Won't comment on him personally. But when you can graduate from Haas in three years and then win a Heisman trophy, you are a unique kind of species.

socaltownie said:

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A question about FM....

As an NFL QB what do you think he does EXCEPTIONALLY well? For me that is going to be the thing. I can think of all the REALLY good (as in take your team to the SB) QBs and they do certain things really really well. Then there are others that are Good. Making Bank. But it isn't like I am mortgaging the franchises future to go get them because they just don't make 2-3 plays a game that leave you scratching your head..

To me FM is going to have a career a lot like Justin Herbert's. Decent QB. Chargers are happy to have him. But do you really see him just blowing away the league. I don't.

But maybe I am missing something about FM.

---

I'd be pretty surprised if Mendoza has a career as good as Justin Herbert - this is a decently high bar.

socaltownie said:

---

A question about FM....

As an NFL QB what do you think he does EXCEPTIONALLY well? For me that is going to be the thing. I can think of all the REALLY good (as in take your team to the SB) QBs and they do certain things really really well. Then there are others that are Good. Making Bank. But it isn't like I am mortgaging the franchises future to go get them because they just don't make 2-3 plays a game that leave you scratching your head..

To me FM is going to have a career a lot like Justin Herbert's. Decent QB. Chargers are happy to have him. But do you really see him just blowing away the league. I don't.

But maybe I am missing something about FM.

---

Herbert is definitely an above average NFL QB. If Mendoza is as good, he is worth a first overall pick.

HearstMining said:

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CALiforniALUM said:

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freshfunk said:

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If you saw his post-game interview, the guy is clearly super dramatic and somewhat of an actor. He'd make a good politician. This explains some of his behavior at the end of the Cal season -- seemingly like he'd stay only to bail in surprising fashion.

---

I don't know Mendoza other than what I see in the media. He seems a little off to me. I don't mean that to be harsh, but his almost manic disposition mixed with a tad bit of immaturity strikes me as uniquely strange. He is clearly a good athlete and probably a good student, but his demeanor is strange. I feel almost embarrassed for him when he is being interviewed. He acts a bit like someone I know who is bipolar, but I don't think that is it.

---

I don't think Mendoza is "off" at all. Three things struck me about Mendoza since I first heard him talk and saw him play:

• He's a positive, enthusiastic guy. People with this sort of personality excel in sales positions, but can also motivate others.
• He's a people pleaser. When asked questions by the media, he gives articulate, well thought-out answers but makes no attempt to hide his feelings. If, as has been indicated, his family pressured him to transfer, that desire to please them (especially WRT his mom's illness) must have been a strong force.
• He's smart, focused and realistic. He recognized his shortcomings and took specific steps to address them. Turnovers, pocket presence and inability to make certain types of throws are all shortcomings he has reduced or eliminated entirely.

Is he really an NFL talent? Hard to say. But I'm sure he'll ultimately be a success at whatever he does because he's smart and works hard.

---

No one here was saying he seemed "off" when he was saying "Go Bears forever" and "98 yards with my boys" in the same tone before he transferred. It's pretty obvious why they are saying it now.

socaltownie said:

---

A question about FM....

As an NFL QB what do you think he does EXCEPTIONALLY well? For me that is going to be the thing. I can think of all the REALLY good (as in take your team to the SB) QBs and they do certain things really really well. Then there are others that are Good. Making Bank. But it isn't like I am mortgaging the franchises future to go get them because they just don't make 2-3 plays a game that leave you scratching your head..

To me FM is going to have a career a lot like Justin Herbert's. Decent QB. Chargers are happy to have him. But do you really see him just blowing away the league. I don't.

But maybe I am missing something about FM.

---

Serious question: what did Tom Brady do EXCEPTIONALLY well? He is considered by many to be the GOAT and has always been Mendoza's role model, the guy people keep comparing him to.

As with any NFL quarterback, his success will largely be a function of the team he goes to, but Fernando does seem to find good situations for himself.

