Klint Kubiak has long expressed his preference for the Las Vegas Raiders to have a veteran under center. And while many felt that Kubiak was bluffing, considering No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza was in the building, it looks more and more each day like Kirk Cousins starting was always the plan.
Despite both quarterbacks being up-and-down during training camp and in two weeks of preseason, Cousins has taken almost all of the reps with the first-team offense. Mendoza is running out of time to dethrone him. But Kubiak, ostensibly, isn't making a call yet, as he said following Thursday's game.
"You know, we got another week of playing," Kubiak told reporters. "I don't want anyone to be comfortable in their job. That's how it should -- it should always be that way, from all positions. So, just keep going forward."
Yeah, right.
Klint Kubiak won't name Raiders' starting QB for Week 1 vs. Dolphins
Now, this comment is all fine and dandy. And it is a good thing that Kubiak wants to keep the fire lit under his players until the regular season. But I'm just not buying it, and neither should fans, especially based on what occurred during the second preseason game against the Houston Texans.
After a joint practice session with the Texans on Tuesday, Kubiak clearly made the executive decision to rest all of the starters, other than Darien Porter and Jalen Nailor. That, of course, included Cousins, who sat on the sidelines and watched the action unfold instead of playing.
If this were a true competition, then Cousins would be out there fighting for his job. But Mendoza is obviously being thrown out there with the second-team offensive line and second-team weapons. It's no secret that Cousins is ahead of Mendoza enough that he didn't even have to play on Thursday.
Mendoza did enjoy some first-team reps during the joint practice, but that was his first time taking snaps away from Cousins. The only other time he played with the 1s was during a single training camp practice, when Cousins was suspended for his scuffle with Maxx Crosby.
Had Mendoza and Cousins been rotating in for each other all camp and the battle been lively, then perhaps Kubiak's quote would have more merit here. But it hasn't been a fair fight, really, as Mendoza has almost exclusively played with the 2s, while Cousins gets the boost of playing with the starters.
So, while Kubiak is theoretically keeping it open-ended, at least publicly, Raider Nation knows better than to buy this line of coach speak. Barring an unforeseen circumstance, Cousins will be under center against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium in a little under a month.
Unless Kubiak has just been pulling the wool over our eyes this entire time, and this has all been some weird 4D chess play by Las Vegas' new coach. But I doubt that. So, expect to see a lot of Mendoza in the preseason finale, and soak it up. It may be a while until the fanbase gets to watch him play again.
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