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When you guys watched Mendoza, did you really think "Oh, yeah, this guy should be the #1 overall pick in the draft!!!!"

Hoyacane1620 said:
your point is? No way you are comparing Mendoza to either Newton or Burrow.....
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The point is that it’s extremely difficult and rare to do what Mendoza did last season. He won everything. The hatred is mostly sour grapes and people upset about how wrong they were.

I don't know how his pro career will go because a lot depends on environment. But I'd be surprised if he's not a longtime starter.
 
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DMoney said:
The point is that it’s extremely difficult and rare to do what Mendoza did last season. He won everything. The hatred is mostly sour grapes and people upset about how wrong they were.

I don't know how his pro career will go because a lot depends on environment. But I'd be surprised if he's not a longtime starter.
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Mendoza has the "IT" factor more than I thought he had while at Cal. His competitive drive and cerebral awareness are top notch. His back shoulder throws are as impressive as any QB I've seen and that is an NFL staple.

He proved me wrong because I wasn't that high on him at Cal, but what he did at Indiana was incredible. He executes with surgical precision. Being on the Raiders might be the only reason he doesn't succeed right away, but if Shough can do well in his first season with the Saints, I'm sure Mendoza can too
 
Mendoza is likely the best QB in this drat, which by default makes him the overall #1 pick because of the importance at the position.

Not every #1 pick will be equal just as the #1 high school player every year is not equal.

I always use the NBA draft to make this point. One year Shaq is the #1 pick. Another year it is Joe Smith, who was the best college player in that draft.
 
DMoney said:
The point is that it’s extremely difficult and rare to do what Mendoza did last season. He won everything. The hatred is mostly sour grapes and people upset about how wrong they were.

I don't know how his pro career will go because a lot depends on environment. But I'd be surprised if he's not a longtime starter.
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For clarity...

If someone says Fernando locks on the first read, drops his eyes with pressure and wasn't asked to do as much as Ty Simpson, or his NFL comp is Bryce Young; is that what you would consider "hatred" or "sour grapes"?
 
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Pearson704 said:
From an IQ/play-style standpoint...

"Mendoza’s high IQ play immediately puts him in the ballpark with quarterbacks like Bryce Young and Andrew Luck."

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I can reassure you that Bryce Young does not play with high IQ.

He loves a panicky checkdown at the first sign of his first read being remotely covered though.
 
filmcane said:
I didn't. I mean, he's gutsy, but I thought he was good-ish and gutsy. I would be ****ED if my team wasted a #1 overall pick on him. Not trying to be sour grapes and congrats to him on his natty, but meh. He didn't seem elite to me.
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Did you say that when Cam was at Washington State? Come on dude. A lot changes in a year.
 
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Dwinstitles said:
If Mario wanted TS that bad it tells you what we saw on tape is legit. That LSU QB was a settle type QB we had no other options, then boom we get Mensah even better.
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They had a terrible offensive line. So did Texas — and that’s when i started to realize how legit Arch Manning was. Through the first half of the season, Arch was leading their team in passing and rushing yards. He still finished second on the year and had the most touchdowns.


Playing quarterback when your team cannot run the ball is like a gang-jumping-initiation.

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If you’re lucky, your line is a bit better pass-blocking and maybe certain extra protection with TEs and RBs can help; however, especially when you’re behind and have to throw it in order to move the chains, you’re going to face beasts feasting on your bodyguards.

Ty Simpson didn’t have much help upfront and had to improvise constantly. The wide receivers were really good; still, people didn’t catch Simpson slipping so much as they were shredding the pocket before it could even be formed.

Now, we saw Mendoza work with a lesser supporting cast around him last year (Cal Berkeley) and I believe he is tough and smart enough to figure out how to succeed as a starter. He’ll never be a top ten physical talent at the position however he doesn’t need to be to win.
 
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I think Mendoza is a good NFL caliber. He is not #1 draft pick worthy. If it were me, I’d take Bain or another top guy for my first pick, then grab Beck in late R2 or 3.
 
Not really. He's really good and he's proven others wrong throughout his career. That said I think it's more likely than not that he fizzles out in the pros. He seems like a good guy. I hope he does well to be honest. I ain't mad at him.
 
OldhamA said:
I can reassure you that Bryce Young does not play with high IQ.

He loves a panicky checkdown at the first sign of his first read being remotely covered though.
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When []__[] played against Bama in '21, his first career start, he was surgical and made all the right decisions on the way to winning the Heisman.

Key 2021 Heisman Season Stats & Highlights:
  • Passing Yards: 4,872
  • Passing Touchdowns: 47
  • Interceptions: 7
  • Completion Percentage: 68%
  • Top Performance: 559 passing yards against Arkansas.
He's a high IQ signal caller, but the speed of the pro game may expose his physical limitations.
 
bendyrland said:
Not really. He's really good and he's proven others wrong throughout his career. That said I think it's more likely than not that he fizzles out in the pros. He seems like a good guy. I hope he does well to be honest. I ain't mad at him.
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This sums up my thoughts perfectly. No notes.
 
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The first game the Raiders ask Mendoza to carry them will be the first time in his career.

In a draft class with zero first round quarterbacks, he’s the best of the bunch but this may be the all time worst quarterback class.

I think Ty Simpson did a lot more heavy lifting for Alabama than Fernando Mendoza did for Indiana. Has a college game manager ever become a star NFL quarterback? At least in the modern m, quarterback centric era?
 
DMoney said:
The point is that it’s extremely difficult and rare to do what Mendoza did last season. He won everything. The hatred is mostly sour grapes and people upset about how wrong they were.

I don't know how his pro career will go because a lot depends on environment. But I'd be surprised if he's not a longtime starter.
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Agree with this. He's really good.
 
DMoney said:
What players won the Heisman, went undefeated, won the natty and went #1 overall?

I’ve got Cam Newton, Joe Burrow, and likely Mendoza. Anybody missing?
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Jameis...and he was legally blind.

Mendoza as a prospect seems rock solid, to me. I've stated as such a few times. He's in safe company by any statistical metric you look at that projects success to the NFL. 33 career starters. 9.3 final season ypa. #1 overall pick. Heisman winner. That is rare company. Burrow and Newton had superior ypa (10.8 and 10.2 respectfully), but less starts (28 and 26). Jameis had fewer starts (27) and a worse final season ypa (8.6). Tracks, in my opinion...not the prospect of Burrow and Newton, but better than Jameis.

Over 30 starts, 9.3ypa in his final season. That puts him in the same tier as Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence for #1 overall picks, and Marcus Mariota if you throw in similar numbers and a Heisman. Also tracks...not as talented as Williams and Lawrence, but more talented than Mariota.

I think the biggest worry you have with him is that he - like Andrew Luck - will go find something else to do with his time and life if a team doesn't support his growth as a player and he gets beat to **** early. Imagine this guy with Kevin O'Connell on the redemption arc? Kyle Shannahan? Woof.
 
Kudos to the Raiders for creating a low-pressure environment for Fernando to develop in. I'm certain they'll do everything they can to ensure he has success.

 
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