And in answer to the question what about him is EXCEPTIONAL: I think Fernando is incredibly smart and hardworking, he will always be next level elite in understanding the offense and the opposing defense.

annarborbear said:

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Won't comment on him personally. But when you can graduate from Haas in three years and then win a Heisman trophy, you are a unique kind of snake.

---

FTFY

pingpong2 said:

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annarborbear said:

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Won't comment on him personally. But when you can graduate from Haas in three years and then win a Heisman trophy, you are a unique kind of snake.

---

FTFY

---

Use your own words, don't change mine.

Sports Illustrated: Fernando Mendoza Is the First Cal Graduate to Win Heisman Trophy

https://www.si.com/college/cal/football/fernando-mendoza-is-the-first-cal-graduate-to-win-heisman-trophy-01kccc5dfqt2

annarborbear said:

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pingpong2 said:

---

annarborbear said:

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Won't comment on him personally. But when you can graduate from Haas in three years and then win a Heisman trophy, you are a unique kind of snake.

---

FTFY

---

Use your own words, don't change mine.

---

Would you have preferred it if I used a strikeout instead of bolding the edit? Or are you salty about the concept of FTFY/FIFY on the Internet?

calumnus said:

---

socaltownie said:

---

A question about FM....

As an NFL QB what do you think he does EXCEPTIONALLY well? For me that is going to be the thing. I can think of all the REALLY good (as in take your team to the SB) QBs and they do certain things really really well. Then there are others that are Good. Making Bank. But it isn't like I am mortgaging the franchises future to go get them because they just don't make 2-3 plays a game that leave you scratching your head..

To me FM is going to have a career a lot like Justin Herbert's. Decent QB. Chargers are happy to have him. But do you really see him just blowing away the league. I don't.

But maybe I am missing something about FM.

---

Serious question: what did Tom Brady do EXCEPTIONALLY well? He is considered by many to be the GOAT and has always been Mendoza's role model, the guy people keep comparing him to.

As with any NFL quarterback, his success will largely be a function of the team he goes to, but Fernando does seem to find good situations for himself.

And in answer to the question what about him is EXCEPTIONAL: I think Fernando is incredibly smart and hardworking, he will always be next level elite in understanding the offense and the opposing defense.

---

Brady did several things EXCEPTIONALLY well.

1) His ability to have vision to the entire field was exceptional. In part this is because Brady at 6'4" has the abilty to see over linemen and in an obstructured field of vision (see below).

2) His processing time. This I think is largely innate and Brady's exceptional ability was that he could do his checkdowns so quickly. Go back and watch film highlights and his ability to find the 3rd options who is a far better pass than 1 and 2. While this can be in part learned there is an innate skill of being able to take a visual que, process it, and then move immediately to the next read.

3) Release time. Upper level ability to get ride of the ball fast with great twitch reflexes.

4) And then finally tom is a BIG guy. SO he could take poundings in the pocket which was required as a less than mobile guy

Re: Nando. We watched a LOT of his play soph and junior year. I think I saw every snap he took. He wasn't "bad" on 1 and 2 but I never believed he was exceptional in his reads of defense and his ability to quickly check down. I am sure he will put the time in.

socaltownie said:

---

A question about FM....

As an NFL QB what do you think he does EXCEPTIONALLY well? For me that is going to be the thing. I can think of all the REALLY good (as in take your team to the SB) QBs and they do certain things really really well. Then there are others that are Good. Making Bank. But it isn't like I am mortgaging the franchises future to go get them because they just don't make 2-3 plays a game that leave you scratching your head..

To me FM is going to have a career a lot like Justin Herbert's. Decent QB. Chargers are happy to have him. But do you really see him just blowing away the league. I don't.

But maybe I am missing something about FM.

---

Every team would love to have a franchise QB at Herbert's level on a rookie deal. How many active Heisman winners are as good as Herbert? Probably just Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson over the last 15 years

DoubtfulBear said:

---

socaltownie said:

---

A question about FM....

