The New Era Begins, The Unofficial Official Game Day Thread

[Attyla]

Training wheels come off, it is time to make this a reality.

Welcome to the NFL Mendoza, and welcome to being the leader of the Raiders Klint Kubiak. Let's get this thing going. And yea, as always, I sipped the Koolaid.

[Raidernation1979]

Mendoza breakdown for those interested

[SkullCrusher]

Here you can see Washington's run blocking even better and replay it quicker. A pancake by a LT to. Again nice blocking, damn near everyone was tied up, the RB had to find their place to go and broke one tackle.

[Goodtimes333]

Jack Bech is going to be ideal for the offense in how it's designed. He run blocks lik a TE in an offense that values running the rock. He makes tough, contested catches with two accurate QB's who can make the most of that game. With Bowers being the main option he's going to be on a list of second options. I guarantee you he's going to get a lot of snaps due to his run blocking alone

[KillerRaider30]

Jack Bech is going to be ideal for the offense in how it's designed. He run blocks lik a TE in an offense that values running the rock. He makes tough, contested catches with two accurate QB's who can make the most of that game. With Bowers being the main option he's going to be on a list of second options. I guarantee you he's going to get a lot of snaps due to his run blocking alone

strongly agree. Bechs blocking is nowhere to be found among our other WRs and we can never have enough great hands.
Jeanty showed last year he's an excellent pass catcher. Along with Brock and Mayer? That makes 4.

[Attyla]

So watching the film again, the question all Raiders fans should be asking is: "Is Mendoza ready?' And the answer is no. But is there a path to him opening the season as a starter? Certainly there is, that window did not shut. Did Cousins do enough to continue as the starter? After one series, the answer is a resounding "maybe" but if Mendoza continues to play like his second series, there is a chance it will come down to a Brady/Spytek intervention. Certainly Kint will get the say but there should and all but certainly will be other voices in the room.

[Goodtimes333]

strongly agree. Bechs blocking is nowhere to be found among our other WRs and we can never have enough great hands.
Jeanty showed last year he's an excellent pass catcher. Along with Brock and Mayer? That makes 4.

Tre Tucker is also a tenacious and dawged run blocker when you factor in his size. He blocks very well for a smaller receiver/speed guy. I'm a big fan of Nailor and I think all things considered, the receiving options across all positions is going to function properly. The Linderbaum affect on the oline was apparent last night IMO. Home run move there

[mstrbass2000]

Bech has always been a great blocker

bech only needs to learn how to separate to create space and get open...upside could be a poor mans cooper kupp a few yrs ago

[RaiderandBulldog]

[ELCAraiderfan]

He also had a big block on the saftey for Washington's big run.

Good observation and call. Just went back and watched the video above of that play and saw Bech pushing the D player completely across the play from left to right. helluva block.

[Attyla]

Finally got to rewatch the game.

Footwork, good, not perfect but good. He got happy feet on the sack but bounced right back to complete his next pass. The run, he cannot do that in preseason, do not risk yourself in a nongame. TD pass, dead money. His play action, very good. Under center, again very good. He needs to get the guys to the line quicker, he needs his internal clock firing from the moment the previous play is over. Back shoulder is still deadly.

And yea, a blatant PI was missed on the sideline pass.

We may have found the guy.

Washington was great both running and blocking, he has a bit of a hop plant move that reminds me of prime Najee Harris but his plant move is equally good. Big guy with a motor.

Bech, we need this guy to pan out. He can do so many things.

[mranquales]

That motion-mesh with quick receivers is a genius scheme by Kubiak. Hit the receiver in stride as he's hitting the corner and let him cut up for extra yards. I think our offense will be in the top 15.

Our kryptonite will be our defense. 'Just preseason' my ass. Our defense will be bottom 10, unless McCoy, Quay, Chinn, and Dean all have pro bowl years.

Mendoza's poise, ability to read the defense and scan the field, are already at a near elite level. Now that I've sat and thought about it, you can't start someone right away who had only 5 snaps under center in their entire college career in an offense that requires 80% of your snaps to be under center. I've now accepted Mendoza sitting, but not for the entire year like I know he inevitably is.

[rich72]

mike washington is gonna be a threat

Washington will be a nice change of pace when Jeanty isnt in the game.

[Goodtimes333]

[WNYRAIDER]

First preseason game and starters didn’t play much. Not an excuse but, I’m still a fan of Leonard. He doesn’t seem to be a guy that has to have it his way and would expect he takes constructive criticism well, as Kubiak should do. I believe this coaching staff is seasoned enough to lean on each other and leave the pride and ego behind.
Lots of work to do in a more than one year rebuild.

...I don't think you can draw much of anything from a first preseason game with half of the defense roster turned over, and with so much youth, and in a new system. ...I honestly don't get some of the 'conclusions' I see drawn above based on where we are at this point.....

[Opoponax50]

So watching the film again, the question all Raiders fans should be asking is: "Is Mendoza ready?' And the answer is no. But is there a path to him opening the season as a starter? Certainly there is, that window did not shut. Did Cousins do enough to continue as the starter? After one series, the answer is a resounding "maybe" but if Mendoza continues to play like his second series, there is a chance it will come down to a Brady/Spytek intervention. Certainly Kint will get the say but there should and all but certainly will be other voices in the room.

He had some happy feet goin' so he's not all that comfortable going from center to the pocket just yet. But he did lead a scoring drive, and on the TD throw his feet were set and he threw a dart. He'll get there and I'm glad we have a competent bridge in the meantime.