Fernando Mendoza Welcome To Las Vegas

[Sold My Soul]

Call your shot....or add your own.

Dante Moore:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Dante-Moore-QB-UCLA

Fernando Mendoza:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Fer ... California

May the football godz look kindly down upon the feeble and inept.

[Marzan]

f[raiders_icon]cking Chargers on their way to get Jeremiah Smith smh

They always end up with superstar players.

That then end up winning nothing cause Chargers gonna Charger.

Here’s to hoping that they start winning just enough not to have a shot at Smith

[BoKnows81]

They always end up with superstar players.

That then end up winning nothing cause Chargers gonna Charger.

Here’s to hoping that they start winning just enough not to have a shot at Smith

This is true

[MexicanHulk]

Perfect example of why, even if you need a qb, you don't necessarily have to pick one first overall or even use a top pick on one. I didn't think Ward was very good in college (stats don't mean a player is good) and certainly wasn't close to be the top overall pick

On a side note, from that draft I wanted one of Banks, Carter, Campbell, Graham, Membou or McMillan. Obviously a couple of them were gone and going to be unrealistic to draft. We drafted the one guy I wanted nothing to do with lol

With who was there when the Raiders picked, I wanted Membou or McMillan too. Or a trade back &, take OT or DT. Those woulda been the right moves.

[chucker]

Really good story on Mendoza..... none of it is surprising but it's still great to hear.

How Fernando Mendoza amazes in attacking the Raiders scout team QB role

By Adam Hill
Las Vegas Review-Journal
October 24, 2026 - 6:00 am

Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak noticed it while on a late-night walk to the steam room in the team facility. Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard saw it when he was on his way from his office down to the cafeteria to get dinner.

Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza alone on the indoor practice field going through the entire game plan. He would listen to the imaginary call in his head, communicate it to a huddle of teammates who weren’t really there and then go through a snap, dropback and full progressions.

Over and over. All by himself.

“When talent meets work ethic like that,” offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said, “I think you have something special.”

The Raiders have been able to see it on the practice field — even as the No. 1 pick has only seen cleanup duty in one regular-season game so far.

Through his work running the scout team, Mendoza is preparing for when his number is eventually called to take over as the starter.

It’s a responsibility he shares at times with Aidan O’Connell, but O’Connell was away from the team for several weeks after the death of his father. That left the duties squarely on the arm of Mendoza, and it’s a role he has embraced.

Each week, he must not only learn the Raiders’ game plan but also study the habits and tendencies of the opposing quarterback to help prepare the defense. That has meant mimicking players like Josh Allen, Drake Maye and even Patrick Mahomes the last few weeks.

Cornerback Taron Johnson was in the same rookie class with Allen in Buffalo back in 2018. He has been impressed with what he has seen from Mendoza at practice and believes he could be on a similar trajectory with some of the league’s best quarterbacks.

“Fernando is up there,” Johnson said. “He’s not playing in the games, but from what I see in practice I think he’s definitely trending in the right direction. I feel like he’s going to be a great quarterback in this league.

“He prepares like he’s genuinely trying to learn. He doesn’t have any ego about it. He’s trying to soak up everything he can. When he’s playing the scout offense, he’s trying to do exactly what they ask. He’s a great rookie, and he’s so accurate. He can make any throw on the field, which is helpful to us. Obviously shows his talent and his mobility to escape out of the pocket and still make plays. All of those things I see working for him in the future.”

For now, he’s giving Johnson and the defense fits on the practice field.

The CBS broadcast crew on the Raiders game against the Bills noted that Kubiak told them during a production meeting that the Raiders have the best scout team quarterback in the country.

Mendoza’s talent is a big part of that. Not a lot of Heisman Trophy-winning national champion No. 1 overall picks are on NFL benches and available to help the defense prepare each week.

But the preparation is what truly stands out.

