Terrelle Pryor has a big opportunity ahead of him. The Oakland Raiders quarterback will be the starter in the team's final preseason game with the chance to be the Week 1 starter on the line. Poor play by Matt Flynn and Tyler Wilson have opened the door for Pryor to make a move. His abilities have been on display throughout the preseason and the coaching staff is noticing.
Pryor's athleticism was never questioned. The quarterback has always been known for his speed and ability to scramble out of the pocket. His mechanics were what has been holding the quarterback back from making a real impact.
Pryor spent the entire offseason working with quarterback coaches in order to address some lingering throwing issues he was suffering from. Bad habits were broken and now Pryor looks poised to possibly take over the team.
"When you see Terrelle in a game, he just looks faster than the other players on the field," Olson said, via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. "That's what jumped out at me, and probably jumped out at most people when they watch him play. He can run. He is a tremendous athlete, and he's got the ability to make plays. Right now we're looking for playmakers."
Pryor's abilities to be a dual-threat quarterback have placed him ahead of Matt Flynn and rookies Tyler Wilson and Matt McGloin. As Flynn suffers from some elbow tendinitis and Wilson struggles, Pryor has seen an increased amount of reps with the first-team offense that could help him do more than just run a specific package of plays.
As Pryor's confidence grows, Wilson is trying hard to hold on to his. At one point, the rookie looked like he could be the best option to start for the Raiders after he looked strong in the offseason workouts. However, a recent dip in production has him battling for a roster spot. He will play in the preseason finale, as an attempt to remain with the team.
"It's been frustrating," Wilson said, via SFGate.com. "I keep telling myself, 'I can play better than this.' I want to show the organization and fan base what I can do. I don't think too much about cut-down day. I feel secure in my ability and know that my best days are ahead of me. I am still getting acclimated. In the grand scheme of things, I just got here."
Wilson may have just gotten to Oakland, but in the NFL their is very little time to keep the rookie mindset. Oakland is a team on the rise and they expect urgency from players. Head coach Dennis Allen understands that Wilson is still grasping the playbook, but that slow learning curve will likely hurt him in the long run.
