Terrelle Pryor Must Start over Matt Flynn for Raiders Week 1

The quarterback controversy in Oakland is over. 

Yes, Terrelle Pryor did not look like a starter in Week 4 of the preseason against the Seattle Seahawks as he went 3-of-8 passing for just 31 yards and an interception, but his competition in Matt Flynn did not even participate due to a sore arm, per Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Pryor's performance in one meaningless game has little to do with whether or not he will be named the starter. He has been the starter for quite some time—Week 4 was just a way for him to get more experience.

A few days before the game offensive coordinator Greg Olson told the media, per Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area, that the offense was looking for playmakers:

When you see Terrelle in a game, he just looks faster than the other players on the field...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.

The focus there from Olson is clearly on the running ability of Pryor. His arm may have been unimpressive, but Pryor was electric on the ground, rushing for 48 yards on three carries—one of those a 25-yard scurry on third down. 



That ability to run is why Pryor will start. It's more difficult for opposing defenses to prepare for than a pocket passer like Flynn, and, ideally, Pryor's ability will be paired with the skills of running back Darren McFadden to pummel defenses—if the back can stay healthy after missing 13 games the past two seasons.

What also helps Pryor's case is the putrid state of the offensive line. The domino that started the line woes was left tackle Jared Veldheer and his partially torn triceps, which will hold him out of around 10 games and force major changes, per Tafur:

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