His obsessive commitment to not only perfecting the Raiders’ game plan each week, but also making sure he knows exactly what the defensive coaches need from him during practice is one of the reasons he’s often spotted by himself late into the night on the practice field.

“He’s always going to emphasize the thing the defensive coaches want to emphasize,” quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s trying to emulate some of the things these great quarterbacks are going to do against us.”

Last week, that meant extending plays in the way Allen would. This week, he’s trying to beat them from the pocket like Matthew Stafford.

It’s a great opportunity for Mendoza to grow at a time when most of the first-team offensive reps in practice go to the starting quarterback.

Yet there are some very specific times Mendoza is a bit hesitant to do the job. Occasionally, the assignment calls for him to throw the ball into traffic in certain situations to emulate how opposing quarterbacks might react to specific looks from the Raiders.

“He’s still a little hesitant if there’s one of those cards that wants you to (throw into) a defensive team meeting,” Sullivan joked. “He’s like, ‘Coach, I’m not doing that,’ which I like. We don’t want to be training him to throw interceptions. But he’s definitely all in on doing whatever it takes for the team to be successful and to help the defense get ready while at the same time trying to improve his game.”

Of course, the whole idea of Mendoza serving as an understudy to Kirk Cousins this year is for him to learn the complex Kubiak system, not just imitate opposing quarterbacks in practice.

The scout team work actually helps in that area, as well.

The coaches responsible for designing scout team reps have worked diligently to essentially translate the language and even some of the route concepts into the Raiders’ language so that every rep can serve a dual purpose.

“So literally Fernando calls it and we execute it how we would execute it,” Sullivan said. “Those happen and those are tremendous reps. But in general, making a read and being decisive with that choice, listening to your feet and working through your progressions, then having a sense of timing of when to pull the trigger and when to extend, when to move forward in the pocket.

“That’s great experience regardless of the system.”

It’s also additional film he can bounce off his coaches and Cousins to aid his development.

‘He’s an amazing worker’
Janocko has loved watching the way Mendoza and Cousins, along with O’Connell, communicate in the quarterback room.

“I think it’s just a little nuances, things that you only gain from experience of playing in the NFL as long as he’s done,” he said of what he’s seen Mendoza learn from Cousins. “So Fernando sees something, and then he asks a question, and Kirk loves just talking about that and what’s the why behind things, and that’s something that to me that’s really neat to see watching that room work and watching that room grow.

“Then Kirk asking the question, ‘Well, what did you see there?’ and then them bouncing off ideas, and I think that’s how growth’s made for everybody involved.”

Sullivan lauded both quarterbacks for their ability to stick to a routine, even if he has seen Mendoza’s days grow longer and longer at the facility.

He’ll often see him out on the field from his office reading game plans and scripts off his phone. All the visualization Sullivan has watched him go through on those late evenings — from play-call to huddle to footwork to progressions — has been showing up on the practice field.

“His command of the offense and ability to articulate the calls and communicate at the line has improved consistently, and that’s certainly a credit to the fact he’s an amazing worker,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan believes that comfortability showed up in his cameo against the New England Patriots because he looked so much calmer than he did in preseason.

It’s also showing up on game day even if fans can’t see it.

Mendoza stands with Sullivan with his helmet on so he can hear the play when Cousins is running the offense. He then repeats back the play like he’s in the huddle.

In the first few games, Sullivan often noted a slight hesitation as Mendoza learned a whole new language.

Now, it’s second nature.

“He’s rattling it off immediately now and starting to see things (pre-snap),” Sullivan said. “He’s also been very helpful and seeing things and as we go through the (tablets).”

The Raiders believe in their development plan and many in the building have seen the progress.

Especially those that are still there late at night.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/?p=3904600

[Reno Hightower]

Nice post, Chucker. Thanks for the read.

It was once said Rich Gannon was tenacious and relentless in his drive to beat mistakes out of the system and out of his game. Jon Gruden's passion and likeminded approach served as a catalyst for Gannon's performance. Sometimes the right coach and the right QB meet each other. Most NFL success stories have that one point in common.

