Schaub steps into Raiders backup QB role

O.CO COLISEUM — After Raiders interim head coach Tony Sparano refused to name a backup quarterback behind Derek Carr, ambient noise turned into mild humming as to whether the team was at all confident in Matt Schaub.

Before Sunday’s game against division rival San Diego Chargers, the Raiders announced Matt McGloin would be a healthy scratch. Schaub is the guy.

Schaub, who was traded to Oakland for a sixth round pick in March, failed miserably to do much of anything but throw interceptions during his 2013 campaign with Houston and missed the first four games with elbow soreness.

There was also rampant speculation that Schaub’s elbow soreness was a gimmick allowing Carr to start instead, after the team was adamantly in favor of Schaub being the guy to lead Oakland.

Schaub threw 10 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in nine games last season, prompting the trade. The Raiders often noted his passer rating as a starter, one of only a few quarterbacks in league history to post a rating above 90 in five consecutive seasons.

McGloin, who took the helm as starting quarterback after Terrelle Pryor concealed an injury, won one game in 2013 — against Houston — throwing eight touchdowns and eight interceptions in six starts.

The Raiders enter week six with an 0-4 record and a different head coach than they started the season with. While Carr hasn’t been awful, the Raiders may be considering giving Schaub some time under center — especially if they fall well behind in a game against one of the league’s most efficient offenses.

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