Carson Palmer and “athleticism” are not usually mentioned in the same sentence. Unless that sentence is: Carson Palmer does not have as much athleticism as most NFL quarterbacks.
The Raiders hired Greg Knapp to coordinate the team’s offense. In the past, Knapp’s offenses have relief on a lot of bootlegs, roll outs, and other ways of getting quarterbacks on the move. New Raiders head coach Dennis Allen was asked if Palmer made sense in that system.
“I think absolutely he can fit. . . . We’re not going to force-feed something if it doesn’t fit what a guy does really well, we’re not going to force-feed that. But I do think when you look at Carson Palmer, that he does have the same type of athleticism. He’s as athletic as Matt Schaub, who they had in Houston, to really be really be able to run that same package.”
We don’t necessarily agree with Allen’s Palmer/Schaub comparison, but we are looking forward to seeing what Palmer can do with a full offseason in a new offense. Palmer showed enough in Oakland last year to indicate he could have a strong run there.
Allen was effusive in his praise of Palmer, but he wouldn’t commit to the futures of Kamerion Wimbley and Michael Huff in Oakland. Allen did commit to having Darren McFadden and Richard Seymour on the team next year. Huff could possibly play cornerback next year if he stays.