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Quick Hits: Klint Kubiak talks quarterback room and defensive strides following preseason win against Houston

Klint Kubiak was honest in his assessment of the Raiders following their 22-20 preseason win against the Houston Texans.

The Silver and Black spent the majority of the week in Texas, with a joint practice and preseason game against the Texans over the span of three days. Needless to say, it gave the Raiders head coach a great opportunity to extensively evaluate his roster.

"I'm so glad we got the practice against them," Kubiak said Friday morning via video conference. "That was really important for our team to spend that time in Houston and get some really good work against a different scheme and a really good coaching staff."

Here's a look at how Kubiak believed the week went, and what his team needs to do in order to improve.

On Fernando Mendoza's first NFL start:

"I was pleased with watching the tape. I really like what he did on third down. We were only 1-of-5 on third down in the first half. However, we did drop the ball twice, and we threw one short of the sticks on third and long. He had really good ball placement on the first third down of the game with a guy in his face. So, in the critical downs, I thought he was playing his best. There are things that we must get corrected that will be addressed ASAP."

On Aidan O'Connell, who threw for 166 yards and scored a rushing touchdown:

"I think we've said all offseason how much we value Aidan, and what a heck of a second half. He goes out and leads us to 19-point half and two 90-plus yard drives in the fourth quarter. He did it with his teammates, but he was a big part of it and was very happy for him."

On the possibility of carrying three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster:

"Those guys are going to make us make hard decisions, which is which is a great thing, that competition. We're talking through it. It's part of the discussion."

On the receiving corps:

"I learned a lot in that we have to get a lot better very fast. That we took a step backwards doesn't mean we can't go forward. But right now, we are trying to find someone that is accountable and can help us on Sunday."

On Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg, who combined for five total tackles:

"I love the depth. I love what they bring to the special teams aspect. Those are two guys I know that when called upon, are going to play solid football for us. Both guys have been practicing really well. Cody made a great interception in practice the other day, but those are two guys that we're really counting on this year."

On defensive play:

"Being plus one in the turnover margin, that's how you win games. So, with Rob [Leonard] taking it away, with our offense protecting the ball, that's how you win. You've obviously got to score, but you've got to you got to win the turnover battle. That was a huge part of the game."

On limiting penalties after committing nine for 83 yards:

"I know [those are] things that we coach them on every day, but we do have a lot of young guys that you can't take anything for granted. So, we put it on ourselves as coaches, number one, with how we educate them, what we're practicing, what we're drilling, and it's on us, as coaches, to get it fixed. I don't know if I've seen that many special teams penalties in a game, and you look at the guys that are committing these penalties and these are some younger guys, and it's not acceptable. We have to get it fixed defensively. We get a stop on third down, we taunt a guy and let them stay on the field. Unacceptable. One was a face mask defensively. It's two weeks in a row that, as a coaching staff, we've got substitution penalties. Unacceptable."

View the best photos from the Raiders' preseason Week 2 game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

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