Are we screwed with Cousins.

[MrPurplenGold]

Kirk cousins is 4 - 24 vs teams with a winning record for a whopping winning percentage of. 167. Has he played great against good teams and lost, sure. Has he played bad against bad teams and won, I'm sure he has. Cousins has all the talent in the world, but for whatever reason shrinks when it matters the most. He may do well against the blitz, but he is terrible at dealing with pressure on and off the field. There is a distinct difference between being blitzed and being pressured. At some point you are what your record says you are regardless of other statistical categories.

[Pondering Her Percy]

I'm not saying Cousins is god. I'm not saying he's an MVP. I'm not saying that he doesnt make mistakes. But you have to try and put words in my mouth and continue to fight this every time I post about Cousins. I could say that Cousins had 20 completions Monday night and you would sit here and argue saying he had 19 because some stat that you spent 15 minutes finding disregards one of the completions he had.

And then you go on to make one excuse after another for the guy.

Agree that Cousins will suck less when he is throwing the ball less. Agree that the OC wasn't good and the Oline isn't good. I will not pretend that the QB isn't a big part of the problem though.

I actually expect improvements over the next few weeks, and then a big flop in the first round of the playoffs. People will ignore that it was against the Dolphins coming off of an emotional win, Lions and the Bears (who will have nothing to play for) second stringers, and come up with some excuse for the offense sucking in the playoffs that do not involve the QB. Book it.

lol there you go again. Just like the Packers game. You make sure you mention "coming off an emotional win" instead of just saying the Dolphins. With the Packers you said, "with a banged up secondary". It's like you try to cover yourself if he goes in and blows out the Dolphins or the Packers. You say I make excuses for Cousins? That's you making excuses before he wins a game. There's always a reason behind it all. When a halfway decent team comes along, you have to make an excuse as to "why he might beat them". So if he does, it's no big deal. I'm sure if he even beat a legit team like the Patriots you would say "Well the Pats arent that strong this year and they lost to the lions and titans so it's not that big of a win". Give me a break dude. You are simply on a mission to nitpick any little thing you can, make every excuse you can and find every bogus stat you can to say Kirk Cousins isnt a good QB. It's quite funny how obvious it's starting to get. The "coming off an emotional win" was a dead giveaway

[StumpHunter]

And then you go on to make one excuse after another for the guy.

Agree that Cousins will suck less when he is throwing the ball less. Agree that the OC wasn't good and the Oline isn't good. I will not pretend that the QB isn't a big part of the problem though.

I actually expect improvements over the next few weeks, and then a big flop in the first round of the playoffs. People will ignore that it was against the Dolphins coming off of an emotional win, Lions and the Bears (who will have nothing to play for) second stringers, and come up with some excuse for the offense sucking in the playoffs that do not involve the QB. Book it.

lol there you go again. Just like the Packers game. You make sure you mention "coming off an emotional win" instead of just saying the Dolphins. With the Packers you said, "with a banged up secondary". It's like you try to cover yourself if he goes in and blows out the Dolphins or the Packers. You say I make excuses for Cousins? That's you making excuses before he wins a game. There's always a reason behind it all. When a halfway decent team comes along, you have to make an excuse as to "why he might beat them". So if he does, it's no big deal. I'm sure if he even beat a legit team like the Patriots you would say "Well the Pats arent that strong this year and they lost to the lions and titans so it's not that big of a win". Give me a break dude. You are simply on a mission to nitpick any little thing you can, make every excuse you can and find every bogus stat you can to say Kirk Cousins isnt a good QB. It's quite funny how obvious it's starting to get. The "coming off an emotional win" was a dead giveaway

Funny, I didn't make these "excuses" before the Pats and Hawks games. It is almost like I am of the opinion that Cousins is perfectly capable of beating up on bad teams, but struggles against good ones. Hmmm....

I am less confident of the Miami game as I was the Packer game. Their defense isn't bad and they are 7-6 despite Osweiler playing QB for them for a number of weeks.

[halfgiz]

Looks like a pretty wide open AT on that backwards pass to Murray.

image.jpeg (64.56 KiB) Viewed 629 times

[PurpleKoolaid]

I really wish Spielman knew something about QBs. He cant draft them, and certainly cant buy them. Cousins is a below average QB IMO. Braddford, Ponder, etc

[PurpleMustReign]

Looks like a pretty wide open AT on that backwards pass to Murray.


image.jpeg

That doesn't count. It helps prove the wrong point.

