The Las Vegas Raiders remain in the middle of their head coach search. Moreover, this hiring process is significant, as this coach will play a major role in developing Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza, who is projected as the No. 1 pick.
Las Vegas need a franchise QB, and they are in a prime position to select one in Mendoza. Moreover, if they need more convincing, former NFL signal-caller Jordan Palmer shared insight into Mendoza, with whom he has been in contact since the player was making the move to Cal.
“I know him very well and really came on my radar on his way to Cal,” Palmer said on the Jan. 26 edition of “The Jim Rome Show.” “Somebody tipped me off that this kid’s going to be really good… Look, the skill set, it doesn’t take you too long to go, ‘Alright, cool, NFL guy.‘ The skill set is what it is. He’s mobile, he makes every throw, he likes to throw on time.”
Moreover, Palmer believes that Mendoza is the right guy to head into Las Vegas and turn their fortunes around.
“I think uniquely about this is you got the Raiders, which whatever you want to say about the ownership and the decisions they make, then you add in Tom Brady, then you’re going to have a new coach,“ Palmer added.
“Plus, it’s Vegas and all the temptations and stuff that come with that. Plus, Raider Nation, which is a much bigger fan base than Indiana Hoosiers. I think he’s the perfect guy to come in here and play well and weather the storm.”
Tom Brady Under Pressure If Las Vegas Pick Fernando Mendoza
With Tom Brady holding a minority ownership stake, mishandling Mendoza’s development would reflect poorly on a quarterback widely viewed as the greatest to ever play.
Because of that, Yahoo! Sports’ Jason Fitz sees added pressure on Brady to help make sure Mendoza grows into Las Vegas’ long-term answer at the position.
“Tom Brady himself needs to make sure that the infrastructure is taking care of his quarterback,“ Fitz said on the Jan. 23 edition of “Yahoo Sports Daily.” “Tom Brady needs to make sure the person that knows what it takes for a quarterback to be surrounded with the right things needs to damn well make sure that the team he calls himself an owner of has that very infrastructure.
“If the Raiders don’t get it right with Fernando Mendoza, if they ruin Fernando Mendoza, not the other way around. If the Raiders ruin Fernando Mendoza, I’m looking squarely at you, Tom Brady.”
Raiders Need to Lay Developmental Ground Work in Year 1
Furthermore, Fitz explained that if Mendoza is drafted, Year 1 should focus on laying the foundation for development. That includes improving the situation on the field, such as strengthening the offensive line, along with handling off-field details, right down to what he is eating in the team cafeteria.
“When you draft a quarterback first overall, every single person in your building, all the way down to the janitor, needs to speak the language of that quarterback. So if Fernando Mendoza has a certain way he likes things, great. Whatever you need to make sure that you are insulating him and communicating to him in the best language that gets the best out of him, all the way down to the cafeteria people.
“I need everybody in that room to have one goal, only one goal. It’s not winning games… I don’t care. What I care about is, is everybody in the building focused on development of Fernando Mendoza, because now that’s more important than when you win.”
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