Is Klint Kubiak the QB whisperer?

[Corleone]

Doing some quick research and thought this was thread worthy. Check it out:

From 2019-2021 Klint served as Vikings QB Coach (2 years), and OC for 1 year. Those 3 years were Kirk Cousins best years (statistically) in Minnesota.

In 2023 he gets the Pass Game Coordinator position with SF, working all year with the SF QB's, including backup Sam Darnold who'd been a massive bust previously. After that Season Darnold shines in Minnesota (and perhaps because of the year spent with Klint), eventually landing back with Klint with the Seahawks, and as we all know, winning the Super Bowl last year.

Then as we just witnessed, he revived Kirk Cousins career this year, with Kirk near the top of the league in most the important QB categories.

Does Mendoza have the perfect coach to guide him to being the franchise QB we think he can be? I think there's a good chance he does.

[Reno Hightower]

Doing some quick research and thought this was thread worthy. Check it out:

From 2019-2021 Klint served as QB Coach (2 years), and OC for 1 year. Those 3 years were Kirk Cousins best years (statistically) in Minnesota.

In 2023 he gets the Pass Game Coordinator position with SF, working all year with the SF QB's, including backup Sam Darnold who'd been a massive bust previously. After that Season Darnold shines in Minnesota (and perhaps because of the year spent with Klint), eventually landing back with Klint with the Seahawks, and as we all know, winning the Super Bowl last year.

Then as we just witnessed, he revived Kirk Cousins career this year, with Kirk near the top of the league in most the important QB categories.

Does Mendoza have the perfect coach to guide him to being the franchise QB we think he can be? I think there's a good chance he does.

Yes and yes. I suspect the prospect of coaching Mendoza was a big factor towards Kubiak taking the job.

[Opoponax50]

There's no way he comes here without that first pick. With the decision between us and the chargers, Harbaugh chose L.A. because they already had a QB. I still thin he's good, he's just been grossly mishandled.

Anyway, Kubiak is going to have the chance to prove his ability with the rookie. I hope they're both ready.

[Jeevo]

He’s one of those guys who has play calling/scheming in his genes. Put together a top 10 offense with a weak armed, old man at QB, bottom decile wideouts and terrible run blocking. Stoked that he’s the guy we have to guide Mendoza.

[16 to 88]

Yes, great thread and I agree here and no way he comes here without having the ability to draft Mendoza.

[RaiderandBulldog]

We are about to find out.

[tadow]

I think Tre Tucker bout to eat

[Sir Raider Duck, OMS]

Yes and yes. I suspect the prospect of coaching Mendoza was a big factor towards Kubiak taking the job.

I read somewhere that Kubiak literally told a friend he wouldn't have come here had Mendoza not been part of the deal.

[Arsenal Raider]

Watching both the Seahawks offense and Indiana in the playoffs last year had me stoked.

It's a perfect fit.

[Viper]

Doing some quick research and thought this was thread worthy. Check it out:

From 2019-2021 Klint served as Vikings QB Coach (2 years), and OC for 1 year. Those 3 years were Kirk Cousins best years (statistically) in Minnesota.

In 2023 he gets the Pass Game Coordinator position with SF, working all year with the SF QB's, including backup Sam Darnold who'd been a massive bust previously. After that Season Darnold shines in Minnesota (and perhaps because of the year spent with Klint), eventually landing back with Klint with the Seahawks, and as we all know, winning the Super Bowl last year.

Then as we just witnessed, he revived Kirk Cousins career this year, with Kirk near the top of the league in most the important QB categories.

Does Mendoza have the perfect coach to guide him to being the franchise QB we think he can be? I think there's a good chance he does.

Good, informative post
It would be safe to assume both prior organizations had a much stronger, more cohesive starting point than what we have in year 1 of a rebuild. Typically with winning and successful organizations, players have coaching and scheme in place for years. It’s also safe to assume both previous rosters were vastly superior in talent than what he’s starting with here. That’s ok as nobody could expect a deep playoff run after just one draft, one free agency.

It helps that Mendoza has been under plenty of bright lights already in his very young career, although it’s been at a much lower level. It’s also helpful and fortunate he’s been brought along at a pace that allows him to see what it looks like to lead a team at this level. Cousins was the perfect role model for a young man eager to learn.

Mendoza starts at a disadvantage in not having any elite receivers, aside from Bowers. A few serviceable, competent receivers that most would find difficult cracking the starting lineup on most nfl rosters. Throw in the fact that the team hasn’t had a consistent running game makes his task much more formidable.

If Kubiak can find a way to game plan and manufacture wins from here forward this season, he is not a Qb whisperer. He is a Qb God.

[RI RAIDER]

Good post Corleone. Every QB he has worked with has shined (including Cousins this season). He is going to make Mendoza a pro bowl player. When KK (and Mendoza) have a full arsenal to work with, they are going to form a dangerous dynamic duo and resurrect this team from the scrap heap to glory days again.

[NoThanksSir]

Is he the QB Whisperer? I think that's the expectation and why he was our #1 target in the HC search. So far the early returns are good. He absolutely rehabbed Kirk's image. He was a free agent in the offseason, anybody could have signed him but nobody wanted him. The Vikings and Kevin O'Connell could have had him. 3 weeks before the Raiders signed Cousins the Vikings decided reuniting with Cousins was not ideal and chose Kyler Murray over him.

I think any discerning Raider fan would admit that Kirk's statistical achievements this season hide what has been up and down play not just from week to week, but from drive to drive. He's been great at getting the ball out and making our weak OL look better in pass protection. He's been fantastic at delivering the ball to open receivers on short and medium crossing routes.

His ball hangs in the air when thrown to the sideline. He locks onto his primary read at times, ignoring open receivers downfield. While he has shown the ability to throw the ball deep here and there, it has not been a consistent feature of his game. And you have to wonder if he can only do it a couple of times a game but his arm simply doesn't have the gas left to consistently do it.

Kubiak's scheme and play design have done wonders for covering up Kirk's deficiencies. It's why I'm very confident in Mendoza becoming our franchise signal caller under him. Fernando is both the brightest and most athletic QB Kubiak has had the opportunity of coaching. He's a hard worker and I think cut from the same cloth Kubiak is. It's a perfect marriage that will open eyes as to how good Kubiak really is this sunday against Seattle.

[Attyla]

It is premature to say, but the signs are there. I think maybe it has more to do with the play calling that puts the QB in the best situation to succeed. Not that he is not teaching but the head coach is the coach of the team. I think his family history has more to do with that than anything. Being around and working with his father who has three rings for his various duties as an assistant. He got to witness his father's mid career as a head coach. But he did see how his father managed the team. Ultimately, he chose to work with QB's because he recognized QB skill sets reading offenses as a safety. He has translated that skill into play design to mask his offense's intent.

So does he have some secret ability to get the best out of a QB? Again, the signs are there. But he is in a position now where he cannot do that full time. I honestly think it has a lot more to do with his ability to design plays and the play calling than anything else.

[BoKnows81]

The only answer to this question is...

We are about to find out.

[Amish Cabal]

I think he is. As close as we'll ever come to one at least. Now if we could just find a defense whisperer...

I'm interested to see how Cousins will do back in Minnesota. O'Connell is there so supposedly the same system, but Kubiak isn't. Will he keep on killing it or regress back to mediocre? This inquiry mind wants to know.