I am hoping a similar kind of synergy develops between Kubiak and Mendoza.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Really good story on Mendoza..... none of it is surprising but it's still great to hear.

How Fernando Mendoza amazes in attacking the Raiders scout team QB role

By Adam Hill
Las Vegas Review-Journal
October 24, 2026 - 6:00 am

Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak noticed it while on a late-night walk to the steam room in the team facility. Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard saw it when he was on his way from his office down to the cafeteria to get dinner.

Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza alone on the indoor practice field going through the entire game plan. He would listen to the imaginary call in his head, communicate it to a huddle of teammates who weren’t really there and then go through a snap, dropback and full progressions.

Over and over. All by himself.

“When talent meets work ethic like that,” offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said, “I think you have something special.”

The Raiders have been able to see it on the practice field — even as the No. 1 pick has only seen cleanup duty in one regular-season game so far.

Through his work running the scout team, Mendoza is preparing for when his number is eventually called to take over as the starter.

It’s a responsibility he shares at times with Aidan O’Connell, but O’Connell was away from the team for several weeks after the death of his father. That left the duties squarely on the arm of Mendoza, and it’s a role he has embraced.

Each week, he must not only learn the Raiders’ game plan but also study the habits and tendencies of the opposing quarterback to help prepare the defense. That has meant mimicking players like Josh Allen, Drake Maye and even Patrick Mahomes the last few weeks.

Cornerback Taron Johnson was in the same rookie class with Allen in Buffalo back in 2018. He has been impressed with what he has seen from Mendoza at practice and believes he could be on a similar trajectory with some of the league’s best quarterbacks.

“Fernando is up there,” Johnson said. “He’s not playing in the games, but from what I see in practice I think he’s definitely trending in the right direction. I feel like he’s going to be a great quarterback in this league.

“He prepares like he’s genuinely trying to learn. He doesn’t have any ego about it. He’s trying to soak up everything he can. When he’s playing the scout offense, he’s trying to do exactly what they ask. He’s a great rookie, and he’s so accurate. He can make any throw on the field, which is helpful to us. Obviously shows his talent and his mobility to escape out of the pocket and still make plays. All of those things I see working for him in the future.”

For now, he’s giving Johnson and the defense fits on the practice field.

The CBS broadcast crew on the Raiders game against the Bills noted that Kubiak told them during a production meeting that the Raiders have the best scout team quarterback in the country.

Mendoza’s talent is a big part of that. Not a lot of Heisman Trophy-winning national champion No. 1 overall picks are on NFL benches and available to help the defense prepare each week.

But the preparation is what truly stands out.

His obsessive commitment to not only perfecting the Raiders’ game plan each week, but also making sure he knows exactly what the defensive coaches need from him during practice is one of the reasons he’s often spotted by himself late into the night on the practice field.

“He’s always going to emphasize the thing the defensive coaches want to emphasize,” quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s trying to emulate some of the things these great quarterbacks are going to do against us.”

Last week, that meant extending plays in the way Allen would. This week, he’s trying to beat them from the pocket like Matthew Stafford.

It’s a great opportunity for Mendoza to grow at a time when most of the first-team offensive reps in practice go to the starting quarterback.

Yet there are some very specific times Mendoza is a bit hesitant to do the job. Occasionally, the assignment calls for him to throw the ball into traffic in certain situations to emulate how opposing quarterbacks might react to specific looks from the Raiders.

“He’s still a little hesitant if there’s one of those cards that wants you to (throw into) a defensive team meeting,” Sullivan joked. “He’s like, ‘Coach, I’m not doing that,’ which I like. We don’t want to be training him to throw interceptions. But he’s definitely all in on doing whatever it takes for the team to be successful and to help the defense get ready while at the same time trying to improve his game.”

