Rookie Derek Carr anointed Raiders starter

In March, Oakland head coach Dennis Allen said the Raiders traded for veteran Matt Schaub to “be their starting quarterback.”

That was before they drafted a kid from Bakersfield.

Allen told reporters Monday that rookie Derek Carr would be the team’s starting quarterback not just Sunday, but for the season:

“We made the decision to go with Derek Carr as the quarterback. There are a lot of factors that were involved in that. It’s not an indictment on Matt Schaub at all. I still feel very confident in Matt Schaub. I think it says more about where we feel Derek Carr is and his progression.”

The decision is notable — but not exactly unexpected — considering the excellent three-touchdown performance Carr put on against Seattle’s first- and second- string defense last Thursday.

Inconsistent play from Schaub, 33, all preseason —  not to mention his nagging “sore elbow” — make the decision from Allen and his staff look like a no-brainer.

Despite coming off his worst season as a pro with Houston, the Raiders dealt the Texans a sixth-round draft pick in exchange for Schaub this offseason.

Allen said his veteran quarterback was disappointed with the news:

“I think any competitor would be. But he’s handled it like a pro and, listen, it’s not an easy situation to be in, but he’s a real pro. He’s been around football for a long time. He understands how things operate.”

Allen said Thursday’s game certainly factored in to the decision to name Carr as the starter, but the head coach insisted that the coaching staff has seen Carr progress and perform well throughout training camp.

Carr, 23, was drafted out of Fresno State as the 36th-overall pick in the second round of this year’s NFL draft. He looks likely to be the only rookie quarterback to start in Week 1.

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