Four offensive coordinators in four seasons isn't a known recipe for creating comfort.
But New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr, entering his second year as the Saints' starter heading into Sunday's regular-season opener against Carolina in the Caesars Superdome, believes he has found the comfort zone with first-year coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak was charged with installing a new offense in New Orleans after 18 seasons of a system centered on Sean Payton's installation in 2006.
"I feel more comfortable starting this time than I did any other time, because I was able, through a lot of experience, (to ask) really, how do I get ready faster?" the 11-year veteran said Wednesday. "How do I feel more comfortable faster?
"One big part of that was reps with my guys. I have a whole year of that under my belt, so that helps. It doesn't take way too long to figure some things out.
"There were some things and some routes that we were asked to throw, that I haven't done before, so we had to get better at that. But for the most part there was a lot of carryover there.
"And then, every practice we had I would go out before and run the practice myself. So, I would double up on the reps because I can sit there and study, I can sit there and watch film all day long until I'm blue in the face, but you've got to go do it. You've got to put your body through the motions, you've got to do the footwork, you've got to see the routes, you've got to see the reads. And that's something that we did.
"Now, I'm going to get all these game reps coming up, the season is starting and we're just going to keep getting better at it. I'm confident with where we're at. Now, we've just got to go do it."
That bottom line – go do it – was one that Carr emphasized several times Wednesday. Because he understands last year's results – a 9-8 record, 3,878 passing yards with 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 68.4-percent completion rate – totally weren't satisfactory.
But there's a pep in the step over Kubiak's offensive installation.
"One thing about this system, it's very clear to me," Carr said. "Like, we've talked a lot about the progression stuff. What's really cool to me (is) when to do it. I had a question today going through something.
"I was like, 'There's this, there's this and this. When do you want me to think this or think that.' He was like, 'I will tell you. Don't even worry about it, you just play.' And it's freeing for me.
"Because if he wants to throw it there or he wants to take a shot or he wants to do this – obviously, we're not going to just throw it up into triple coverage – but there's times where, 'Hey, if it's there, now I want you thinking it. Hey, I don't even want you thinking it this time.' He sees something, he's trying to show something, he's been working to make something look one way to come back to that. I don't know what's going on in his head but I'm getting there.
"But he makes it pretty easy on me that it's not like a big alert thing or anything like that. It's like, 'I'm going to be very clear so that you know every time you touch that ball where your eyes should be, what you should be doing.' There's no indecision at all.
"Klint is very clear with that, and he makes it known to me so I can be free. And he also is smart. He knows I've been in a lot of systems, I have a lot of voices (of former offensive coordinators) in my head. I've heard a lot of different things about certain plays, so he's very clear with me on when and what he wants."
But, too, Carr said Kubiak isn't asking Carr to be robotic.
"He's given me a little bit of freedom to do some things, because he trusts me," Carr said. "And I think that's big, because we trust each other.
"He trusts me to do some things and I just stay in that yard until he's comfortable, and I trust him to let me know when it's time. And then, deliver for him."
And in the process, expand the comfort zone.
INJURY REPORT: The Saints released their first official injury report of the season Wednesday. Notably, linebacker Willie Gay (back) and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip) were limited, while defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (calf) didn't practice.