Of course, the whole idea of Mendoza serving as an understudy to Kirk Cousins this year is for him to learn the complex Kubiak system, not just imitate opposing quarterbacks in practice.

The scout team work actually helps in that area, as well.

The coaches responsible for designing scout team reps have worked diligently to essentially translate the language and even some of the route concepts into the Raiders’ language so that every rep can serve a dual purpose.

“So literally Fernando calls it and we execute it how we would execute it,” Sullivan said. “Those happen and those are tremendous reps. But in general, making a read and being decisive with that choice, listening to your feet and working through your progressions, then having a sense of timing of when to pull the trigger and when to extend, when to move forward in the pocket.

“That’s great experience regardless of the system.”

It’s also additional film he can bounce off his coaches and Cousins to aid his development.

‘He’s an amazing worker’
Janocko has loved watching the way Mendoza and Cousins, along with O’Connell, communicate in the quarterback room.

“I think it’s just a little nuances, things that you only gain from experience of playing in the NFL as long as he’s done,” he said of what he’s seen Mendoza learn from Cousins. “So Fernando sees something, and then he asks a question, and Kirk loves just talking about that and what’s the why behind things, and that’s something that to me that’s really neat to see watching that room work and watching that room grow.

“Then Kirk asking the question, ‘Well, what did you see there?’ and then them bouncing off ideas, and I think that’s how growth’s made for everybody involved.”

Sullivan lauded both quarterbacks for their ability to stick to a routine, even if he has seen Mendoza’s days grow longer and longer at the facility.

He’ll often see him out on the field from his office reading game plans and scripts off his phone. All the visualization Sullivan has watched him go through on those late evenings — from play-call to huddle to footwork to progressions — has been showing up on the practice field.

“His command of the offense and ability to articulate the calls and communicate at the line has improved consistently, and that’s certainly a credit to the fact he’s an amazing worker,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan believes that comfortability showed up in his cameo against the New England Patriots because he looked so much calmer than he did in preseason.

It’s also showing up on game day even if fans can’t see it.

Mendoza stands with Sullivan with his helmet on so he can hear the play when Cousins is running the offense. He then repeats back the play like he’s in the huddle.

In the first few games, Sullivan often noted a slight hesitation as Mendoza learned a whole new language.

Now, it’s second nature.

“He’s rattling it off immediately now and starting to see things (pre-snap),” Sullivan said. “He’s also been very helpful and seeing things and as we go through the (tablets).”

The Raiders believe in their development plan and many in the building have seen the progress.

Especially those that are still there late at night.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/?p=3904600

Excellent read. Thank you Chucker. I don’t know what’s more rare these days, people reading long-form or people writing long-form.

I think part of the patience for me this season isn’t just the years of Raider fandom beating it into me, it’s having this young man waiting in the wings.

The improvement he showed in that scant bit of playing time versus the Pats wasn’t even the results of the play. For me at least, it was watching his poise in the pocket. The calmness, steadiness, self-assuredness if you will. The article helps anyone understand how that growth can transpire in only 6 games without having barely touched the field in game time.

*Manifesting for a moment that Spy gets a great FA Guard along with an excellent Guard in the 2nd round, and Charlie B in the 1st. If I can have my cake and eat it too, go ahead and give us a diamond-in-the-rough star DT in the 3rd.

[HesterLayes]

I mentioned this in another thread…thanks the Lord we got him. Everyone say wait til next years class yadda yadda…the 27 class sucks and we got lucky the way everything fell.

Finally some good luck

[Opoponax50]

The improvement he showed in that scant bit of playing time versus the Pats wasn’t even the results of the play. For me at least, it was watching his poise in the pocket. The calmness, steadiness, self-assuredness if you will. The article helps anyone understand how that growth can transpire in only 6 games without having barely touched the field in game time.

