Fernando Mendoza’s focus on minicamp with Las Vegas Raiders is under center

Fernando Mendoza prepares to deal with his first NFL season, and he is already putting in the work during the Las Vegas Raiders minicamp. Being the first overall pick doesn’t guarantee him the starting spot, so he is focusing on key details to adjust to the pros life.

At Indiana, Mendoza worked plenty at the shotgun formation, so he is focusing on taking reps under center. “I think it’s going to be that repetition under center, getting those quicker feet, and just you can always be faster and more efficient in your reads and decisiveness,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza has been highly praised by his work ethic and being a tape nerd. Listening to him proves that. He is eager to get better and he wants to do it fast. Mendoza is a winner, and he will do whatever it takes to get the results the Raiders want.

Mendoza isn’t the only one adjusting to play under center

The Raiders picked offensive lineman Trey Zuhn in the third-round, and he’s been snapping for Mendoza during the minicamp. Zuhn played for Texas A&M during his college days. While he’s not scheduled to be the starting center (that would be Tyler Linderbaum), it’s great for him to get some reps there as well.

“We didn’t do very much under center at A&M, either, so it’s been great getting those extra reps,” Zuhn said. It seems that, after years of cultural mess within the Raiders confines, now it’s time to get to work and get things right.

See also

Fernando Mendoza has a lot to learn alongside Klint Kubiak with Raiders

The Raiders have a mountain to climb ahead of them

Unfortunately for Mendoza and the Raiders, it won’t be easy to turn their fortunes around. The fact is that they compete in the AFC West, arguably the toughest division in the NFL.

The Raiders have to battle against the 2020s dynasty in the Chiefs, the AFC runner-ups in the Broncos, and a perennial contender like the Los Angeles Chargers. Hence, it’s a big task to turn things around in just one season. Still, that’s what the Raiders are aiming for.