Fernando Mendoza Says ‘There’s a Lot More Learning to Do’ After Struggling Against Texans

Fernando Mendoza is willing to admit he has more to learn.

The Raiders took Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy and National Championship-winning quarterback, first overall in this year’s NFL draft. But he struggled mightily in his second preseason game against the Houston Texans. Mendoza admitted after the game that he will learn from his mistakes.

“Thought the game was fantastic because we won,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the win is all that matters. And we did a great job there on offense and defense playing complimentary football in the fourth quarter to dig us out of some mistakes and we ended up winning the game.”

Mendoza started the game for the Raiders. He completed his first pass over the outstretched arm of Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz to wide receiver Jalen Nailor for a big first down.

On the next play, running back Mike Washington Jr. took a handoff and bounced it outside for a big gain. On 1st and 10 from the Houston 25-yard line, Mendoza faked the handoff to Washington, then, with pressure in his face, threw it to Washington underneath.

Woodaz jumped the route and carried the ball 80 yards for a touchdown, shedding a last-ditch tackle from Mendoza on his way to the end zone.

Mendoza said he went through his progression, though he saw fullback Connor Heyward in the flat too late. He was already backpedaling and threw it to Washington.

He refuted a reporter’s critique that he was doing too much to maintain the Raiders’ momentum on that drive.

“I don’t think it was pushing the envelope because it was a checkdown,” he said.

“If it was like a deep shot or something, maybe. But we’re on the same page in this checkdown. Things happen like that, and I’ve got to be better for my teammates next time.”

In the second quarter, Mendoza faked a handoff to running back Dylan Laube, only to be immediately wrapped up by rookie defensive tackle Kayden McDonald for a sack.

A reporter asked what his approach to pressure is.

“I think first is always trusting the offensive line and having that communication with the offensive line,” he said.

“They need to trust you to make the right checks, and we need to trust them to protect what you do a fantastic job at. And it’s also for me to work on my pocket movement. [Head] Coach [Klint] Kubiak, [offensive coordinator Andrew] Janocko, and [quarterbacks] Coach [Mike] Sullivan, we’ve [snorts] identified that I need to work on my pocket movement a little bit. Maybe it’s stepping up in the pocket, maybe stepping side-to-side to gain a little bit more time and try to best serve my teammates and offensive linemen.”

Mendoza finished the game 8-of-15 passing for 86 yards and the aforementioned pick-six and sack.

“I came away that there’s a lot more learning to do, and that although that maybe I had a lot of success at another level, this level is a whole step further, and that the margins are so small and that one tiny mistake can lead to catastrophe. So [I] want to make sure that I best serve my teammates and get better from these experiences,” he said.

Fourth-year QB Aidan O’Connell finished the game for the Raiders, going 15-of-24 passing for 166 yards; he added two carries and a rushing touchdown.

Mendoza had better stats last week against the Arizona Cardinals: he went 10-of-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown, with a sack. But he said Thursday that he was more comfortable in this week’s game.

“I would classify jitters as over the top,” he said.

“Evidently, you’re always feeling your nervous system activating. However, today I thought I saw it very well, and evidently there was one unfortunate play, but even that play I thought I saw it well, just didn’t make the right throw. So, I thought I saw well, I was calm overall, and you know, all I could do is respond and play the next play. But, yes, overall I felt more composed.”

And he was not interested in getting back any of the plays he made mistakes on.

“It’s the reality not to get any of the plays back,” he said.

“All you could do is look forward, and then the only thing that I can control at this moment, on this podium talking to you, is controlling my next play. So, whatever the next play in practice, whenever we practice next, whether it’s the first play I get to play against San Francisco, it’s controlling that next play.”