I feel the same way. I was pretty down on him after preseason because he looked bad, but in his short time on the field against the Pats, he looked like he belonged out there. Sure, it was against a prevent D in an already lost game, but he looked steady and in command of the offense. Also, him getting so much time on the sideline and seeing the speed and complexity of the game up close is only going to help him.

It's exciting to finally have legitimately longterm hope at the QB position.

[Opoponax50]

I feel the same way. I was pretty down on him after preseason because he looked bad, but in his short time on the field against the Pats, he looked like he belonged out there. Sure, it was against a prevent D in an already lost game, but he looked steady and in command of the offense. Also, him getting so much time on the sideline and seeing the speed and complexity of the game up close is only going to help him.

It's exciting to finally have longterm and justified hope at the QB position.

[Oaktownonly]

Manifesting for a moment that Spy gets a great FA Guard along with an excellent Guard in the 2nd round, and Charlie B in the 1st. If I can have my cake and eat it too, go ahead and give us a diamond-in-the-rough star DT in the 3rd.

Yes please.

[Hellbound]

He may or may not live up to his draft status but if he doesn't, it certainly won't be because of his work ethic

[16 to 88]

Really good story on Mendoza..... none of it is surprising but it's still great to hear.

How Fernando Mendoza amazes in attacking the Raiders scout team QB role

By Adam Hill
Las Vegas Review-Journal
October 24, 2026 - 6:00 am

Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak noticed it while on a late-night walk to the steam room in the team facility. Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard saw it when he was on his way from his office down to the cafeteria to get dinner.

Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza alone on the indoor practice field going through the entire game plan. He would listen to the imaginary call in his head, communicate it to a huddle of teammates who weren’t really there and then go through a snap, dropback and full progressions.

Over and over. All by himself.

“When talent meets work ethic like that,” offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said, “I think you have something special.”

The Raiders have been able to see it on the practice field — even as the No. 1 pick has only seen cleanup duty in one regular-season game so far.

Through his work running the scout team, Mendoza is preparing for when his number is eventually called to take over as the starter.

It’s a responsibility he shares at times with Aidan O’Connell, but O’Connell was away from the team for several weeks after the death of his father. That left the duties squarely on the arm of Mendoza, and it’s a role he has embraced.

Each week, he must not only learn the Raiders’ game plan but also study the habits and tendencies of the opposing quarterback to help prepare the defense. That has meant mimicking players like Josh Allen, Drake Maye and even Patrick Mahomes the last few weeks.

Cornerback Taron Johnson was in the same rookie class with Allen in Buffalo back in 2018. He has been impressed with what he has seen from Mendoza at practice and believes he could be on a similar trajectory with some of the league’s best quarterbacks.

“Fernando is up there,” Johnson said. “He’s not playing in the games, but from what I see in practice I think he’s definitely trending in the right direction. I feel like he’s going to be a great quarterback in this league.

“He prepares like he’s genuinely trying to learn. He doesn’t have any ego about it. He’s trying to soak up everything he can. When he’s playing the scout offense, he’s trying to do exactly what they ask. He’s a great rookie, and he’s so accurate. He can make any throw on the field, which is helpful to us. Obviously shows his talent and his mobility to escape out of the pocket and still make plays. All of those things I see working for him in the future.”

For now, he’s giving Johnson and the defense fits on the practice field.

The CBS broadcast crew on the Raiders game against the Bills noted that Kubiak told them during a production meeting that the Raiders have the best scout team quarterback in the country.

Mendoza’s talent is a big part of that. Not a lot of Heisman Trophy-winning national champion No. 1 overall picks are on NFL benches and available to help the defense prepare each week.

But the preparation is what truly stands out.

His obsessive commitment to not only perfecting the Raiders’ game plan each week, but also making sure he knows exactly what the defensive coaches need from him during practice is one of the reasons he’s often spotted by himself late into the night on the practice field.

“He’s always going to emphasize the thing the defensive coaches want to emphasize,” quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s trying to emulate some of the things these great quarterbacks are going to do against us.”

