Raiderstation

Training wheels come off, it is time to make this a reality.

Welcome to the NFL Mendoza, and welcome to being the leader of the Raiders Klint Kubiak. Let's get this thing going. And yea, as always, I sipped the Koolaid.

Attyla wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 9:49 am So watching the film again, the question all Raiders fans should be asking is: "Is Mendoza ready?' And the answer is no. But is there a path to him opening the season as a starter? Certainly there is, that window did not shut. Did Cousins do enough to continue as the starter? After one series, the answer is a resounding "maybe" but if Mendoza continues to play like his second series, there is a chance it will come down to a Brady/Spytek intervention. Certainly Kint will get the say but there should and all but certainly will be other voices in the room.

Only way Mendoza starts the season is if Cousins shits the bed in the limited time he's going to play in preseason AND Mendoza really advances past what we saw last night. He didn't have a bad game, but he didn't have a great game either. Cousins is probably 97% locked in a starter week 1.

Jesse Merrick - Silver & Black Sports Network
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#Raiders HC Klint Kubiak on Fernando Mendoza

"We put a lot on his plate and on the quarterback's plate, getting ready for this preseason game. And he went out and executed the way that he does in practice. Some guys, they get to the game, and things change on them; it moves fast, and they freak out. He was the opposite. He was very calm; he was getting the calls in, he was seeing coverage well. I like the way that he moved in the pocket, got outside, and extended some plays... the things that he did in the game are the things I've seen him do in practice, so he's consistent. That consistency from the position is important. I didn't see any game-day surprises just because the moment was a little bit bigger. He was the same guy."

The offense I think will be pretty good this season, especially if our oline can open some running lanes for Jeanty and Washington. A good running game will open up our passing game. My concern is our defense. The team spent a lot of money bringing in good players on the defense so I expected it to look much more improved, instead it somehow looks the same or worse than last season. Im really starting to sour on Leonard as the DC already. We had Gardner "F'in" Minshew looking like Dan Marino in his prime out there. We looked like the worst defense in the entire preseason so far. No passing defense at all, plus a suspect run defense, it was hard to tell about run defense because their passes were working so great. They didnt even need to run if they chose not to.

I thought the throws to Malik, Ian and Jack were his most impressive especially when you saw the view from behind the quarterback. Both the throws to Malik and Ian were tight window throws with no room for error.

The throw to Ian was with the rush in his face and the pocket collapsing. Very impressive. The TD to Jack was quick decisive up and out throw to the perfect spot to help protect the receiver.

He did seem rushed at times and moreso dropping back after under center and getting bearings. I figured he'd be overhyped this game. But he improved and does not seem panicky.
He mentioned a run he was considering and how much faster players were. That's the key, adapting your style to a much faster defense. Even when/if it happens it isn't instant.

rich72 wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 12:00 pm Washington will be a nice change of pace when Jeanty isnt in the game.

Washington would RB1 on some teams

I for one give Mendo an A+. Not because his game was flawless but because he did not look like a shotgun RPO QB at all. Figured if you gave him designed passes out if the gun he’d nail them (and he did)… that was pretty well expected.

But seeing him run play action well, operate under center well, drop back and make full field reads well. Considering that’s where the steepest part of his learning curve, I was very impressed with how far along he is already. Not perfect by any stretch… but does not look like a guy that is going to get eaten alive playing pro style at all either.

raiders93 wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 4:37 pm I for one give Mendo an A+. Not because his game was flawless but because he did not look like a shotgun RPO QB at all. Figured if you gave him designed passes out if the gun he’d nail them (and he did)… that was pretty well expected.

But seeing him run play action well, operate under center well, drop back and make full field reads well. Considering that’s where the steepest part of his learning curve, I was very impressed with how far along he is already. Not perfect by any stretch… but does not look like a guy that is going to get eaten alive playing pro style at all either.

High five. Astute observations and superb point.

