Raiders Take Patient Approach With Rookie QB Fernando Mendoza

The transition from college to the NFL is often referred to as information coming at a player like a “firehouse,” and for Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, that’s certainly been the case as he acclimates to a new version of offense he was largely unfamiliar with during his time in college.

That would be playing under center for the first time as a cornerstone of head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense. The No. 1 overall pick played for three seasons with the Cal Bears and Indiana Hoosiers, and took five total collegiate snaps under center.

Mendoza won’t be the first or the last to have to make this transition, as it’s typical for college quarterbacks to operate out of shotgun almost exclusively. But top picks are expected to make a quicker switch to under center.

However, most No. 1 picks aren’t in as good of a situation as Mendoza, where there isn’t an immediate expectation to start as he learns under who is a great veteran mentor in Kirk Cousins.

There are a lot of expectations riding on the hopeful franchise cornerstone of the future, but the acute priority is getting him comfortable in an NFL-style offense, something he’s taken quite seriously this offseason.

To read more about the switch for Mendoza and how the rookie is handling it, here is the full story from Raiders Roundtable writer Bob McCullough.

There’s a lot bigger emphasis on Mendoza’s first two steps, securing the snap, and his foot quickness. While he took some first-team snaps this offseason, the emphasis is on Mendoza’s long term development, which is where it arguably should be.