Raiderstation

I don't love this. I get it, but I don't love it.

How quickly the starting 5 up front is determined is key. What the run game looks like & overall how quickly the blocking scheme starts to click is also vital. I won't say you Can't have Fernando out there with a struggling ground game, but it's damn close. The man is going to be an NFL QB. Not everything is always going to be perfect for him. As a rookie I want that ground game at least functioning before he gets in there though. Theres hardly ever a team with a proven rock solid front 5 and proven weapons everywhere

BoKnows81 wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 11:25 am Sure, if you assume that our O line is gonna be that bad this year. But I don't think there's any reason why they can't be a top 15 line this year. A top 3 center, a top 10 LT when healthy, JPJ at left guard in his 2nd year, a 3 way battle at right guard and a high drafted RT (IMO). Plus a competent coaching staff. Last year is last year.

You are counting your offensive lines before they're proven.

It should be better for these reasons:
Coaching
C
2 - 2 year players that could be something, real wildcard here.

After that its the same.
If you take out last years coaching debacle they weren't all that good the year prior.
Its been a while since we had a good Oline.

The Raiders done the minimum in FA with the Oline.
I'm disappointed in that, only saving grace is if there wasn't no one else good that we had a shot at, we'll never know.

We've seen all possible ways play out with new QB's. If it's a handful of games before he plays that's fine, he'll be more prepared vs week 1. The coaching will know what they have better and if it's safe.

I think this is a logical measure to set this delayed expectation and be overall be guarded.
If Mendoza and the offense can prove in the preseason that they are way ahead of plan, then go time and this happens to.

Last thing imo that we want to do is put out a QB not ready behind a sieve of an offensive line.
In fact, that would piss me the right off.

Cousins is not getting $172Mil.

Also, from Adam Schefter;

"This is really an ideal bridge quarterback situation, where they can bring in Cousins. It forces them to take the pressure off Mendoza. They don't have to rush him out there if they don't feel like he's ready. Kirk Cousins is a great quarterback for Mendoza to be around, to learn from. He becomes an ideal tutor," Schefter explained. "And if we think of Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, he did not choose to work with Michael Penix. The team chose Michael Penix. In this particular case, Kirk Cousins willingly, voluntarily signed on to work with Fernando Mendoza."

Let Cousins take the hits early. Don't want our future getting pummeled while the Oline gels. Cousins fully understands the assignment.

I also like Fernando having competition other than AOC or Drew Lock..which is no competition at all. Anyone who thinks Lock or Tyrod Taylor are better options here needs to brush up on their ball knowing skills.

I’d rather an aging Cousins at basically 11 mil for a year than a prime Cousins for 40 mil per year. Either way, he’s not nor wasn’t the guy leading a team to a Superbowl win.
At least we’re not the ones driving the brand new car off the lot taking the initial hit. Helps me stay sane.

ALLRAIDERWORLD21 wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 2:06 pm Let Cousins take the hits early. Don't want our future getting pummeled while the Oline gels. Cousins fully understands the assignment.

I also like Fernando having competition other than AOC or Drew Lock..which is no competition at all. Anyone who thinks Lock or Tyrod Taylor are better options here needs to brush up on their ball knowing skills.

cousins is gonna be competition big time for fernando initially but at some point he will over take em (bigger,stronger,more arm strength,ability to run and extend) best thing is we can trade off cousins for a pick later on

ALLRAIDERWORLD21 wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 2:06 pm Let Cousins take the hits early. Don't want our future getting pummeled while the Oline gels. Cousins fully understands the assignment.

I also like Fernando having competition other than AOC or Drew Lock..which is no competition at all. Anyone who thinks Lock or Tyrod Taylor are better options here needs to brush up on their ball knowing skills.

I think it’s still within the realm of possibility Mendo starts week 1. Every rookie has a learning curve and Mendoza is no exception. For as much as he’s got very translatable traits… the system he’s going into vs the one he’s coming from are starkly different. From almost exclusively out of the gun, to an OC that runs under center more than most. Indiana’s offence ran through RPOs… of course there’s no NFL offence that functions that way.

All this to say, there’s an adjustment for Mendo. Whether it’s a quick adjustment or a challenging one remains to be seen. What hopefully this lets us avoid, is having him go through the worst part of that adjustment in live action. Some guys respond well to it, others will lose confidence and start to lock-in bad habits.

Having the option to bring him along at a more moderate pace is a good thing… even if it will be excruciating for the fans waiting for it

raiders93 wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 8:30 pm I think it’s still within the realm of possibility Mendo starts week 1. Every rookie has a learning curve and Mendoza is no exception. For as much as he’s got very translatable traits… the system he’s going into vs the one he’s coming from are starkly different. From almost exclusively out of the gun, to an OC that runs under center more than most. Indiana’s offence ran through RPOs… of course there’s no NFL offence that functions that way.

All this to say, there’s an adjustment for Mendo. Whether it’s a quick adjustment or a challenging one remains to be seen. What hopefully this lets us avoid, is having him go through the worst part of that adjustment in live action. Some guys respond well to it, others will lose confidence and start to lock-in bad habits.

Having the option to bring him along at a more moderate pace is a good thing… even if it will be excruciating for the fans waiting for it

I doubt it, I think they will want Mendoza chomping at the bit to get in and play. Keep him hungry and make him watch for awhile.

raiders93 wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2026 8:30 pm I think it’s still within the realm of possibility Mendo starts week 1.

Right now for sure, if it all aligns he's a go.

Stafford
Allen
Lamar
Mahomes
Rodgers
Brady

Those are the QBs that have won the MVP 2017-2025, none started week 1 of their rookie years. Not sure that’s a coincidence. Stafford and Allen did take over in week 2. To be fair though they replaced OLD Culpepper and SHITY Peterman.

Brady is a strong advocate for sitting rookie qbs.

Not in the time period of the guys above,but McNair was a very good QB who sat

Dart sat too for a minute last season

HesterLayes wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 4:29 am Dart sat too for a minute last season

He sat for 3 games and started in Week 4.

Pointless.

HesterLayes wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 4:28 am Not in the time period of the guys above,but McNair was a very good QB who sat

McNair was raw when he was drafted. He was a guy who would do half a progression then take off. He was also a small school guy who was not ready for the next level. He did great things at Alcorn St and was worthy of his 3rd overall pick but Fisher really liked Chandler and was thrilled to get rid of a very old Warren Moon. It was pretty obvious to the local crowd that McNair was going to get his shot sometime during the year but Fisher is a pretty loyal guy so he stuck with Chandler until late that season. McNair got into some games but mostly clean up stuff.

On a side note, he was a pretty nice guy. He was seen around town a lot. I bumped into him at a Walgreens once and he stopped and we talked for a few. Funny thing is, it is the same Walgreens where I bumped into Neil O'Donnell. Go figure.