Thursday night's preseason finale was not a typical one for the Las Vegas Raiders, with most of the starters on both sides of the ball playing at least two series. It will go in the books as a loss, 18-12 to the San Francisco 49ers, but the exhibition games are mercifully over for this year.
After a tough outing against a very good Houston Texans defense in the second preseason game, which has to be seen in that context, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza did not necessarily look fantastic against the 49ers.
The interception that he threw was a fairly risky decision, and a better throw was needed to complete it, but wide receiver Jalen Nailor also didn't do him many favors on a play he's not well-suited to make. Mendoza finished 7-for-14 for 57 yards with that interception, while taking two sacks.
It's all part of the process for Mendoza, even if it seems that head coach Klint Kubiak is intent on maintaining a see-through veil of mystery regarding Kirk Cousins being the Week 1 starter under center.
Mendoza has already shown the savvy and calmness of a veteran when he talks to the media, without being cliché-driven and ingenuine. On that note, here is everything that the rookie quarterback said after the preseason finale.
Everything Raiders' Fernando Mendoza said after preseason finale vs. 49ers
The first question to Mendoza was about the 49ers' pass rush.
"I believe the pass rush was fantastic tonight, and I think it's a great experience. I think our offensive line did fantastic as well, but I think it's also a great experience of the NFL. Whether they like it or not, there are monsters at the other side of the ball, and you need to get the ball out quick. It teaches you need to play on time, and there's less margin for error. I think it's a great experience having that heat and duress because diamonds are built under pressure. They're built under fire, being forged like that. So, when you're able to play under that duress, that's when you're able to elevate your game, and I think it's a good experience."
What has he learned about the NFL so far?
"The NFL is really tough, and there is a big jump going from college to the NFL, and the speed,
and there's just so many different aspects. And the NFL is a tough business, and it's a challenge I look forward to taking head-on with my teammates, and I'm excited for the future. That was my dream as a young kid. Now I have goals in the future that hopefully, that us as a team, we can accomplish to best serve the teammates and best serve the Silver and Black."
Does Mendoza wish he could play more preseason games, in light of Kubiak's "he needs another three preseason games" comment?
"I would love unlimited games for development, and evidently, there is a toll that takes on
the body. But my body feels great; however, I need to respect my other teammates who are laying their body out on the line every single play, like I try to do. Sometimes, it's a little bit more situational in my position, but the more reps and the more games would be fantastic. If there was three more preseason games that I could do, I would do them."
On persevering through struggles he faced in college and has had so far in the NFL.
"There are always struggles. It's not always sunshine and rainbows but being able to stick
with it through an optimistic mindset and have a great community and a great team, great coaches around you, stick to it and keep on pushing forward. At the end, there's bound to be successful results and positive results, but sometimes it's tough to see that far in advance. But when you have great teammates and coaches guiding you, especially as a young player, that's something that I'm very blessed to have."
What about the interception against the 49ers?
"I've yet to watch the film. It's a little different because, when you're on the sideline, you get
the four pictures. Look forward to watching the film, looking forward to learning."
What has he learned during his first NFL preseason?
"There's been a lot to learn this preseason, and I've learned so much from the veterans, and
then also the other rookies in our locker room, and especially such a fantastic opportunity to grow through the highs and lows of training camp of the preseason. We take every day as its own day, but I would say that it's been a pleasure, and I've grown a lot this preseason. Like I said before, if there were three more preseason games, I would play them. I think from snap one of Arizona to the last snap I took here against the Niners."
What is the value of being able to compete against "monsters" like Maxx Crosby?
"The term that Coach Kubiak used of 'creatures', and the term I use 'monsters', is not
meant in any derogatory way. It's meant in actually a positive, more complementary way. To be able to compete with such fierce competitors such as Maxx, and the other great edges around the league. To be able to be a teammate with Maxx has been so helpful, and I look forward to going against him in practice and competing, because iron sharpens iron, and when you're able to go against, not just iron, but he's like a diamond sword. It's a fantastic experience, against one of the top, if not the top pass rushers in the league when you then get to play against it, it gets you ready for that."
On what it meant for Raiders alumni, namely Marcus Allen and Jim Plunkett, to show belief in him?
"It means the world. The Raiders alumni are so important to this organization, and the
Raiders legends being..I feel blessed that they recognize us rookies, and whenever I've texted them in the past, it's always been an open line of communication and support and advice and tips. So I'm so grateful to have them in the Raiders' corner and in my corner, my development, and looking forward to utilizing those relationships to grow. Those are two legends you said there, and I'm just very honored."
Was the spin move to escape a pass rusher against the 49ers second nature to him?
"Yeah, you prepare all week, and something that I've learned from coaches and other
quarterbacks in the room, that you prepare all week, you put in the countless hours of film, self-study, and all that external other preparation aspects that come with it, and you let your instincts take over in the game. Evidently, you're still very process-oriented, and I write that, ‘Tranquilo’, on my wristband for a reminder and the reminders of how to go through a process. But when there's a great player, I believe it was C.J. West, who actually was another Indiana guy, staring down at you in the barrel. You got to make something happen, and so that's totally instinctual."
Regarding evaluation (and self-evaluation) of his performance over the course of training camp:
"I think that'd be a better question for some of the coaches. However, I believe that I've
grown through training camp. There's been highs, and there's been lows, but I believe that from the first day of training camp to now, I've exponentially been a better quarterback. Although it might not seem like it on paper, because in the, or maybe not something that outside expectation, just because you know there's been so many. I've been blessed with so many great experiences in the past year. But I believe that I'm very grateful for the highs and lows of training camp, and I believe I'm growing a lot as a player because of the great coaches, great teammates, and great organization I'm a part of."
On watching Kirk Cousins operate the Raiders' offense:
"Kirk looks great. He looks ruthlessly efficient, and with that, he's able to drive the
ball down the field. I believe he had two drives with two scores, and that's something that I want to model, and I want to put the ball in the end zone or help our team put it through the uprights."
Las Vegas high school powerhouse Bishop Gorman is traveling to Miami to take on Mendoza's alma mater, Christopher Columbus, for a game that will air on ESPN on Saturday. What does he think about the matchup?
"My time at Christopher Columbus really helped me forge into a man, into a young man, and
those experiences are some that have made me the man who I am today. And I'm forever in debt to Columbus. I look forward to seeing them take on Bishop Gorman. There's a little bit of ties now that I'm a Las Vegas resident, and I also went to Christopher Columbus. I'll be rooting for a good game and keep it between us, but I'm rooting for Columbus. I hope it's a great game."
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