For every Russell Wilson who found instant success in the NFL, there is a David Carr, who proved starting at quarterback as a rookie can be detrimental to your career.
Carr is in a training camp battle with Curtis Painter to keep the job as the backup to Giants starting quarterback Eli Manning, a job the 34-year-old Carr has held for four of the past five seasons. But in 2002, he was the No. 1 overall pick of the Houston Texans, an expansion team in its first season.
Surrounded by little talent and a new coaching staff, Carr was sacked 76 times in his first year. He was sacked 249 times during his five seasons in Houston, where he was beaten down physically and mentally. Knowing his own past, Carr is interested to see how Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith performs when the Giants and Jets meet in their annual preseason game Saturday night at MetLife Stadium.
“He looks like he’s got all the tools,” Carr said yesterday on the Giants’ final day of training camp. “Anybody who is in the National Football League they can throw the ball, they can run around, they can make plays. It’s just going to be a product of the guys around him; how the coaching staff develops him and his confidence is very important. Once you lose that, it’s tough to get it back. It’s the same at any position, but especially at quarterback. He’s got to feel like that whole organization has his back no matter what.”
Carr was destined to be the starter when he was drafted. Smith, a second-round pick from West Virginia, is in a tight competition with Mark Sanchez, who is entering his fifth season. Carr admits when he came into the league, he wasn’t as advanced as rookie quarterbacks are today.
“Back then going from college to NFL there was a big difference as far as what defenses did and offensive protections,” he said. “Nowadays some of the college game is actually coming into the NFL. I wouldn’t say it’s an easier transition, but there are things I would see at the line of scrimmage that I had not seen before and wasn’t ready for. It took me to get hit in the mouth a couple of time to realize what to do.”
Today’s college quarterbacks are much more advanced at recognizing defenses and making adjustments. He saw that first-hand while visiting his brother, Derek, who is entering his senior season at David’s alma mater, Fresno State.
“It’s worlds away from where we were,” Carr said. “I didn’t even know what a hot receiver was until I came into the NFL. It was just drop back and throw it. It’s so advanced at the college level and the guys are just learning more. It’s really impressive.”
Smith, who is expected to start Saturday night, might look good against the Giants. But Carr warned that doesn’t ensure he’ll have success during the regular season should he start over Sanchez.
“Defensive coordinators are going to make sure young quarterbacks know what they’re doing,” Carr said. “They’re going to show you a lot of different things until you can prove you can beat them, especially when they blitz. Until we did that halfway through the season, we were just getting lit up. Teams watch the film and see what you can’t handle and they’ll test you.”
If the Jets do go with Smith, Carr said it’s important the organization is fully behind the decision and remains supportive.
“There’s so much in the NFL that goes into playing quarterback — your offensive line, your wide receivers, your coaching staff, and your own play,” Carr said. “You’ve got to have the perfect storm. Were there times I had doubts about my situation? Absolutely. That’s what you have to guard against as a coaching staff. You have to make sure he believes that everything you’re doing is in his best interest.”
Then maybe Smith has a chance to wind up more like Wilson than Carr.
george.willis@nypost.com