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Fernando Mendoza

Memnon said:
Does CIS think that, or does the Coaching staff think that?

Are the fans the ones bringing in portal players every year, or are the Coaches?
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Your guess is as good as mine. But my take is that they knew their mulligan class was mostly a last minute patch work, so the 2023 class was the first true foundational layer and still too young overall to run with in 2024, which is why they took so many portal players last off season.

Going into this offseason, they're taking fewer guys, with the exception of DB, which is still in total rebuild mode. And the ones they're taking are higher end. So I believe that yes, the coaching staff believes they have most of the pieces in place now.

Starters from roster:
1-2 WR
2 RBs
4 of 5 OL
1 HB/FB/TE
1-3 DT
2 DE
2-3 LB

Portal Needs
DBs
QB
1-2 WR
1 DT
1 TE but only because our expected starter hit the portal

That's a much more balanced roster management than previously.

And I expect we'll see an even more dramatic reduction in incoming portalers a year from now. Shouldn't "need" a QB, WRs or DBs. Probably will still need 1-2 DTs and a TE, maybe an LB and replacing transfers out. But the foundation is in place now.
 
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9oh4Cane said:
Not sure what Beck has shown this year that makes him clearly better than Mendoza, and let’s not forget he’s surrounded by a top 3 roster in CFB.

With the injury concern and higher price tag on Beck, I think Mendoza would make more sense.
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Beck does nothing for me, he panics, he is inaccurate and unreliable. Receivers walk off the field not sure if he was throwing to them or the other receiver near them, and that happens often.

The clearest way I could say it is I hope Beck goes to the NFL and the Jets draft him in round 1.
 
Jedi Master Cane said:
I still think there's a name none of us are discussing or considering who could end up being our starting QB next year.

You guys need to keep in mind this isn't the only window to acquire talent prior to the 2025 season. A lot can happen between now and next August/September.

Just because certain people have committed, stated they are return to their teams, etc etc doesn't mean things can't change in a major way in the upcoming months. We've already seen these deals aren't 100% binding in some instances. Let it play out because the fact of the matter is there isn't an option available RIGHT NOW that merits being in a hurry to make a QB acquisition.
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I agree to a degree.

I definitely agree that our starter next year is likely not on roster at the moment.

I’m just seeing the potential non transfer options aren’t all that great either. And those that might have that potential have little to zero P4 experience.

I’m open to rolling the dice with a qb that hasn’t played much. But I know a lot aren’t.
 
grover said:
That’s a heck of a step down from 1 to 2.
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@TheOriginalCane I noticed you disagreed with my post that Mendoza is a heck of a step down from Mateer. I'm genuinely interested in your opinion. What I see is a guy with little mobility, an average arm, and while he has plus processing, it's not elite. I see a game manager. What am I missing?
 
9oh4Cane said:
Not sure what Beck has shown this year that makes him clearly better than Mendoza, and let’s not forget he’s surrounded by a top 3 roster in CFB.

With the injury concern and higher price tag on Beck, I think Mendoza would make more sense.
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Think it's tough to make a comparison between Mendoza and Beck & Ewers. There are valid concerns about the latter two, but those concerns mostly stem from watching them **** the bed against very good P2 teams in game of consequence. Mendoza simply hasn't played in games like that. He played poorly against Oregon last year, but it's a bit unfair to judge him harshly on that as Cal was completely overmatched.

Beck's injury concerns me a lot. If he needs Tommy John surgery he should be good to go in the summer, but that means he's misses spring practice and it's an unknown whether he'll be the same QB after the surgery. All that said, I'll be happy if we took either of the 3 and rank them:

1. Ewers​
2. Mendoza​
3. Beck (significant injury)​

I thought Ewers played a nice game last night. The miss on 4th down sucked, and it highlighted the concern that he doesn't have it when the chips are down. However 2 possessions later when Texas sealed the game he made some nice clutch plays:
  • Threw perfect backshoulder throw from his own goal line to draw a PI
  • Didn't force a throw on 2nd & 9 when he was pressured and no one was open and got back to the LOS
  • Worked through his progressions and took his checkdown to convert on 3rd & 9
Nothing spectacular, but he didn't need to be spectacular up 2 scores in the 4th. The 3rd down conversion essentially sealed the game. I have trouble accepting that we're somehow screwed if Ewers is our QB next year. He is flawed but he's also been the starting QB on a playoff team 2 years running, and won a playoff game last night.

I would take Nico over all of them if he's over Heupel treating him like a pinata.
 
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Calinative said:
View attachment 314690

What would this tell me? Don't go for any of the guys in the 3 Columns on the right - Ewers, Bailey, Drones.

Mendoza Is the least turnover prone. and is just overall solid/good. Has respectable grades passing and running by PFF (77.6 and 66.3 respectively). Was under a crap load of pressure due to a poor OL (32% of dropbacks). Doesn't make enough big plays/TDs however. And His P2S ratio is very bad. Hopefully that is mostly a symptom of having a bad OL, and that coming here would fix the issue. However sacks themselves are as much or more of a QB stats as they are an OLine stat. And Mendoza's 8.7% Sack% is Justin Fields level bad. Really imo the question is, will improving Mendozas weapons and protection significantly elevate his game? Given that he is clearly a smart guys and careful with the football, if he has that play making ability, but it just needs to be unlocked/let loose, then he'd be a great fit.

