Mendoza: Upgrade? Downgrade? or Wash?

[Courtsensetwo]

I am a big Rourke fan and where he may lack in physicality he more than makes up for with his heady approach to real time decisions and changes. Cannot teach that.

Mendoza comes in as one of if not the top QB transfer and he was enough to make TJ move to FL.

I am also more knowledgeable about Hoops than FB.

So

Do we get more, less, the same or just different?

 

[Seyton]

I think Mendoza is an upgrade because he's done it against better competition than Rourke, whom I really liked. I think this will show up in games against the big boys where, let's face it, Rourke did not play well.

 

[Hoosier Clarion]

I am a big Rourke fan and where he may lack in physicality he more than makes up for with his heady approach to real time decisions and changes. Cannot teach that.

Mendoza comes in as one of if not the top QB transfer and he was enough to make TJ move to FL.

I am also more knowledgeable about Hoops than FB.

So

Do we get more, less, the same or just different?

Measurably better. The IU OL will be better than KR enjoyed and head and shoulders better than Mendoza suffered on the left coast and still put SICK #'s not even considering a more positive rushing attack. 2 seasons of him will be headline making. The IU offense this season will be the consistency to the D.

 

[IUNorth]

I am a big Rourke fan and where he may lack in physicality he more than makes up for with his heady approach to real time decisions and changes. Cannot teach that.

Mendoza comes in as one of if not the top QB transfer and he was enough to make TJ move to FL.

I am also more knowledgeable about Hoops than FB.

So

Do we get more, less, the same or just different?

Upgrade over what Rourke was capable of doing last year, against elite teams. I think a healthy Rourke, is probably better than Mendoza. And Rourke got every last ounce of production he could have, while playing essentially on 1 leg.

But we've put ourselves in a position where the measuring stick now should be how we play against CFP level teams. And because IU is still "behind" in talent versus most teams in that category, having a quarter back that can extend plays with his legs, will be huge. Whoever our QB is, is not likely going to be able to stand tall in the pocket, against CFP level teams, and pick teams apart. I'm not sure ANY QB is able to do that any more. Quinn Ewers is a great example. He had arguably the best offensive line in the country in front of him, and he was seemingly healthy....but he isn't really capable of extending plays or throwing off script. And against the elite defenses he faced this year, that showed.

Rourke better passer. Rourke incredible leader. Mendoza better all around for where we want to progress to.

 

[mushroomgod_1]

I think Mendoza is an upgrade because he's done it against better competition than Rourke, whom I really liked. I think this will show up in games against the big boys where, let's face it, Rourke did not play well.

Just looking at their respective #s at Ohio & Cal, I think Mendoza's a slight upgrade....

There are certain things about Mendoza that do give me some pause....

--First, their schedule this year was very favorable. He did not face any defense that would rival that of OSU, Michigan, Oregon, Indiana......

--Second, 41 sacks in 11 games is a hell of a lot. I wonder how well he moves within the pocket to take that many sacks, even with a crappy OL, while noting that he has pretty good straight-ahead speed.

--Third, he was only a 2* guy coming out of HS.......I know, I know,,,rankings.....

So, here are some things that I like about him--

--From what I've read, he maintained a positive attitude throughout despite being sacked so often....and also, that does show some physical toughness and durability.....I look at a guy like Jack Tuttle in contrast.

--Only throwing 6 ints last year with so much pressure is pretty encouraging.

Coming in Rourke had a completion % a few points lower, and a good # of ints, at a lower level of competition.....also Rourke had more experience coming in....Mendoza's only started about 1 1/2 years. Cig was able to iron out his int problems. Given Cig's history of QB success, and what he did with Rourke, absent injury I don't expect a drop-off and hope for even more success.

 

[mushroomgod_1]

Upgrade over what Rourke was capable of doing last year, against elite teams. I think a healthy Rourke, is probably better than Mendoza. And Rourke got every last ounce of production he could have, while playing essentially on 1 leg.

But we've put ourselves in a position where the measuring stick now should be how we play against CFP level teams. And because IU is still "behind" in talent versus most teams in that category, having a quarter back that can extend plays with his legs, will be huge. Whoever our QB is, is not likely going to be able to stand tall in the pocket, against CFP level teams, and pick teams apart. I'm not sure ANY QB is able to do that any more. Quinn Ewers is a great example. He had arguably the best offensive line in the country in front of him, and he was seemingly healthy....but he isn't really capable of extending plays or throwing off script. And against the elite defenses he faced this year, that showed.

Rourke better passer. Rourke incredible leader. Mendoza better all around for where we want to progress to.

Your second paragraph is such a great point.....,,but Mendoza did take 41 sacks this year, so I'm concerned against top level Ds, although I get it that his OL sucked. ...........that NC game was a real eye opener about running QBs. Leonard, obviously, but Howard's planned and unplanned runs were huge for OSU. Both of them were just tough as hell. You just need that at the QB position in CF going forward, given the sophisticated blitz packages.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

He lost six games.

Why?

 

[IUNorth]

Your second paragraph is such a great point.....,,but Mendoza did take 41 sacks this year, so I'm concerned against top level Ds, although I get it that his OL sucked. ...........that NC game was a real eye opener about running QBs. Leonard, obviously, but Howard's planned and unplanned runs were huge for OSU. Both of them were just tough as hell. You just need that at the QB position in CF going forward, given the sophisticated blitz packages.

Definitely. And running quarterbacks doesn't have to mean Mike Vick, Lamar Jackson types. Just an ability to get 3rd downs with your legs.

The sack numbers definitely are a concern. Could mean he holds on to the ball too long. That became an issue with Rourke, too, when we played against the elite level defenses.

 

[vesuvius13]

I liked Rourke and what he did for IU; however, I think Mendoza will be an upgrade due to his agility. I hope our coaches can get him to see defense fast enough to avoid QB sacks and get the ball to receiver for 75% or more,

 

[kmathum]

I am a big Rourke fan and where he may lack in physicality he more than makes up for with his heady approach to real time decisions and changes. Cannot teach that.

Mendoza comes in as one of if not the top QB transfer and he was enough to make TJ move to FL.

I am also more knowledgeable about Hoops than FB.

So

Do we get more, less, the same or just different?

He’s going to have to go some to be as good as Rourke. Kurtis set a high standard as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Tammany Hall]

FYI

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

He lost six games.

Why?

You should probably take a look at the scores of the 6 losses. These were largely 1-5 point deficits.
I don’t think we can sit here and say “He lost six games.” I think looking at the game highlights, Mendoza did as much as he could do to keep them in games. They had a bad loss to Florida State on the road and got blown out by SMU. Other than that, they were competitive all season and their OL was pretty suspect.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

He’s going to have to go some to be as good as Rourke. Kurtis set a high standard as far as I'm concerned.

Rourke’s 2 issues (which are understandable seeing that he was playing on a bad ACL) were:

1. Almost no mobility. Sudfeld-like. You watch these other games whether it was Notre Dame or Ohio State or half a dozen other teams and they all had quarterbacks that could run out of trouble. Rourke couldn’t do that.

2. I don’t think I ever saw him throw a ball away. I’m sure there were some but, man, it seemed like every time he got under pressure. He just kind of ducked down and got sacked. We can point to the offensive line, but in many of these other games, there were quarterbacks that were pressured, but they were able to get out on the run and throw the ball or escape trouble and move down field with her legs.

 

[Irregulars]

He’s going to have to go some to be as good as Rourke. Kurtis set a high standard as far as I'm concerned.

Could not agree more...