[S197]

Cousins is an above average QB that isn't elite enough to elevate an offense on his own. This is why I said before the season started the draft was botched with the neglect of the O-line. It was a baffling mistake that should cost Spielman and maybe Zimmer their jobs. And it will because Rick's job is tied to Cousins success. You simply can't make such a huge decision and not perform. If they dick around with the line again this offseason grabbing a bunch of 5th/6th round guards and journeymen, heads will roll.

It's just a shame an entire season was wasted on a mistake that frankly every armchair GM in the room could see from a mile away. Sparano and Easton were obviously unfortunate and unforeseen losses but they never would have crippled the offense like it is if Rick had a better contingency plan. It makes no sense to have so much secondary depth and nothing on the O-line. We went the entire offseason with Cornelius Edison running with the 1s for crying out loud. Don't even get me started on Remmers...

[Pondering Her Percy]

lol there you go again. Just like the Packers game. You make sure you mention "coming off an emotional win" instead of just saying the Dolphins. With the Packers you said, "with a banged up secondary". It's like you try to cover yourself if he goes in and blows out the Dolphins or the Packers. You say I make excuses for Cousins? That's you making excuses before he wins a game. There's always a reason behind it all. When a halfway decent team comes along, you have to make an excuse as to "why he might beat them". So if he does, it's no big deal. I'm sure if he even beat a legit team like the Patriots you would say "Well the Pats arent that strong this year and they lost to the lions and titans so it's not that big of a win". Give me a break dude. You are simply on a mission to nitpick any little thing you can, make every excuse you can and find every bogus stat you can to say Kirk Cousins isnt a good QB. It's quite funny how obvious it's starting to get. The "coming off an emotional win" was a dead giveaway

Funny, I didn't make these "excuses" before the Pats and Hawks games. It is almost like I am of the opinion that Cousins is perfectly capable of beating up on bad teams, but struggles against good ones. Hmmm....

I am less confident of the Miami game as I was the Packer game. Their defense isn't bad and they are 7-6 despite Osweiler playing QB for them for a number of weeks.

Yeah you didn’t but like I said, if we won, you would. It’s a guarantee. And Miami isn’t a “bad team”. They are a decent team with a winning record. So in turn, you’re covering your a** if we win. You’re making an excuse as to “why he might win” because they are “coming off an emotional win”. Whether he beats a bad team or a good team, there’s always going to be an excuse with you as to why he won. Well this guy was hurt, their secondary is banged up, theyre coming off an emotional win, they aren’t as strong as they were in the past, their coach does yoga, who knows. But I just find it funny that you have to say things like that before certain games. Just say the team. We don’t need the excuse. It’s ok for you to say cousins played well. You won’t die from it

[StumpHunter]

Funny, I didn't make these "excuses" before the Pats and Hawks games. It is almost like I am of the opinion that Cousins is perfectly capable of beating up on bad teams, but struggles against good ones. Hmmm....

I am less confident of the Miami game as I was the Packer game. Their defense isn't bad and they are 7-6 despite Osweiler playing QB for them for a number of weeks.

Yeah you didn’t but like I said, if we won, you would. It’s a guarantee. And Miami isn’t a “bad team”. They are a decent team with a winning record. So in turn, you’re covering your a** if we win. You’re making an excuse as to “why he might win” because they are “coming off an emotional win”. Whether he beats a bad team or a good team, there’s always going to be an excuse with you as to why he won. Well this guy was hurt, their secondary is banged up, theyre coming off an emotional win, they aren’t as strong as they were in the past, their coach does yoga, who knows. But I just find it funny that you have to say things like that before certain games. Just say the team. We don’t need the excuse. It’s ok for you to say cousins played well. You won’t die from it

It isn't an excuse, it is the reason I felt Cousins would do well. Being down your two best players in the secondary and your two best D-linemen will hurt a defense. If the Vikings played without Rhodes, Smith, Hunter and Joseph, and gave up a lot of points to the Dolphins, would you be concerned about the defense, or would you think that maybe they struggled because 4 important starters were out?

