After a 3-0 start, the Las Vegas Raiders have dropped four consecutive games.
And now "everything" is on the table to get back on track, according to first-year head coach Klint Kubiak – including a potential change at quarterback.
Veteran Kirk Cousins has started all seven games this season, but Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, could find himself starting sooner rather than later.
"I think at this point, we’re thinking about everything," Kubiak told reporters, via Vegas Sports Today, after the Raiders lost to the Los Angeles Rams 35-21 on Sunday, Oct. 25. "How to fix our problems, how to fix our issues in the red zone, in the third quarter. Personnel, scheme, we’ve got to talk about all of it."
Will Fernando Mendoza replace Kirk Cousins?
Cousins was 26-of-44 passing
with 295 yards and two touchdowns through the air on Sunday. But the issue for the Raiders' offense against the Rams, and all season, has been the lack of run-game production. Las Vegas rushed 17 times for 48 yards (2.8 yards per carry) and entered Week 7 30th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (79.2).
Mendoza made his regular-season debut during a Week 4 road loss to the New England Patriots on Oct. 11. He finished 6-for-8 passing for 48 yards as the Patriots played prevent defense down the stretch with the game's outcome already decided.
"It wasn’t a great experience because of the overall outcome, and I wanted to do my part any way that I could help the team. I was called upon, and I really appreciate all my teammates, especially some of the starters, still having the fight to win and a fighting effort," Mendoza told reporters after that game. "So I really appreciate all of those guys for bringing their best effort for that last drive."
Cousins signed with the Raiders on what is essentially a one-year deal, with the organization's long-term vision obviously including turning the quarterback keys over to Mendoza. Cousins said nothing has changed with his mentality since joining the team in April.
"If I'm not the best option, I don't want to be out there either," Cousins told reporters, via Vegas Sports Today. "I want our football team to have the best chance to win games.
"I feel that Fernando has done a great job. He has a bright future ahead. I'm going to try and go out there and play as well as I possibly can and try and win and give him a good example to learn from."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Raiders open door for Fernando Mendoza to replace Kirk Cousins as quarterback