If not, just try to lure Robertson/Hoover into portal for a starter... or maybe Vasko/Veltcamp if you want someone to compete with Emory/Nickel. Veltcamp btw while he he has some red above in the INT mark and Fumble grade, he does actually have a good Turnover worthy play rate mark.... Vasko just has the highest big play rate among these guys and in the nation. Dudes Depth of target is the only one above 9, and he's not even holding the ball very long or turning the ball over at a very bad rate or anything. And it looks like he can run decently well, and avoids sacks with a low P2S rate... Very interesting to me.
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Money Ball.
 
flips said:
Think it's tough to make a comparison between Mendoza and Beck & Ewers. There are valid concerns about the latter two, but those concerns mostly stem from watching them **** the bed against very good P2 teams in game of consequence. Mendoza simply hasn't played in games like that. He played poorly against Oregon last year, but it's a bit unfair to judge him harshly on that as Cal was completely overmatched.

Beck's injury concerns me a lot. If he needs Tommy John surgery he should be good to go in the summer, but that means he's misses spring practice and it's an unknown whether he'll be the same QB after the surgery. All that said, I'll be happy if we took either of the 3 and rank them:

1. Ewers​
2. Mendoza​
3. Beck (significant injury)​

I thought Ewers played a nice game last night. The miss on 4th down sucked, and it highlighted the concern that he doesn't have it when the chips are down. However 2 possessions later when Texas sealed the game he made some nice clutch plays:
  • Threw perfect backshoulder throw from his own goal line to draw a PI
  • Didn't force a throw on 2nd & 9 when he was pressured and no one was open and got back to the LOS
  • Worked through his progressions and took his checkdown to convert on 3rd & 9
Nothing spectacular, but he didn't need to be spectacular up 2 scores in the 4th. The 3rd down conversion essentially sealed the game. I have trouble accepting that we're somehow screwed if Ewers is our QB next year. He is flawed but he's also been the starting QB on a playoff team 2 years running, and won a playoff game last night.

I would take Nico over all of them if he's over Heupel treating him like a pinata.
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Lost me with Nico. Kid has heart but can't throw an accurate ball outside of 7 on 7.
 
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grover said:
Your guess is as good as mine. But my take is that they knew their mulligan class was mostly a last minute patch work, so the 2023 class was the first true foundational layer and still too young overall to run with in 2024, which is why they took so many portal players last off season.

Going into this offseason, they're taking fewer guys, with the exception of DB, which is still in total rebuild mode. And the ones they're taking are higher end. So I believe that yes, the coaching staff believes they have most of the pieces in place now.

Starters from roster:
1-2 WR
2 RBs
4 of 5 OL
1 HB/FB/TE
1-3 DT
2 DE
2-3 LB

Portal Needs
DBs
QB
1-2 WR
1 DT
1 TE but only because our expected starter hit the portal

That's a much more balanced roster management than previously.

And I expect we'll see an even more dramatic reduction in incoming portalers a year from now. Shouldn't "need" a QB, WRs or DBs. Probably will still need 1-2 DTs and a TE, maybe an LB and replacing transfers out. But the foundation is in place now.
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How's that 2023 class turning out?
 
Gables Cane said:
It’s not that most fans don’t think Mendoza is good. He is a good college QB. A good college QB can win a National Championship at Georgia given the talent on Georgia’s roster and their ability to play complimentary football.

Miami needs great QB play to compete for a National Championship until shown otherwise.
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Exactly. I am glad someone said it. I was about to post the same thing.

UGA doesn't need a game changer at QB. They play a different style than us. Slower game, less possessions. They want someone who doesn't turn it over or makes mistakes. They can rely on D and running game. That's not us.

Mendoza seems like a great kid. I'm a Columbus grad myself. I like the idea of him here too. It'd be a great story. But, honestly, if he wasn't a Miami kid from a legacy school, no one would be impressed with him. What he do against us besides throw a bunch of screens that went for huge gains? He blew a huge lead and couldn't move the ball at all late. And he has limited mobility.
 
AlexCane said:
Exactly. I am glad someone said it. I was about to post the same thing.

UGA doesn't need a game changer at QB. They play a different style than us. Slower game, less possessions. They want someone who doesn't turn it over or makes mistakes. They can rely on D and running game. That's not us.

Mendoza seems like a great kid. I'm a Columbus grad myself. I like the idea of him here too. It'd be a great story. But, honestly, if he wasn't a Miami kid from a legacy school, no one would be impressed with him. What he do against us besides throw a bunch of screens that went for huge gains? He blew a huge lead and couldn't move the ball at all late. And he has limited mobility.
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I mean isn't that what Emory does throw a bunch of screens and 5 yard passes
 
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****ting on Fernando Mendoza while *** licking every **** backup QB we have had hold a clipboard in the last 15 + years.

Coming off our best/funniest regular season in 20 years.

****ting on Cristobal, who delivered said season, when we had Shannon, Golden, and Manny Diaz stink up the sideline for years on end.

And having a great portal so far.

Man, CiS is a **** of a place.
 
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Odysseus said:
I mean isn't that what Emory does throw a bunch of screens and 5 yard passes
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Given the option of Mendoza vs. Emory, yeah I'd take Mendoza because he has a proven track record/history of actually winning games whereas Emory played 2 or 3 games last season. But where does that put us? Both are game managers. The question is, can we do better than Mendoza? I think so. Obviously the staff thinks so too because it appears our interest is mild or at least wait and see.

I mean, we had spectacular QB play this year and lost 2 games. Where would average QB play this year put us? 7-5? I think Mendoza or Emory put us at 7, 8 wins next year. Again, question is, is there someone that can put us at 9,10+?
 
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