Healthy Comparisons...(This ought to be fun)

[Stymietee]

As I was reading another posting Dad listed a bunch of names of QB's that started SB's. It occurred to me that in a sense we really don't have a true feel, as to what other posters mean when they say that Kirk is _______ (fill in the blank) level QB. Nor do we get a real sense of what other's mean when they write that Kirk can improve. So I thought it might be a fun exercise in listing historical QB's that Kirk favors in both style of play and level to which you see him reaching. BTW: your two guys doesn't have to be former Washington QB's as I have listed. You get to pick from them all. (Currents if you must) The only caveat is that they should get as close as you see them to Kirk's style of play and ultimate potential. That said, here's mine: (the example)

Stan Humphries IS Kirk Cousins comparably speaking. Trent Green was a better version of Kirk. So, from here on out when you read about how I see Kirk, just reference these two guys. BTW: I see Trent Green as the ceiling for Cousins. This is absolutely no knock on Kirk, Au contraire, I always liked Stan the man and thought it a mistake that this team let Trent go.

Now that you know, let's see which two you can come up with!

 

[Sportster 72]

Sty interesting comparisons. For over a year I have advocated signing Cousins to a long term contract so the team/FO does not revisit the Trent Green mistake. Le its take a look:

Stan - never threw for as many as 3400 yards, he never hit the 20 TD passes in a year. Marks that Cousin's has passed in his two full years as QB

Trent - Cousins after only two years as starter compares very favorably to Trent. I always thought Trent was the bad luck kid. I believe he could have let the Rams to that Super Bowl had he not got hurt. I think this is a favorable comparison. What we can't account for is Cousin's future. KC is only two years into his role as a starter. He could certainly improve with each passing year. The possibility exists that he could remain the same or even decline. I would like to think he will continue to improve. If Gruden stays I believe he is a QB whisperer and that would only help Cousins.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Yeah I see Kirk as much better than Humphreys, Green is a tougher call but I like Kirk because he does not rely on as many dump offs as Green did.

With that said the turbulence over the ownership change cost us Trent Green and that haunted us for years. I agree losing Kirk would have the same effect. Trent may not have won us a SB but he would have made us much better.

 

[Stymietee]

OK guys what are your choices? Remember one guy as to where he is now, the other where you see him peaking to.

 

[Stymietee]

OK guys what are your choices? Remember one guy as to where he is now, the other where you see him peaking at.

 

[Stymietee]

OK guys what are your choices? Remember one guy as to where he is now, the other where you see him peaking at.

 

[Sportster 72]

Oh you want choices do you. I think comparable guys during this era are Stafford, Ryan and potentially comparable to Brees. Not much for predicting where he will be in the long run because there are so many variables. Who is the coach, caliber of teammates etc. Right now I see him as a top 10-12 QB with potential to be a top 5 QB.

 

[skinsdad62]

i think he is in the brees or ryan range , a bit above stafford but he is at the young tony romo stage trying to learn to win big games

 

[Sharkinva]

How come no one compares him to Eli Manning is my question. Eli is a talented pocket passer but he actually DOES need a solid team around him to be successful. Occasionally Eli will take over a game and can slice a team up. But in other instances he will also make some what the hell was he thinking kind of throws. He isnt a huge threat to take off running every play, and rarely do we see him doing the roll out of the pocket and make shit happen maneuver.

I know I know, Im comparing him to some one that has two Super Bowl rings. But honestly I think Kirk's ceiling is Eli, his floor is debatable.

 

[skinsdad62]

How come no one compares him to Eli Manning is my question. Eli is a talented pocket passer but he actually DOES need a solid team around him to be successful. Occasionally Eli will take over a game and can slice a team up. But in other instances he will also make some what the hell was he thinking kind of throws. He isnt a huge threat to take off running every play, and rarely do we see him doing the roll out of the pocket and make shit happen maneuver.

I know I know, Im comparing him to some one that has two Super Bowl rings. But honestly I think Kirk's ceiling is Eli, his floor is debatable.

sounds valid to me

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

At first I thought Dad was nuts to compare Kirk to Brees. But in looking at the numbers through the first 5 years they are surprisingly similar. One thing to consider is Kirk will be 29 before they start the next season. I know right? I was surprised too. So I think it's valid that his ceiling may be fast approaching.

But still if he stays right where he is and gets more chances in big games I'm cool with that.

 

[Sharkinva]

At first I thought Dad was nuts to compare Kirk to Brees. But in looking at the numbers through the first 5 years they are surprisingly similar. One thing to consider is Kirk will be 29 before they start the next season. I know right? I was surprised too. So I think it's valid that his ceiling may be fast approaching.

But still if he stays right where he is and gets more chances in big games I'm cool with that.

