Is every article about Mendoza luke warm?

[nobody]

Interpreting offseason news reports is a bit of an art.  I call it "damning with faint praise season"  No one ever says anyone sucks.  But there's levels to it.  If you're an established vet or rookie with high expectations, the reports tend to be more mellow unless they're absolutely cooking.  If it's a player that is on the roster bubble, coaches like to blow a ton of smoke about them.

So what you need to look for is a steady drum beat of good information.  In Mendoza's case it seems to be a steady drum beat of luke warm information and that says to me he's on a JAG trajectory.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/klint-kubiak-on-fernando-mendoza-i-dont-expect-him-to-be-perfect-right-now

Quote

 

According to Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mendoza put together a bounce-back performance on Monday after an uneven Sunday. Monday was also the Raiders’ first practice in pads.

After the session, head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters that Mendoza will continue to face adversity as camp continues. But Kubiak is encouraged by what he’s seen from Mendoza overall.

“There’s 60-to-80 plays in a game, and there’s going to be ups and downs,” Kubiak said in his Monday press conference. “What quarterback can get the rest of the other 10 players playing at their best? So, that’s what we’re looking for.

 

I'd much rather read that he's tearing it up.

https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/las-vegas-raiders/maxx-crosby-blunt-message-fernando-mendoza/

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“He’s taking total command of the offense,“ Nailor told reporters. “It’s not like he’s going out there for the first time. He’s under control. He’s speaking very loudly and very clearly so everybody can hear the call. Those are the things you need in a quarterback in the huddle.

“He’s just growing each and every day, and seeing that progress from the first day he got here to now, his total command of the offense, the playbook, and just being himself and playing ball.”

 

He talks loud and clear in the huddle.  That's cool I guess.

https://boltbeat.com/chargers-will-need-to-deal-with-fernando-mendoza-sooner-than-you-might-think

Quote

"The quarterback’s increased comfort level was visible during the opening days of training camp. He has taken more control of the offense, looked more fluid in his footwork and appeared to be getting through his reads more easily than in offseason practices. That was confirmed by offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, who said Mendoza has grown the most in his 'command of the offense' since arriving in Las Vegas." Vic Tafur, The Athletic

Recurring theme seems to be he has more command of the offense, but what concerns me about the way it's always written is how it's compared to the mini-camps where it appears he didn't know anything about the offense.  Couple that with the Raiders already naming Cousins the starter and the Raiders clearly aren't seeing a lot from Mendoza.

I did see some fan poll saying he'd be a top 10 QB by like week 6 or some nonsense.

In an environment where everyone likes to glaze everything athletes do, it's surprising to me that there isn't much glazing going on so far.

 

[jrokh]

doesn't matter till he gets in real games. Everything else is just noise...

[Super Cubs]

Really no need to throw him to the wolves right away. Plus I think the Raiders are in tank mode for Jeremiah Smith.

[gcmmidwest]

Playing for the raiders is like riding a motorcycle without a helmet splitting lanes in Los Angeles