Fernando Mendoza learning to play from under center for the first time in the NFL
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is adjusting from playing almost exclusively in the shotgun in college to taking snaps under center in the NFL, which requires added footwork and quicker initial steps.
- Mendoza emphasized the importance of securing the snap, maintaining timing, and improving decisiveness and reads while under center, with guidance from Raiders coaches Klint Kubiak, Andrew Janocko, and Mike Sullivan.
- Offensive lineman Trey Zuhn, who is snapping to Mendoza during rookie minicamp, is also adapting to more snaps at center and noted the benefit of extra reps under center since his college experience was mostly shotgun-based.
- The transition from shotgun to under center is a common challenge for rookie quarterbacks, as NFL offenses still expect quarterbacks to take some snaps from under center, making it a key focus for Mendoza’s development.
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