raiders are truly going to build around him, he will have to continue to make steady progress in mechanics, accuracy, field vision and decision making. So far, so good.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" recapped every Week 6 game.