The Dolphins might end up 9-7 at the end of the season, above average in a division with 4 gimme wins. They beat the Bears and the Pats so they can be a good team, but they also are as bad offensively as we are, and unlike what I said above, upon further review their defense is pretty bad. They are also likely without their best starting corner Sunday. It is a game I think Cousins is perfectly capable of winning and playing well in. If he doesn't, even you will have to admit his signing was a mistake, right? I know taking a 13-3 team to a team that will barely make into the playoffs with 8-9 wins hasn't been enough to sway you, but losing Sunday has to, right?

[Pondering Her Percy]

It isn't an excuse, it is the reason I felt Cousins would do well.

Exactly my point. First it was "they were coming off an emotional win", now it's their secondary and DL. There's always something is my point.

It is a game I think Cousins is perfectly capable of winning and playing well in. If he doesn't, even you will have to admit his signing was a mistake, right? I know taking a 13-3 team to a team that will barely make into the playoffs with 8-9 wins hasn't been enough to sway you, but losing Sunday has to, right?

If you think Cousins is solely the reason we went from a "13-3 team to a team that will barely make the playoffs", then I dont know what to tell you but that's just you always looking at the surface of things and not looking into what was causing a lot of this. Offense was playing great early in the year, defense crapped the bed, defense came on and offense crapped the bed and in the end, Flip gets fired because he was a poor OC. I watched Zim's press conference from yesterday. He was asked how Stefanski will help Cousins. He responded with, "I'm trying to think of the best way to say this but I think Kevin will be more open to taking suggestions from Kirk". So clearly there was a disconnect there with Cousins and Flip. Flip was set in his own ways. Similar to how Norv Turner was. They werent willing to adjust. And that became more and more apparent against Seattle when Kirk went to Flip early in the game talking about them dropping 9 and doubling guys and Flip still pushed the pass instead of establishing a run game early to get Seattle out of that scheme. Again, I never once said Cousins doesnt make mistakes but our 6-6-1 record is far from Kirk Cousins fault IMO. I think you will see more of a change than some think come Sunday vs Miami. But all you will see is that they are coming off an emotional win and are banged up.

Making the playoffs is making the playoffs. I dont care how we did it. As long as we do it. This is Cousins first year with us and our OC was just fired. You act like we are doomed for the next 3 years. Sorry but that's way too early to judge if you ask me. Dont worry, if Cousins fails, I have no problem admitting it. I've done it with plenty of other players and coaches over the years. But I'm not throwing the towel in 13 games into his first season here when we are well into the playoff hunt.

[StumpHunter]

It isn't an excuse, it is the reason I felt Cousins would do well.

Exactly my point. First it was "they were coming off an emotional win", now it's their secondary and DL. There's always something is my point.

It is a game I think Cousins is perfectly capable of winning and playing well in. If he doesn't, even you will have to admit his signing was a mistake, right? I know taking a 13-3 team to a team that will barely make into the playoffs with 8-9 wins hasn't been enough to sway you, but losing Sunday has to, right?

If you think Cousins is solely the reason we went from a "13-3 team to a team that will barely make the playoffs", then I dont know what to tell you but that's just you always looking at the surface of things and not looking into what was causing a lot of this. Offense was playing great early in the year, defense crapped the bed, defense came on and offense crapped the bed and in the end, Flip gets fired because he was a poor OC. I watched Zim's press conference from yesterday. He was asked how Stefanski will help Cousins. He responded with, "I'm trying to think of the best way to say this but I think Kevin will be more open to taking suggestions from Kirk". So clearly there was a disconnect there with Cousins and Flip. Flip was set in his own ways. Similar to how Norv Turner was. They werent willing to adjust. And that became more and more apparent against Seattle when Kirk went to Flip early in the game talking about them dropping 9 and doubling guys and Flip still pushed the pass instead of establishing a run game early to get Seattle out of that scheme. Again, I never once said Cousins doesnt make mistakes but our 6-6-1 record is far from Kirk Cousins fault IMO. I think you will see more of a change than some think come Sunday vs Miami. But all you will see is that they are coming off an emotional win and are banged up.

Making the playoffs is making the playoffs. I dont care how we did it. As long as we do it. This is Cousins first year with us and our OC was just fired. You act like we are doomed for the next 3 years. Sorry but that's way too early to judge if you ask me. Dont worry, if Cousins fails, I have no problem admitting it. I've done it with plenty of other players and coaches over the years. But I'm not throwing the towel in 13 games into his first season here when we are well into the playoff hunt.

