Skins News of the Day - Wed 11/18

[Caliskinsfan]

Like this mindset from Capt Kirk

“I think by playing I’m getting better as a quarterback and I’m not going to be results-driven. I threw a few passes today that could have been picked off so I’m not going to go back and say, ‘Oh, I didn’t throw any interceptions today,’” Cousins said. I’m going to look back at the plays that could have been picked and say, ‘How do I prevent those from happening moving forward?’ I’m not going to be results-driven. There were plays the last couple of weeks that altered the game and there were picks that weren’t necessarily my fault and I don’t worry about those either. So, it’s great to not have turnovers but you have to look at the why and what caused them and also even when there weren’t turnovers today, what could I have done better to avoid the possibility of one.”

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Happy for Kirk. A few more 'consistent play' games/wins and the narrative will dramatically shift for him

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Examining a Potential Contract Extension for Redskins QB Kirk Cousins — washington.cbslocal.com — Readability

Excerpt

Over the last three games Cousins has completed 75-of-105 passes for 858 yards and eight touchdowns. The lone interception hit wide-open wide receiver Pierre Garcon in the hands and bounced into the air. He’s been sacked five times during that stretch, continuing to get the ball out on time and in rhythm.

But Gruden again emphasized after the game how much work Cousins’ teammates did to help him – with yards after the catch and effective blocking down field. If they reverse course, it’s going to be difficult for him to match that effort on the road against undefeated Carolina (9-0) on Sunday.

“You’re never going to see the same defense twice in your career,” Gruden said. “So how you adapt, how you play is what determines a good quarterback – the consistent play, how you can play on a weekly basis.”

And that’s why Cousins is so insistent that his process has to be correct, that he can’t focus on numbers or results. The film will say if he’s playing the right way, if he is a good fit for the offensive system employed by Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay.

But Cousins, who has a salary-cap hit of just $778,172 in the final season in his four-year rookie contract, gains leverage with each promising performance. The free-agent quarterback market looks barren for 2016 with no proven starter available. And the draft is far too much of a crapshoot to expect to grab an immediate starter.

The Redskins run some risk that Cousins will play so well that the competition for his services will become heated. But they would still have more than two months after the regular season ends to negotiate with him exclusively. And the knowledge that he knows the coaching staff and fits their scheme only helps if they want to retain him.

In the end, if Cousins plays well enough to generate that kind of interest in March, it will mean the Redskins had a successful season. But they still want and need to see the recent success sustained a while longer.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Redskins continue remarkable improvement on 3rd down — www.csnmidatlantic.com — Readability

Excerpt

This year it is a different story. The Redskins are converting on 44.8 percent of third downs, good for sixth in the league. They started off the year doing well, converting 46.8 percent in their first four games. Then for a couple of weeks it was déjà vu all over again as the Redskins converted on just 33.3 percent of their third downs against the Falcons and Jets. But in the three games since then they reverted to their early-season form, converting at a 50 percent clip with 18 first downs on 36 third-down plays.

They are doing this despite not doing particularly well on first and second down. The Redskins have gained an average of 5.3 yards per first down play; 25 other teams average more. They do a little better on second down, averaging just under the league average of 5.5 yards per play. It adds up to them having 6.8 yards to go on an average third-down play, about a foot better than the league average of 7.2.

One thing that is helping them is not taking sacks, especially on second down. Last year they took more sacks on second down than any other team in the NFL, 19 on 327 second down plays (5.8 percent). This year through nine games they have taken four second down sacks in 190 plays (2.1 percent). That is helping to keep them in third and manageable situations.

Probably the biggest factor in third-down improvement from last year has been better play by Kirk Cousins. In six games last year he was one of the worst in the NFL on third down. He completed just 55.8 percent of his passes for an average of 5.3 yards per attempt with a passer rating of 46.4. That was one of the factors that got him banished to the bench after five starts.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Some good points made by Keim


Excerpt

Can they just use short passes vs. Carolina?

That’s a tough way to live every week. No passing attack can be sustained with just underneath throws and check-downs; New England and New Orleans gave those to Washington and in one game the Redskins flourished. There were a couple missed chances on intermediate throws last week. Opposing quarterbacks have tried to hurt Carolina downfield. But consider this: The average air yards per attempt vs. Carolina is 19th in the NFL; but the average yards per attempt is second. So teams try to throw downfield, but have not been successful. The key for Washington is getting the ball in the hands of playmakers, and they have a few in the pass game. Carolina’s defense, though, is 10 times more disciplined than New Orleans. Be patient; don’t turn it over.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

I'll never forget this day nor LTs reaction on the field. Horrific memory.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Caliskinsfan]

In my day, having a pair of Chuck Taylor's was the height of fashion. The times...the times...

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Getting healthy at the right time....

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Crowder and Kyshoen at it again...

 

[Caliskinsfan]

This little kid in this mash up...lmao!

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Jay and his humor at work again...heh

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Caliskinsfan]