Game balls & gassers

[j_y19]

OK. I certainly think that Cousins - given some improvement - will be better than Smith & probably Dalton & Flacco.

Look at the last 5 SB winning QBs - Peyton, Brady, Wilson, Flacco & Eli. Peyton was a shell of himself in that game & not the reason for the win. Wilson is a good QB but relied more on his running game & defense in his SB win & during that season. You described Flacco & Eli perfectly above (no reason why Cousins can't do the same - not saying he will but he is capable). Brady of course is Brady.

The pt is that in this era you can get the job done w/ any # of types of QBs - does not have to be someone just like Brady or Rodgers. The Cowboys are proving that now. Their guy (unfortunately) is getting the job by not getting greedy & using his talent correctly - he is not throwing the team on his back & carrying them. Compare that to this year's Packers who still have Rodgers playing pretty well but they fall short because the rest of the team is injured & not very good.

I still think that many folks are underestimating Cousins & judging him more on the past than present. No - he won't be the next Brady, Brees or Rodgers, but I believe that he is capable of being as good as most of the other QBs in the NFL. Time will tell.

There are some out there that always find something about KC that keeps them from accepting that he is a legit NFL QB and is a very effective leader of this offense. First it was his INT rate. Then it was had demeanor. Then it was he couldn't hit the long ball. Now its the Red Zone misfires. They would rather let him walk and hope and pray that we can land a rookie in the draft or have a journeyman FA fall into our lap. Well, if they want to set this franchise back (which is headed in the right direction and is very close to being and perennial contender), then keep that strategy. Clearly the hit rate on QBs taken in the draft is so high. There must be 10 coming out this year that will be better than Cousins.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

There are some out there that always find something about KC that keeps them from accepting that he is a legit NFL QB and is a very effective leader of this offense. First it was his INT rate. Then it was had demeanor. Then it was he couldn't hit the long ball. Now its the Red Zone misfires. They would rather let him walk and hope and pray that we can land a rookie in the draft or have a journeyman FA fall into our lap. Well, if they want to set this franchise back (which is headed in the right direction and is very close to being and perennial contender), then keep that strategy. Clearly the hit rate on QBs taken in the draft is so high. There must be 10 coming out this year that will be better than Cousins.

Amen to that. I have always maintained that the biggest issue for Cousins is the killer mistake, and he appears to be making strides to put this behind him for the most part. I truly believe that the red zone issues are very correctable especially if the Redskins continue to develop the running game. Those issues also just as much (if not more) fall on the coaching staff & other players. Also - even if they continue this season does not mean that they cannot be corrected next season.

If they can get Cousins to agree to somewhat reasonable guaranteed money for his extension then I believe that they will get this done, and IMO it will be the correct decision (& you are seeing lots of other folks not involved w/ the Redskins agreeing with this at the current time).

 

[Sportster 72]

I think everyone needs to throw out that reasonable money. Most NFL people that know anything say he has all the leverage. If they were going to get him for less than $20 million it would have been last year. That leaves it at does SM want to pay that kind of money.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

I think everyone needs to throw out that reasonable money. Most NFL people that know anything say he has all the leverage. If they were going to get him for less than $20 million it would have been last year. That leaves it at does SM want to pay that kind of money.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

There are some out there that always find something about KC that keeps them from accepting that he is a legit NFL QB and is a very effective leader of this offense. First it was his INT rate. Then it was had demeanor. Then it was he couldn't hit the long ball. Now its the Red Zone misfires. They would rather let him walk and hope and pray that we can land a rookie in the draft or have a journeyman FA fall into our lap. Well, if they want to set this franchise back (which is headed in the right direction and is very close to being and perennial contender), then keep that strategy. Clearly the hit rate on QBs taken in the draft is so high. There must be 10 coming out this year that will be better than Cousins.

The biggest problem I have is he wilts under the bright lights. We saw it in the opener, we saw it in the playoffs, we have seen it a lot. Until he starts playing really well when it's not Tampa at 1:00 on Sunday I think he should still be considered the opposite of Eli/Flacco.

 

[gkekoa]

The biggest problem I have is he wilts under the bright lights. We saw it in the opener, we saw it in the playoffs, we have seen it a lot. Until he starts playing really well when it's not Tampa at 1:00 on Sunday I think he should still be considered the opposite of Eli/Flacco.

Do you really believe it matters to him whether he is being watched by 5 million or 10?

 

[SoCalWizFan]

The biggest problem I have is he wilts under the bright lights. We saw it in the opener, we saw it in the playoffs, we have seen it a lot. Until he starts playing really well when it's not Tampa at 1:00 on Sunday I think he should still be considered the opposite of Eli/Flacco.

The Steelers game perhaps. However - I am not so sure that I would pin most of the Packers playoff loss on Cousins. He was sacked 6 times & under pressure for most of the game. His receivers were also covered very well & the Redskins defense that day could not contain the Packers after the 1st QTR.

This game will be a great test since this is a completely different Packers team at this time. This will be a very good test for Cousins.

