Fernando Mendoza's adjustment to the NFL was always going to be a matter of getting the timing right. Before they selected the quarterback No. 1 overall in April's NFL draft, the Las Vegas Raiders made clear that they would be operating on a more drawn-out schedule than many other teams might pursue with a franchise signal-caller. The subsequent signing of Kirk Cousins and installation of the veteran as the first-string passer for training camp seemed to affirm the organization's cautious approach with its top selection. Yet Las Vegas' Aug. 13 preseason opener is sure to prompt questions of whether Mendoza has fine-tuned his internal clock to the rhythm of the pro game – and whether his development is on schedule. First-year coach Klint Kubiak confirmed the rookie passer would see "plenty of reps" against the Arizona Cardinals after Cousins opens with the other first-stringers. Any specifics beyond that, however, have been withheld by the coaching staff. Still, even with the limitations of the setup, the Raiders see significant value in throwing a fresh challenge at Mendoza. "There's a different level of preparation (at quarterback)," Kubiak said in a news conference. "I would say that (of) the young quarterbacks I've been around, (Mendoza) has the upper hand on them in that area. Now he has to go do it in a live game."
While the first exhibition tilt represents just one point of a much larger picture for the quarterback's evaluation and growth, here are three ways Mendoza can ace his first outing: Keep composure, particularly under pressure After Mendoza's astonishing star turn in leading Indiana to its first national title last season, the Raiders are well aware of what the Heisman Trophy winner is capable of when he's in sync with his surroundings. Kubiak and Co. don't need to see more highlight-reel back-shoulder throws to be reminded of their young quarterback's potential. Instead, much of the initial focus for Mendoza has centered on his response when things around him break down. Such scenarios seem inevitable this season for Las Vegas. Beyond the revamped offensive line likely needing time to come into its own in a new scheme, a largely unproven collection of skill-position players likely can't pick up the slack in the early going. So far, however, Mendoza appears to have exceeded any expectations for his resiliency. "I just see he's continuing to grow," Kubiak said. "It's been a really impressive training camp as far as how he's prepared, and then he goes out there to practice, and things don't happen on the drawing, on the paper, and the playbook exactly how they do on the field, so I think he's done a good job of adjusting." Kubiak wouldn't say whether Mendoza's run would overlap with the first-team offensive line or any other starters. Regardless of who he operates alongside, Mendoza will be tasked with avoiding the rampant sacks that repeatedly put the Raiders' offense in a deep hole last season. Work quickly – and bounce back from mistakes With the Cardinals defense unlikely to present any complex coverages or exotic blitzes in an exhibition setting, this might seem like a prime opportunity for Mendoza to work deeper into his progressions. It's certainly an area for growth after the Hoosiers' RPO-heavy system regularly allowed him to cut it loose to his primary read. But the window to solve complex problems in real time is fairly narrow in the NFL. Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan emphasized that the Raiders' timing-driven attack only leaves so much room for a passer to interpret what's unfolding in front of him. "Often times, if you think (as a quarterback), you're too late," Sullivan said in a news conference last week. "So it's important for all the quarterbacks to use these opportunities to test themselves and push themselves, because if you don't develop that skill, there's no way it's going to show up on Sunday." The Raiders' tolerance for Mendoza to experiment with the bounds of what he can execute from within the pocket might be greater than that of the viewing public. Still, both Kubiak and Sullivan emphasized a key point: any lapses in judgment or process shouldn't be repeated. Handle all the basics, including working under center Executing the fundamentals might seem like a minimal ask for a player who, in some form, will shape the future of the franchise for years to come. In Mendoza's case, however, a mastery of the core tasks of his position is necessary before he can push for more first-team reps. Sullivan cited Mendoza's enhanced comfort in operational elements, including the basics of getting plays in, as the rookie's greatest area of growth since the spring. Still, in trying to bring together so many new and disparate parts, the quarterback will have to lead the offense's effort to avoid self-inflicted errors – particularly pre-snap penalties. Mendoza's work under center is also sure to be heavily scrutinized after he operated almost exclusively out of the shotgun in college. That phase of his game is surely not a finished product, but orchestrating clean snap exchanges – whether from Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum or a backup – will be essential. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fernando Mendoza can ace his preseason debut by passing these 3 tests