I was talking about the Packer game, not the Dolphins with the secondary and D-line. Emotional wins can have big affects on a team and I am not the only one talking about this.

You don't think the Minneapolis Miracle didn't have an affect on how the Vikes played in the NFCCG? It would have been nice if the QB hadn't tried to give the game away before he won it on a fluke pass. Who knows what would have happened in that game if the Vikes hadn't already won their SB the week before.

I don't think Cousins is the only reason they aren't 13-3, I do think he is a contributing factor, which is enough for me to say he is a bust so far.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Exactly my point. First it was "they were coming off an emotional win", now it's their secondary and DL. There's always something is my point.




If you think Cousins is solely the reason we went from a "13-3 team to a team that will barely make the playoffs", then I dont know what to tell you but that's just you always looking at the surface of things and not looking into what was causing a lot of this. Offense was playing great early in the year, defense crapped the bed, defense came on and offense crapped the bed and in the end, Flip gets fired because he was a poor OC. I watched Zim's press conference from yesterday. He was asked how Stefanski will help Cousins. He responded with, "I'm trying to think of the best way to say this but I think Kevin will be more open to taking suggestions from Kirk". So clearly there was a disconnect there with Cousins and Flip. Flip was set in his own ways. Similar to how Norv Turner was. They werent willing to adjust. And that became more and more apparent against Seattle when Kirk went to Flip early in the game talking about them dropping 9 and doubling guys and Flip still pushed the pass instead of establishing a run game early to get Seattle out of that scheme. Again, I never once said Cousins doesnt make mistakes but our 6-6-1 record is far from Kirk Cousins fault IMO. I think you will see more of a change than some think come Sunday vs Miami. But all you will see is that they are coming off an emotional win and are banged up.

Making the playoffs is making the playoffs. I dont care how we did it. As long as we do it. This is Cousins first year with us and our OC was just fired. You act like we are doomed for the next 3 years. Sorry but that's way too early to judge if you ask me. Dont worry, if Cousins fails, I have no problem admitting it. I've done it with plenty of other players and coaches over the years. But I'm not throwing the towel in 13 games into his first season here when we are well into the playoff hunt.

I was talking about the Packer game, not the Dolphins with the secondary and D-line. Emotional wins can have big affects on a team and I am not the only one talking about this.

You don't think the Minneapolis Miracle didn't have an affect on how the Vikes played in the NFCCG? It would have been nice if the QB hadn't tried to give the game away before he won it on a fluke pass. Who knows what would have happened in that game if the Vikes hadn't already won their SB the week before.

I don't think Cousins is the only reason they aren't 13-3, I do think he is a contributing factor, which is enough for me to say he is a bust so far.

As for the emotional win, sure its a possibility but also doesnt effect all teams the same. As for Cousins, agree to disagree

[Cliff]

Looks like a pretty wide open AT on that backwards pass to Murray.

I'd like to see the entire field there. If there's a defender sitting in zone (circled below) given the way AT is running that could be an INT. Even a pick 6.

cousins.jpg (57.17 KiB) Viewed 555 times

[vikeinmontana]

Looks like a pretty wide open AT on that backwards pass to Murray.

I'd like to see the entire field there. If there's a defender sitting in zone (circled below) given the way AT is running that could be an INT. Even a pick 6. cousins.jpg

I thought the same. My eyes are bad but it appears there's at least 1, maybe 2 defenders missing in that pic.

It's all basically moot anyway. Those that are unhappy with Cousins are going to believe he's missing wide open receivers regardless of the other 100 things that go on during every single snap.

He's part of our problem as of late. He's far from our only problem.

[Dames]

I'd like to see the entire field there. If there's a defender sitting in zone (circled below) given the way AT is running that could be an INT. Even a pick 6.

From the All 22 when he initially drops back Thielen is very covered:


A split second later Kirk getting major heat from behind. Thielen is coming open, but it's too late by then:


This is the shot everyone is showing from the other angle. I think maybe he could have stepped up and fired it to Thielen instead of looking back at Murray, but he was also running for his life. But, yes, Thielen was open then. Kirk had his back turned already:


Just to finish this....this is in the same second, where 99 beats his blocks and is about to hit Kirk (which he does):