 

[j_y19]

I'm not even sure I would say he wilted in the Steelers game. I could have just been rust. Remember, he barely played in preseason, which I believe was a mistake. It took him a few games into the regular season to find his groove. But I do agree, sunday will be a good test. If he lays an egg (through his performance, not through the team's performance around him) then DGF may be onto something.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

He played poorly in both games, that was common knowledge. Rust is an excuse, sorry.

Hey I hope I'm wrong but there is no doubt in my mind that to date it has been a pattern.

 

[gkekoa]

Here is a KC prime time game...

Week 16 against PHI 2015...KC throws for 365 and 4 TDs in a must win.

How many prime time games do you think he has been in?

 

[skinz2winz]

And yet another test Sunday night. Let's just see how he does in what is considered a must-win game heading into Dallas for Turkey Day. Can't wait!

 

[SoCalWizFan]

He played poorly in both games, that was common knowledge. Rust is an excuse, sorry.

Hey I hope I'm wrong but there is no doubt in my mind that to date it has been a pattern.

Again - in the Packers game he didn't have time to really do much. The Redskins O line was dominated in that game. Could be a much different story this time. The Redskins O line is much better now & the Packers are somewhat beat up on defense.

No excuses this time - will be a great test for Cousins. As another poster noted - he could still have a very good game & the team could still lose (& vice versa). People need to get past the pt of thinking the QB is the sole reason for wins & losses.

 

[j_y19]

Here is a KC prime time game...

Week 16 against PHI 2015...KC throws for 365 and 4 TDs in a must win.

How many prime time games do you think he has been in?

Apparently so many that a pattern has been established. The game you cite must be an anomaly. What other excuse must there be. Opps....another excuse. Sorry DGF, my bad.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Never claimed the QB is the entire reason for the win or loss. But as we discuss the game it's sure worth mentioning, seeing as QB play is so importamt to a team. Kirk was pressured but it's amazing how some of you have completely forgotten that the general consensus from that game was the play of the 2 QBs, as well as the Pack running game, were the biggest factors.

And sorry, "rust" is such a lame excuse. Plenty of professioinal quarterbacks play sparingly in the preseason.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

You got me curious so I looked up Kirk's prime time games. Mixed results but not as bad as I believed so maybe you guys are right, I certainly hope so. But it's still only 9 TD along with 8 INTs in only 6 games so there's that. What was most depressing is all but one was at home, which obviously benefitted Kirk, and we lost most all of them. Good lord we suck in prime time.

9/12/16 Pittsburg 30- 43 69.8% 329 Yards 7.7 avg 0 TD 2 INT 72.7 Rating

9/24/15 at Giants 30-49 61.2℅ 316 yards 6.9 avg 1 TD 2 INT 69.8 Rating

12/7/15 Dallas 22 31 71.0% 219 Yards 7.1 avg 1TD 0 INT 101.4 Rating

12/26/15 Philly 31 46 67.4% 365 Yards 7.9 avg 4TD 0 INT 120.3 Rating

9/25/14 Giants 19-33 57.6% 257 Yards 7.8 avg 1 TD 4 INT 53.0 Rating

10/6 /14 Seattle 21 36 58.3% 283 Yards 7.9 avg 2 TD 0 INT 102.0 Rating

 

[gkekoa]

So 3 good and 3 bad.

 

[j_y19]

The 2 Giants games are really bad. I disagree about the amount of time others play in preseason, especially a QB that is entering his second season as a starter. He played a total of like 3 quarters, or something like 7 drives. It was really a small amount. I wasn't offering this as an excuse, but as an observation. But to completely discount it as a possibility for his slow start is also just as lame.

But I do agree, we have sucked in prime time for a while. Long before KC was our QB.

 

[j_y19]

I went back and checked. KC only played in two of the preseason games. The first one was for only 1 drive. The third preseason game, he played a half. He only played in a total of 6 drives all preseason. I feel quite confident that there wasn't another young starter (or any starter for that matter who wasn't injured) that played less.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I'm not bothering to look up preseason stats for QBs, Hell the previous post took an embarrassing amount of time. And I agree playing him so little was a mistake, a lot of us said so at the time. But without looking up all their playing time the name Carson Wentz comes to mind. When a backup comes in for an injured/failed starter and stinks nobody gives him the rust out, they say he sucked. These are professionals, they are expected to play well when the lights come on. Sorry, rust is an excuse I'm not buying.

 

[j_y19]

I'm not bothering to look up preseason stats for QBs, Hell the previous post took an embarrassing amount of time. And I agree playing him so little was a mistake, a lot of us said so at the time. But without looking up all their playing time the name Carson Wentz comes to mind. When a backup comes in for an injured/failed starter and stinks nobody gives him the rust out, they say he sucked. These are professionals, they are expected to play well when the lights come on. Sorry, rust is an excuse I'm not buying.

The definitive word has been spoken! IF your not buying it then it must not be true. This subject is closed!