The Official Game Day Thread, At Least One Raider Gets His Ring, The College Championship Game

[Attyla]

Time to relax and enjoy one last look at the future.

[Raidernation1979]

As long as the arm is strong enough to make all the throws quarterbacking becomes way more mental than Physical. The only other thing that can’t really be taught is accuracy. They could be slightly improved through mechanics, but you can’t teach how to throw an accurate ball.

[DanKD]

OK so if we are being honest, he did not have the best game. But that is part of football. The Miami defense has one of college football's best defenses and one of those defensive linemen will be drafted top 5. And they brought everything they could right at Mendoza. And how he responded just solidifies in my mind the potential he brings to the Raiders. Yes, there was no quit in him. We make that out to be some great football trait. It is not. Guys don't quit when it comes to championship football. But what he did do was he created. The moment was not too big for him and he stayed focused on what it was going to take to stay in the game. He never pressed. He followed the program that got him to the biggest game of his career and that is what leaders do. And that is what you got to see, a leader leading his team.

That is what you want.

Perfect summation. Also, Mr. Tom Brady himself didnt light things up in every big game but he almost always did what he needed to do for his team to win.

[nmonte374]

The smart people at espn saying we need to trade the pick cause we have so many holes and Mendoza will be ruined. What team with the number one pick has a stacked roster ready for a championship? So if the jets trade multiple first rounders to move up Mendoza will be better off?

[NoThanksSir]

I'm not really seeing a lack of arm with Mendoza. He might not be in the top percentile like say Josh Allen, but he's above average.

[chucker]

I'm not really seeing a lack of arm with Mendoza. He might not be in the top percentile like say Josh Allen, but he's above average.

His arm is similar to Joe Burrow's, so he's gonna fail miserably. Obviously.

[Willmark]

He needs to have a Jamarcus Russell can throw it 70 yards from his knees type of arm. Otherwise he’s going to be a failure.

[MWRaider]

I watched the game, and liked what I saw. I think Mendoza has the stuff to become one of the best Raider's QBs in the past 40 years. (And minus Gannon, that's not such a great compliment).

Like any rookie, I'm sure he will have a lot to learn about playing in the NFL. - like some one else posted, he may need to work on his pocket presence - but I think he has a lot to work with. He did a pretty good job on some difficult throws. I think he'll do just fine. If it was me, I'd draft him.

Maybe the Raiders should find out who taught the Indiana secondary how to tackle and hire them. Too many times over the years I've seen the Raider's defense miss tackles or just stand there with their teeth in their mouth while watching the opposing team's players run by them and head to the great wide open spaces.

[NoThanksSir]

His arm is similar to Joe Burrow's, so he's gonna fail miserably. Obviously.

Good point, one of Burrow's knocks coming out was lack of arm strength too. Which was honestly comical, because he wasn't underthrowing guys at LSU.

[haji81872]

I couldn’t help but think of the Raiders since Gannon. The best we’ve been since those days was Beck’s game. What we’ve wished for since those days was Mendoza’s game.

It must be that baby face of his that throws you off. He plays tough as nails and is completely fcking unflappable. Miami looked so big and mean, but when Mendoza took that run to the house, he was not to be denied.

I can watch that shit over and over again.

Same here. That one play embodies everything I love about him.

Although he didn't light it up he was still 16-20 with some huge clutch throws. Under relentless pressure and constant holding of his WR's that is impressive.

I would like to bring in at least one of his WR. Sarratt in the third, Cooper with one of our 4ths, Charlie Becker as an UDFA.

[chucker]

Bigcory video on the way........Can't wait.

[haji81872]

I watched the game, and liked what I saw. I think Mendoza has the stuff to become one of the best Raider's QBs in the past 40 years. (And minus Gannon, that's not such a great compliment).

Like any rookie, I'm sure he will have a lot to learn about playing in the NFL. - like some one else posted, he may need to work on his pocket presence - but I think he has a lot to work with. He did a pretty good job on some difficult throws. I think he'll do just fine. If it was me, I'd draft him.

Maybe the Raiders should find out who taught the Indiana secondary how to tackle and hire them. Too many times over the years I've seen the Raider's defense miss tackles or just stand there with their teeth in their mouth while watching the opposing team's players run by them and head to the great wide open spaces.

Agree about that secondary, they didn't just grab and hold on for help, they were form tackling and laying the wood. That was one hard hitting physical game last night on both sides of the ball.

[Toast]

This was the type of game you want to see your prospective QB win. There is no test for character at the scouting combine it's measured in these situations.

[RaiderFan1]

The smart people at espn saying we need to trade the pick cause we have so many holes and Mendoza will be ruined. What team with the number one pick has a stacked roster ready for a championship? So if the jets trade multiple first rounders to move up Mendoza will be better off?

We have a strong base to build around

Rookie QB, LT, RB, TE x2, C or G, DE

Draft/Free agent the Trenches and WR

F*%#k the talking heads

[Raidernation1979]

Bigcory video on the way........Can't wait.

Can’t wait for the video. 39 TDs and zero interceptions in the red zone is f[raiders_icon]cking amazing.

[raidersince63]

^^^That's insane !