Viper wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 4:23 pm Washington would RB1 on some teams

Looks like the new version of Darren McFadden and Micheal Bush, except Bush is the starter.

raiders93 wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 4:37 pm I for one give Mendo an A+. Not because his game was flawless but because he did not look like a shotgun RPO QB at all. Figured if you gave him designed passes out if the gun he’d nail them (and he did)… that was pretty well expected.

But seeing him run play action well, operate under center well, drop back and make full field reads well. Considering that’s where the steepest part of his learning curve, I was very impressed with how far along he is already. Not perfect by any stretch… but does not look like a guy that is going to get eaten alive playing pro style at all either.

Two seemingly inconsequential plays that impressed me were both when he escaped a sack and extended the play just long enough to scan the field and throw the ball out of bounds.

More often than not, especially for a rookie, if they escape a sack, a switch gets flipped in their heads to “Hero Ball” and they run around with their hair on fire until they make a far more costly error than a sack would have been.

Sure his feet were a little happy at times, but he didn’t shy away from those tight windows, nor did he shy away from making the smart play and tossing it out of bounds when nothing was there.

Confident and intelligent. Just my opinion, but I think we’ve got a legitimate franchise QB.

Team has a ways to go, but Bech, Benson, Washington show that Spy can draft talent (Thornton notwithstanding), and I believe the D will come around as we stock it up.

Not worried after 1 preseason game. Hell, I’m not expecting anything this year besides improvement. Give me Stone DT and Becker WR next year and we’ll be finding ourselves “in the hunt”.

Go Raiders

Got around to watching the game.

I know theirs been complaints on the defensive side, and rightfully so. Couldn't generate much of a pass rush. Some significant runs for big gains. Not an incomplete pass for Arizona until the 3rd. Whatever. It's preseason game 1.

Mendoza looked good. Nice throws. Could extend plays. Couple times he held on to the ball a tad too long. Liked how he didn't lock onto receivers and scanned the field. It's a promising glimpse of a hopefully long and successful career.

Interesting to see who gets the nod at WR3. Bech or Benson? I'm sure both will see the field come September.

I didn't see an injury report. Was Thornton inactive or hurt?

Going back, and not to make excuses, but Raiders D never blitzed in game 1 preseason and stayed in the same defense (2 high safeties) all game. As opposed to AZ who did blitz and showed different looks throughout the game. Maybe it was because theres a lot of young guys and just getting them up to speed in game 1..Maxx also didn’t play.

I’m expecting Rob Leonard to show some different looks in preseason game 2 and blitz throughout the game. I was impressed with Quay Walker’s run defense and Tarin Johnson’s open field tackles.

Also, players like McCoy, he just needs to watch the tape. I think he’ll show vast improvement once he gets back to (NFL) game speed after a year absence, and learns how to put his head on swivel at the goal line. He had some sticky coverage thoughout the game, even the TDs.

This is what preseason is for…foundational rookies to get reps and learn from their mistakes instead of fans celebrating meaningless late game wins with players who will be bagging groceries in September.

DeathStar24 wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 7:33 pm Got around to watching the game.

I know theirs been complaints on the defensive side, and rightfully so. Couldn't generate much of a pass rush. Some significant runs for big gains. Not an incomplete pass for Arizona until the 3rd. Whatever. It's preseason game 1.

Mendoza looked good. Nice throws. Could extend plays. Couple times he held on to the ball a tad too long. Liked how he didn't lock onto receivers and scanned the field. It's a promising glimpse of a hopefully long and successful career.

Interesting to see who gets the nod at WR3. Bech or Benson? I'm sure both will see the field come September.

I didn't see an injury report. Was Thornton inactive or hurt?

Thornton was hurt and has been dealing with those issues for 3-4 days now. Don't think they activated him for the game. Unless he makes a screaming turnaround I don't see him making the final 53.

DeathStar24 wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2026 7:33 pm I didn't see an injury report. Was Thornton inactive or hurt?

Thorton got injured in practice last Friday. He didn't play last game. Hopefully he will be there for the next preseason game.