Last week, that meant extending plays in the way Allen would. This week, he’s trying to beat them from the pocket like Matthew Stafford.

It’s a great opportunity for Mendoza to grow at a time when most of the first-team offensive reps in practice go to the starting quarterback.

Yet there are some very specific times Mendoza is a bit hesitant to do the job. Occasionally, the assignment calls for him to throw the ball into traffic in certain situations to emulate how opposing quarterbacks might react to specific looks from the Raiders.

“He’s still a little hesitant if there’s one of those cards that wants you to (throw into) a defensive team meeting,” Sullivan joked. “He’s like, ‘Coach, I’m not doing that,’ which I like. We don’t want to be training him to throw interceptions. But he’s definitely all in on doing whatever it takes for the team to be successful and to help the defense get ready while at the same time trying to improve his game.”

Of course, the whole idea of Mendoza serving as an understudy to Kirk Cousins this year is for him to learn the complex Kubiak system, not just imitate opposing quarterbacks in practice.

The scout team work actually helps in that area, as well.

The coaches responsible for designing scout team reps have worked diligently to essentially translate the language and even some of the route concepts into the Raiders’ language so that every rep can serve a dual purpose.

“So literally Fernando calls it and we execute it how we would execute it,” Sullivan said. “Those happen and those are tremendous reps. But in general, making a read and being decisive with that choice, listening to your feet and working through your progressions, then having a sense of timing of when to pull the trigger and when to extend, when to move forward in the pocket.

“That’s great experience regardless of the system.”

It’s also additional film he can bounce off his coaches and Cousins to aid his development.

‘He’s an amazing worker’
Janocko has loved watching the way Mendoza and Cousins, along with O’Connell, communicate in the quarterback room.

“I think it’s just a little nuances, things that you only gain from experience of playing in the NFL as long as he’s done,” he said of what he’s seen Mendoza learn from Cousins. “So Fernando sees something, and then he asks a question, and Kirk loves just talking about that and what’s the why behind things, and that’s something that to me that’s really neat to see watching that room work and watching that room grow.

“Then Kirk asking the question, ‘Well, what did you see there?’ and then them bouncing off ideas, and I think that’s how growth’s made for everybody involved.”

Sullivan lauded both quarterbacks for their ability to stick to a routine, even if he has seen Mendoza’s days grow longer and longer at the facility.

He’ll often see him out on the field from his office reading game plans and scripts off his phone. All the visualization Sullivan has watched him go through on those late evenings — from play-call to huddle to footwork to progressions — has been showing up on the practice field.

“His command of the offense and ability to articulate the calls and communicate at the line has improved consistently, and that’s certainly a credit to the fact he’s an amazing worker,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan believes that comfortability showed up in his cameo against the New England Patriots because he looked so much calmer than he did in preseason.

It’s also showing up on game day even if fans can’t see it.

Mendoza stands with Sullivan with his helmet on so he can hear the play when Cousins is running the offense. He then repeats back the play like he’s in the huddle.

In the first few games, Sullivan often noted a slight hesitation as Mendoza learned a whole new language.

Now, it’s second nature.

“He’s rattling it off immediately now and starting to see things (pre-snap),” Sullivan said. “He’s also been very helpful and seeing things and as we go through the (tablets).”

The Raiders believe in their development plan and many in the building have seen the progress.

Especially those that are still there late at night.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/?p=3904600

Great read, thanks. Why does this not surprise me...

[rcraider]

I mentioned this in another thread…thanks the Lord we got him. Everyone say wait til next years class yadda yadda…the 27 class sucks and we got lucky the way everything fell.

Finally some good luck

The stars aligned for once in more ways than one, by making that fateful hire of Pete Carroll and subsequent terrible season, it lead to the hiring of Kubiak and securing the number 1 pick in the draft and getting our QB. Now it's just about having patience and building this team into a perennial contender.