Pocket passers generally tend to have a longer shelf life than the flavor of the month mobile QB though. I know once again IM comparing to legends here. But here goes


Brady is 40
Eli is 36
Brees is 38
Payton retired at 39
Favre retired at 40

Point being, Kirk at 29 is not old for a QB. People keep talking about his ceiling. But seriously, if the worst we get out of him is 3500 yards and 25-30 Passing TDs a year..... with an improved defense and running game

This gentleman is what we have been screaming for the past 15-25 years. A QB who can consistently produce. Now sure it would be awesome to have a QB that teams feared would take over a game all on his own with little or no help from the ground game or the defense. But considering what we have endured as a fanbase for a quarter of a century at this point, Im surprised there isnt a go fund me account set up to pay into the Kirk Cousins signing bonus fund.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Add to that Kirk never gets hurt. I agree he's got a lot of time left, just wondering how many QBs have made noticable improvements after they turn 29.

 

[Sportster 72]

How come no one compares him to Eli Manning is my question. Eli is a talented pocket passer but he actually DOES need a solid team around him to be successful. Occasionally Eli will take over a game and can slice a team up. But in other instances he will also make some what the hell was he thinking kind of throws. He isnt a huge threat to take off running every play, and rarely do we see him doing the roll out of the pocket and make shit happen maneuver.

I know I know, Im comparing him to some one that has two Super Bowl rings. But honestly I think Kirk's ceiling is Eli, his floor is debatable.

I like Eli but I don't see a comparison. Eli is more error prone.

I don't want to take anything away from Eli because he certainly was a part of a couple of big plays in each win but the key to both games was getting pressure on Brady. As good as Brady is he wilts in the face of pressure, luckily for him he rarely sees it. Of course one reason he rarely sees it is because as he has grown over his career he gets better and better and getting out of a bad play and into a good play.

 

[Breed]

No one, not really. That's who Kirk reminds me of. And that's OK.

I won't say his red zone issues are a problem or a thing. Cuz he was pretty good in the red zone the year before with a running game that wasn't as good as last year's. I'll go an easy route ande lay the lion's share of blame on McVay's play calling. So assuming the red zone issues like 2016 are gone.

He still has room to get better I believe, sometimes he seems to get tunnel vision for a specific WR. The 3 issues I think he needs to get better at.

1) Improve his start out the gate. The last 2 years he's started each season in very unimpressive fashion.
2) Be more consistent.
3) Chalk up more wins than losses against winning teams

 

[Caliskinsfan]

He still has room to get better I believe, sometimes he seems to get tunnel vision for a specific WR

Tidbit I heard was that McVay would often tell Cuz from the booth which WR was likely to be the best target during games... Maybe that was not as helpful as it may seem during real time...

 

[j_y19]

Brees is the guy I continuously go back to for who I believe KC has the potential to mirror. As DGF pointed out, take a look at his career. Eerily similar in terms of learning issues early and then blossoming in the right scheme. But Brees needs talent around him, as all pocket passers do.

Knowing what you know now, who wouldnt take a chance on a 28 year old Drew Brees that had just been run out of SD and looked like a very inconsistent, mistake prone QB to lead your offense going forward?

 

[Breed]

Tidbit I heard was that McVay would often tell Cuz from the booth which WR was likely to be the best target during games... Maybe that was not as helpful as it may seem during real time...

Interesting. There are a couple plays I can think of right now where that sure seems plausible, very plausible. I'm not ready to call it an issue though. As Kirk was good in the red zone in 2015 ranking 7th in the NFL in red zone passing including throwing 22 TDs/0 INTs. This year, or last year I guess now, he ranked 17th and his TDs dropped to 14 and he had 2 INTs.

I think we should run more read option in the RZ with Kirk. He's got the skills for it. Maybe give him an option to throw as well.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I still put a lot of the blame in the red zone on the terrible short yardage running game they had all year. 1st and goal from the 4 should be a running down to the 1, instead it got stuffed and suddenly it's 2nd and goal from the 5.

 

[chillerdab]

Trent Green's first two years starting stats:

Trent Green Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com

1998 (Wash) 14 starts: 54.6% completion percentage, 3441 yards, 23 td's, 11 int's, 81.8 rating
2001 (Kan ) 16 starts: 56.8% completion percentage, 3783 yrds, 17 td's, 24 int's, 71.1 rating


KC's first two year starting stats:

2015 - 16 starts: 69.8% completion percentage, 4166 yards, 29td's, 11 int's, 101.6 rating
2016 - 16 starts: 67% completion percentage, 4917 yards, 25 td's, 12 int's, 97.2 Rating


Kirk Cousins Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Ummm..... that's not even close.