When will the Raiders make Fernando Mendoza the starting QB?
HENDERSON, Nev. --Fernando Mendoza's time is coming.Just not yet.
Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Monday there's no quarterback controversy in Las Vegas, as Kirk Cousins remains QB1 amid a four-game losing streak.
Kubiak's support for Cousins comes as no surprise. Cousins has been far from the Raiders' issues during this dreadful stretch. He can't help that the run game is nonexistent, the defense has allowed 35.8 points per game since Week 4, and the offensive line's production has taken a step back. On top of that, Cousins has played at a high level, ranking first in touchdown passes (16), despite the limitations he's dealt with on offense.
It's the right decision to stick with Cousins. But the clock on Cousins' time as a starter is ticking. Kubiak said part of the reason the Raiders signed Cousins was that the veteran signal-caller went 4-0 in his final four starts with the Atlanta Falcons last season. Simply put, winning matters.
Right now, he is doing the opposite in spite of playing surprisingly well. If the Raiders don't start racking up wins, starting on Sunday against the New York Jets (1 p.m. EST, Fox), they might have no choice but to evaluate the future by starting Mendoza.
"There's so much [that goes into] playing quarterback at a high level in this league, and [Cousins] displays so many of those attributes," Kubiak said. "And right now the highest level is winning football games and that ultimately falls on myself and the quarterback. So those are the things that we got to improve on."
Cousins has been everything the Raiders have asked for since he signed with the organization in the offseason. Among qualified passers, Cousins is third in passing yards (1,877), fourth in passing yards per game (269), 12th in passer rating (97.4), 17th in completion rate (62.6%) and tied for eighth in EPA per dropback (0.11).
Through Cousins' play, the Raiders have been a modest offense. They rank sixth in points per game (26.1) and 14th in total yards per game (343.7). Even in losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, when the Raiders went toe-to-toe with a pair of Super Bowl contenders, Cousins was a big reason why they had a fighting chance down the stretch. He threw for 300-plus yards in both games.
More importantly, Cousins has a firm understanding of Kubiak's offense, and that knowledge has been valuable for the rest of the team. Cousins has been able to put players in the right positions and make necessary adjustments at the line of scrimmage.
"When you have that experience in the NFL, that's big time," tight end Michael Mayer said. "Personally for me, being able to talk with him out there [about] how he sees this, how he sees that, where he wants me, that's huge.
"You want to be able to have that with your quarterback. If you don't, you're not always going to be on the same page."
Mayer added that Cousins' veteran leadership and ability to stay even-keeled in any situation have been beneficial. He said Cousins "calms everybody down."
However, Cousins' performance hasn't translated into wins, and the blueprint to stop him is out. The Los Angeles Rams used it to perfection in the first half of last week's 35-21 loss. Los Angeles pressured early and often. In the first half, the Rams blitzed Cousins on 40.9% of his dropbacks and recorded 10 pressures.
Cousins was sacked twice and pressured 19 times during that game, the most this season. He faced Cover 0 on four dropbacks, completing just one pass -- a 15-yard touchdown to running back Ashton Jeanty in the fourth quarter.
The New England Patriots followed a similar script in Week 5. Cousins was pressured on 48.4% of his dropbacks -- the highest rate of the season -- and was sacked three times.
This is where the Mendoza aspect factors in. With teams expected to continue pressuring Cousins at a high rate, taking advantage of his lack of mobility, Mendoza can at least extend plays with his legs if needed. Also, Mendoza has a stronger arm and has the potential to make downfield throws on a consistent basis.
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The Raiders have been pleased with Mendoza's development behind the scenes. Quarterback coach Mike Sullivan said Mendoza has improved his command of the offense and communication at the line of scrimmage.
When Mendoza made his debut during the Raiders' final possession against New England, Sullivan noticed the rookie looked more relaxed in the pocket compared to the preseason. Mendoza completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards and faced heavy pressure during his short time on the field. He was blitzed on 22.2% of his dropbacks.
"He just seemed a lot smoother, relaxed, and he trusted his training," Sullivan said. "He handled it well, and it was an important part of his development."
Mendoza has made strides, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Raiders should act hastily and start him, hoping he could help them climb out of the hole they put themselves in. Replacing Cousins with Mendoza wouldn't fix the other issues on the team that have been problematic during their losing streak.
Mendoza will have to play with an insufficient run game. Las Vegas is 31st in rushing yards per game (74.7) and rushing first downs (28). The Raiders' offensive line has struggled to create open lanes for Jeanty and rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. Las Vegas has averaged 1.17 rushing yards before first contact.
While the Raiders have struggled to run the ball, the defense has gotten run over in recent weeks. Since Week 4, Las Vegas has allowed 164 rushing yards per game. The Rams rushed for 199 yards last week.
When factoring in the Raiders' inability to run the ball consistently and stop opponents' rushing attack, they are unable to be balanced on offense since they have been frequently playing from behind.
That's something a quarterback change won't fix.
"We're not going to run the ball until we stop the run. Until you make the game competitive. You can't be in the fourth quarter chasing points and expect to be a good run team," Kubiak said. "...We got to be more of a well-rounded offensive football club."
Mendoza will eventually play, said Kubiak. The Raiders have a plan for Mendoza, but they do not have a timeline for when to turn to the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
At 3-4, Las Vegas is still in the hunt with Cousins under center, and a victory against the Jets would put the team back at .500. That's why the Raiders are not rushing to play Mendoza. An honest conversation must be had if Las Vegas loses to New York, but the best-case scenario is Mendoza starting after the bye week.
By that time, the Raiders would have gone through a tough stretch and have a clearer picture of where they stand from a competitive standpoint. If they ultimately find themselves out of playoff contention, it would make more sense to play Mendoza, especially with a favorable schedule at the back end of the season. Three of the final five games are at home. Plus, they face the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals, who currently have a combined 3-17 record.
It's smart to stick with Cousins. He hasn't done anything that should warrant an immediate change at starting quarterback.
Still, the Raiders are a rebuilding team and need to have the future in mind. If they cannot overcome their losing streak, they will need to consider making a change. Not because of Cousins' abilities, but because they need to look at Mendoza -- the future face of the franchise.
But Las Vegas is not at that point.
"We're prioritizing winning the next game," Kubiak said. "That's the most important thing to us, and we're developing [Mendoza] along the way, and that has not changed. That's been the plan all along."
