Fernando Mendoza has all the makings of an NFL-ready quarterback, and he is ready to prove it.
Coming off a year in which he won the Heisman Trophy, won the National Championship, and was drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, Mendoza is ready to make his NFL preseason debut on Thursday night against the Arizona Cardinals.
It's an exciting day for several reasons. Raiders fans get to see their rising franchise QB in action for the first time, while Hoosier football fans get to see their beloved Heisman winner take his first NFL snaps.
Kick-off between the Raiders and Cardinals is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. Here are three things to watch for in Mendoza's debut.
How much playing time will Fernando Mendoza get?
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has already confirmed that Mendoza will play on Thursday. He even went as far to say that Mendoza will get "plenty of experience in the game." But he didn't specify exactly how many drives he will lead or how many first-teamers he will be on the field with.
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Will he play a full quarter, multiple quarters, or get a longer look? Will he play with the first-team offense or the second-teamers? All of these questions will be interesting to see answered on Thursday night.
Mendoza's comfort level when adjusting to NFL speed
At Indiana, Mendoza was known for his elite football IQ, strong accuracy, and perhaps more importantly––calm demeanor in the biggest moments. All of those attributes will play a role in making him a successful QB at the next level. However, the NFL is a different beast.
Generally speaking, the game is faster and the players are bigger and stronger. That can lead to a learning curve for incoming rookies, especially quarterbacks. Mendoza has a level-headed approach and his dedication to preparation is well-documented. With that in mind, paying attention to his signal-calling, decision-making, and pocket presence will be fascinating to watch. He should be as prepared as possible, but it will still be exciting to see how he handles the speed of the NFL.
Offensive rhythm with Mendoza leading the way
Mendoza's rhythm with his receivers could go a long way in how his overall performance goes. Is he getting the ball out on time? Is he accurate? Is he making the right adjustments and reads? Then if the offense gets rolling, is he able to keep the defense on its heels and keep the chains moving? Mendoza reportedly ran a near flawless 2-minute drill earlier this week in practice, and seeing something like that in his preseason debut would be exciting to see.
Granted, some of this rhythm could depend on which receivers he is playing with. At the same time, Mendoza has seen reps with both the first and second-team offenses in training camp, so he should enter this contest on the same page with his receivers. But still, finding a groove for the first time can be tough for rookie quarterbacks. But Mendoza has what it takes to put forth a strong initial showing.
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