3 things Raiders fans need to watch in preseason game with Texans
HOUSTON — The Raiders collected plenty of info about themselves during their joint practice against the Texans on Tuesday.Some of it encouraging.Some of it uncomfortable.All of it was valuable.Houston not only provided a great measuring stick to gauge progress and expose some areas that still need work, but also a great setting to get another glimpse at a rookie quarterback whose development continues to be one of the most intriguing stories of training camp.Another opportunity to learn arrives Thursday night when the Raiders and Texans resume their work against one another.
This time in each teams second preseason game.Here are three things to focus on when the Raiders face the Texans.The Raiders came to Houston wanting to challenge Mendoza, and the Texans more than obliged.After an encouraging NFL debut against Arizona, the first overall pick was given his most demanding assignment yet Tuesday: extended work with the first-team offense against one of the NFL’s best defenses.It wasn’t always pretty.Nor should anyone have expected it to be.The Texans pressured him, disguised coverages and forced him to process things faster than he has at virtually any point since becoming a Raider.
Mendoza made some plays and made some mistakes, including a goal-line interception that got returned 99 yards for a touchdown.Now comes the interesting part: the response.Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders preseason opener against Arizona, but the numbers were almost secondary to the poise, processing and command he displayed.He gets a chance on Thursday to show if those traits hold up after Houston gave him his first real NFL punch in the mouth.The Raiders aren’t looking for perfection.They’re looking for progress.Tuesday was an eye-opener for this group.Houston’s defensive front overwhelmed the Raiders far too often, putting heat and pressure on both Kirk Cousins and Mendoza and making life difficult for an offense trying to esta...