I think the Raiders should trade him, pick up a few good OL or WR, otherwise his top draft salary package is going to drain their payroll. Mendoza is a decent QB, will have an OK career in the NFL, but he's not a franchise caliber QB. His current stock is higher than his potential because his college resume is inflated by having been on a great program, a bit like how most USC QBs get drafted too high. Not saying he's a bad QB, just that the Raiders will overpay for him.
Fernando a 1st round draft pick? When pigs fly.
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Last: 11 days ago by calumnus
I reckon the Raiders have a better anaylysis of his league potential than any of us. Brady is high on him, and the organization took their first pick betting on him. They may yet decide to trade him. But if that's the play, it will be a surprise to a whole lot of folk. Fernando is going to be very good......maybe not great, but a whole lot better than just "good". And I think we and the organization know that settling for just "good" now isn't going to help them.
What the "Fernando sucks" crowd seems to forget is that Nando's troubles at Cal were due to having an incompetent head coach and a porous OLine (no offense to the guys on that line). At IU, where he had good coaching and an OLine that could actually stop a pass rush, Nando was able to show off his arm talent. Now, I'm not saying Nando will be an all-time great or even a franchise QB. That's always hard to predict. But if Nando works as hard as he did in college and gets some breaks, he's likely to become a better than average or even better than "good" QB.
Of course, Nando will need a good coaching staff as well as a solid OLine. I haven't followed the Raiders in years. I'm not sure what their OLine situation is, now. But if they selected a QB with the first pick of the draft, I'd suspect the OLine isn't that great. For that reason, I suspect whoever is playing under center for the Raiders will struggle this year. Also, from what I've read, it looks like the Raiders installed a new head coach (and coaching staff?); the jury's still out on how they will perform. Basically, this year reads as a development year for the Vegas squad.
For Fernando's sake, I hope that he gets to sit behind Kirk Cousins for a couple years so that he can learn the NFL game and develop in practice before he becomes the Raiders's starting QB. Basically, his path to success is likely to follow the Aaron Rodgers route and learn from the sidelines, first.
That said, given he was the #1 overall draft pick, the Raiders will likely throw him to the wolves sometime this year. They may start Cousins for six or eight games then they'll give the reins to Nando once the Raiders have proven to be an utter disaster, yet again. Nando will take a beating and may become gun shy. For that reason alone, I suspect Nando will not reach his ceiling and could end up proving his doubters (especially those on this board) right.
Of course, Nando will need a good coaching staff as well as a solid OLine. I haven't followed the Raiders in years. I'm not sure what their OLine situation is, now. But if they selected a QB with the first pick of the draft, I'd suspect the OLine isn't that great. For that reason, I suspect whoever is playing under center for the Raiders will struggle this year. Also, from what I've read, it looks like the Raiders installed a new head coach (and coaching staff?); the jury's still out on how they will perform. Basically, this year reads as a development year for the Vegas squad.
For Fernando's sake, I hope that he gets to sit behind Kirk Cousins for a couple years so that he can learn the NFL game and develop in practice before he becomes the Raiders's starting QB. Basically, his path to success is likely to follow the Aaron Rodgers route and learn from the sidelines, first.
That said, given he was the #1 overall draft pick, the Raiders will likely throw him to the wolves sometime this year. They may start Cousins for six or eight games then they'll give the reins to Nando once the Raiders have proven to be an utter disaster, yet again. Nando will take a beating and may become gun shy. For that reason alone, I suspect Nando will not reach his ceiling and could end up proving his doubters (especially those on this board) right.
First half of the video gives a brief recap of Mendoza's career at Cal. He had no desire to attend Yale, by the way, lol.
I also forgot his 2nd ever start was against a ranked USC team led by Caleb Williams (3:11) and the offense scored 49 points. Why did we go for two at the end again?
Also, 18:15.
PAC-10-BEAR said:
First half of the video gives a brief recap of Mendoza's career at Cal. He had no desire to attend Yale, by the way, lol.
I also forgot his 2nd ever start was against a ranked USC team led by Caleb Williams (3:11) and the offense scored 49 points. Why did we go for two at the end again?
Also, 18:15.
Not to go into too much debate over an old game but I understand the decision to go for 2 when you're the underdog and at home. Better to drill the game down to winning a match-up on one play instead of hoping to win out in overtime where more possessions means less variance and USC might be able to out-talent us.