As an NFL QB what do you think he does EXCEPTIONALLY well? For me that is going to be the thing. I can think of all the REALLY good (as in take your team to the SB) QBs and they do certain things really really well. Then there are others that are Good. Making Bank. But it isn't like I am mortgaging the franchises future to go get them because they just don't make 2-3 plays a game that leave you scratching your head..

To me FM is going to have a career a lot like Justin Herbert's. Decent QB. Chargers are happy to have him. But do you really see him just blowing away the league. I don't.

But maybe I am missing something about FM.

---

Every team would love to have a franchise QB at Herbert's level on a rookie deal. How many active Heisman winners are as good as Herbert? Probably just Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson over the last 15 years

---

Jayden Daniels was good until he got injured, Caleb Williams has taken off, even Baker Mayfield is the franchise QB in Tampa

socaltownie said:

---

calumnus said:

---

socaltownie said:

---

A question about FM....

As an NFL QB what do you think he does EXCEPTIONALLY well? For me that is going to be the thing. I can think of all the REALLY good (as in take your team to the SB) QBs and they do certain things really really well. Then there are others that are Good. Making Bank. But it isn't like I am mortgaging the franchises future to go get them because they just don't make 2-3 plays a game that leave you scratching your head..

To me FM is going to have a career a lot like Justin Herbert's. Decent QB. Chargers are happy to have him. But do you really see him just blowing away the league. I don't.

But maybe I am missing something about FM.

---

Serious question: what did Tom Brady do EXCEPTIONALLY well? He is considered by many to be the GOAT and has always been Mendoza's role model, the guy people keep comparing him to.

As with any NFL quarterback, his success will largely be a function of the team he goes to, but Fernando does seem to find good situations for himself.

And in answer to the question what about him is EXCEPTIONAL: I think Fernando is incredibly smart and hardworking, he will always be next level elite in understanding the offense and the opposing defense.

---

Brady did several things EXCEPTIONALLY well.

1) His ability to have vision to the entire field was exceptional. In part this is because Brady at 6'4" has the abilty to see over linemen and in an obstructured field of vision (see below).

2) His processing time. This I think is largely innate and Brady's exceptional ability was that he could do his checkdowns so quickly. Go back and watch film highlights and his ability to find the 3rd options who is a far better pass than 1 and 2. While this can be in part learned there is an innate skill of being able to take a visual que, process it, and then move immediately to the next read.

3) Release time. Upper level ability to get ride of the ball fast with great twitch reflexes.

4) And then finally tom is a BIG guy. SO he could take poundings in the pocket which was required as a less than mobile guy

Re: Nando. We watched a LOT of his play soph and junior year. I think I saw every snap he took. He wasn't "bad" on 1 and 2 but I never believed he was exceptional in his reads of defense and his ability to quickly check down. I am sure he will put the time in.

---

Great list. Now go back and watch Brady at Michigan, did he have all those qualities from the beginning? Brady put in a lot of work and developed over time.

I think a lot of Cal fans, myself included, are biased by what we saw of Fernando at Cal. Have you watched Fernando at Illinois this year? Light years ahead of last year at Cal as a redshirt-sophomore, which was light years ahead of his redshirt freshman year. Not saying Fernando will be Brady, but he has Brady's smarts and work ethic. And it is better to be mobile than have a big body, unless you have an OL than can consistently give you a clean pocket.

NFL quarterback is a crapshoot. There are some "can't miss" guys who missed and guys no one thought would make it who did. I do think Fernando will be the smartest, hardest working guy out there and I wouldn't bet against him.

HearstMining said:

---

CALiforniALUM said:

---

freshfunk said:

---

If you saw his post-game interview, the guy is clearly super dramatic and somewhat of an actor. He'd make a good politician. This explains some of his behavior at the end of the Cal season -- seemingly like he'd stay only to bail in surprising fashion.