StillNoStanfurdium said:PAC-10-BEAR said:
First half of the video gives a brief recap of Mendoza's career at Cal. He had no desire to attend Yale, by the way, lol.
I also forgot his 2nd ever start was against a ranked USC team led by Caleb Williams (3:11) and the offense scored 49 points. Why did we go for two at the end again?
Also, 18:15.
Not to go into too much debate over an old game but I understand the decision to go for 2 when you're the underdog and at home. Better to drill the game down to winning a match-up on one play instead of hoping to win out in overtime where more possessions means less variance and USC might be able to out-talent us.
Except Baghani was automatic from that distance, 29 for 29 on extra points, 89% on FGs. And the fact we were at home is not a reason to gamble on a singe play for the win. It is the opposite,
calumnus said:StillNoStanfurdium said:PAC-10-BEAR said:
First half of the video gives a brief recap of Mendoza's career at Cal. He had no desire to attend Yale, by the way, lol.
I also forgot his 2nd ever start was against a ranked USC team led by Caleb Williams (3:11) and the offense scored 49 points. Why did we go for two at the end again?
Also, 18:15.
Not to go into too much debate over an old game but I understand the decision to go for 2 when you're the underdog and at home. Better to drill the game down to winning a match-up on one play instead of hoping to win out in overtime where more possessions means less variance and USC might be able to out-talent us.
Except Baghani was automatic from that distance, 29 for 29 on extra points, 89% on FGs. And the fact we were at home is not a reason to gamble on a singe play for the win. It is the opposite,
Yeah I'm wrong on the home field aspect of it, brain fart on my end. Avoiding OT would definition be more of an away game to reduce reps in a hostile environment. Nonetheless we were still the underdogs and they had a bit of momentum since we let them back into the game when we should have put them away at 29-43. Granted we did just score to put us back in contention but either way it wasn't like we were riding a wave of success and the offense had sputtered as a whole for most of the fourth. I can see trying to build off a successful drive. I don't think it was the worst thing Wilcox has called all things considered.
MathTeacherMike said:
https://www.si.com/college/cal/football/the-one-that-got-away-fernando-mendoza-projected-as-a-1st-round-pick-01jt3xy9z2c8
I'll bet anyone, any amount of money that "Nando " does not get drafted in the first round. The "experts" did not watch much Cal football. He will never start an NFL game - book it.
Stick to math Mike. Don't lose your day job.
StillNoStanfurdium said:calumnus said:StillNoStanfurdium said:PAC-10-BEAR said:
First half of the video gives a brief recap of Mendoza's career at Cal. He had no desire to attend Yale, by the way, lol.
I also forgot his 2nd ever start was against a ranked USC team led by Caleb Williams (3:11) and the offense scored 49 points. Why did we go for two at the end again?
Also, 18:15.
Not to go into too much debate over an old game but I understand the decision to go for 2 when you're the underdog and at home. Better to drill the game down to winning a match-up on one play instead of hoping to win out in overtime where more possessions means less variance and USC might be able to out-talent us.
Except Baghani was automatic from that distance, 29 for 29 on extra points, 89% on FGs. And the fact we were at home is not a reason to gamble on a singe play for the win. It is the opposite,
Yeah I'm wrong on the home field aspect of it, brain fart on my end. Avoiding OT would definition be more of an away game to reduce reps in a hostile environment. Nonetheless we were still the underdogs and they had a bit of momentum since we let them back into the game when we should have put them away at 29-43. Granted we did just score to put us back in contention but either way it wasn't like we were riding a wave of success and the offense had sputtered as a whole for most of the fourth. I can see trying to build off a successful drive. I don't think it was the worst thing Wilcox has called all things considered.
Yeah, Wilcox had so many bad in game decisions that one pales in comparison. If it worked, it is genius. However, Tedford went for OT at home against USC with Reggie Robertson and that worked out for us.
For me my opinion was colored by my feeling that Wilcox wasn't being aggressive, he was actually going for the 2 points and the win out of the fear and anxiety he feels in high scoring games (with him pacing around, looking nervous) and he just wanted the game to be over, one way or the other. Admittedly that is subjective, but that is what it felt like and was essentially the way he defended the decision (he was worried his defense was gassed).
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