---

I don't know Mendoza other than what I see in the media. He seems a little off to me. I don't mean that to be harsh, but his almost manic disposition mixed with a tad bit of immaturity strikes me as uniquely strange. He is clearly a good athlete and probably a good student, but his demeanor is strange. I feel almost embarrassed for him when he is being interviewed. He acts a bit like someone I know who is bipolar, but I don't think that is it.

---

I don't think Mendoza is "off" at all. Three things struck me about Mendoza since I first heard him talk and saw him play:

• He's a positive, enthusiastic guy. People with this sort of personality excel in sales positions, but can also motivate others.
• He's a people pleaser. When asked questions by the media, he gives articulate, well thought-out answers but makes no attempt to hide his feelings. If, as has been indicated, his family pressured him to transfer, that desire to please them (especially WRT his mom's illness) must have been a strong force.
• He's smart, focused and realistic. He recognized his shortcomings and took specific steps to address them. Turnovers, pocket presence and inability to make certain types of throws are all shortcomings he has reduced or eliminated entirely.

"Is he really an NFL talent? Hard to say. But I'm sure he'll ultimately be a success at whatever he does because he's smart and works hard."

I'm extremely confident he gets drafted in the first round. Big arm, check. Hard worker, check. Smarts, check. Will he be as successful as Goff. TBD.
Given that we now know that he has worked closely with Paws, this would be a fascinating subject for his video/podcast.

---

Strykur said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

socaltownie said:

---

A question about FM....

As an NFL QB what do you think he does EXCEPTIONALLY well? For me that is going to be the thing. I can think of all the REALLY good (as in take your team to the SB) QBs and they do certain things really really well. Then there are others that are Good. Making Bank. But it isn't like I am mortgaging the franchises future to go get them because they just don't make 2-3 plays a game that leave you scratching your head..

To me FM is going to have a career a lot like Justin Herbert's. Decent QB. Chargers are happy to have him. But do you really see him just blowing away the league. I don't.

But maybe I am missing something about FM.

---

Every team would love to have a franchise QB at Herbert's level on a rookie deal. How many active Heisman winners are as good as Herbert? Probably just Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson over the last 15 years

---

Jayden Daniels was good until he got injured, Caleb Williams has taken off, even Baker Mayfield is the franchise QB in Tampa

---

Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams are too new to have an opinion on, they can easily burn out like Marcus Mariota. Baker Mayfield had to go through a 2 year redemption arc over 3 teams before he earned the franchise QB role. A QB like Herbert that can start his rookie year and consistently lead his team to solid seasons is a very valuable commodity and is more than enough for NFL teams to chase as the #1 pick

DoubtfulBear said:

---

Strykur said:

---

DoubtfulBear said:

---

socaltownie said:

---

A question about FM....

As an NFL QB what do you think he does EXCEPTIONALLY well? For me that is going to be the thing. I can think of all the REALLY good (as in take your team to the SB) QBs and they do certain things really really well. Then there are others that are Good. Making Bank. But it isn't like I am mortgaging the franchises future to go get them because they just don't make 2-3 plays a game that leave you scratching your head..

To me FM is going to have a career a lot like Justin Herbert's. Decent QB. Chargers are happy to have him. But do you really see him just blowing away the league. I don't.

But maybe I am missing something about FM.

---

Every team would love to have a franchise QB at Herbert's level on a rookie deal. How many active Heisman winners are as good as Herbert? Probably just Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson over the last 15 years

---

Jayden Daniels was good until he got injured, Caleb Williams has taken off, even Baker Mayfield is the franchise QB in Tampa

---

Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams are too new to have an opinion on, they can easily burn out like Marcus Mariota. Baker Mayfield had to go through a 2 year redemption arc over 3 teams before he earned the franchise QB role. A QB like Herbert that can start his rookie year and consistently lead his team to solid seasons is a very valuable commodity and is more than enough for NFL teams to chase as the #1 pick

---

And even then Marcus Mariota is in his 11th year in the league with $83 million in career earnings and is currently the starting QB for the Washington Commanders.