Post by Funkytown on Apr 3, 2018 16:50:43 GMT -6
Well, we've officially closed the door on any expectations for Teddy, Sam, and Case (in purple), so what are your expectations for Cousins ... and the Vikings' offense as a whole?
To help get the convo going:
What will the Vikings' offense look like with Kirk Cousins at QB? by Courtney Cronin
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Rest at the link: www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/26141/what-will-the-vikings-offense-look-like-with-kirk-cousins-at-qb
To help get the convo going:
What will the Vikings' offense look like with Kirk Cousins at QB? by Courtney Cronin
Capitalizing on Cousins’ strengths
During a span in which he threw for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in each of the past three seasons, Cousins posted the third-highest completion percentage and the seventh-best total QBR, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The only quarterback better in both categories was Drew Brees.
There are many reasons to look past his 26-30-1 regular-season career record and the fact that he has only started one playoff game to see why the Vikings view Cousins as their next franchise quarterback.
Play-action: Zimmer could hardly contain himself from reverting into full scouting mode when he introduced Cousins on March 15. In describing his new quarterback, the Vikings' coach harped on his biggest strength.
“He’s always been a very, very tough guy to play against -- very accurate, excellent in play-actions, terrific in the boots,” Zimmer said.
Cousins has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s best play-action passers, a concept coach Jay Gruden dialed up on 20 percent of the Redskins’ plays in 2017. In fact, Cousins' passer rating jumped up by 31.3 points when using play-action versus when the Redskins didn’t use it, going from 7.1 yards per attempt and an 87.4 QB rating without play-action to 9.4 yards per attempt and a 118.7 QB rating with it.
According to Pro Football Focus research, the Vikings ranked second in play-action pass attempts in 2017. Minnesota’s running backs accounted for 1,957 rushing yards last year and ranked second in the NFL in team rushing attempts. Considering Dalvin Cook’s pending return and how well Cousins does operating a ball fake, DeFilippo could choose to be aggressive when calling play-action passes.
During a span in which he threw for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in each of the past three seasons, Cousins posted the third-highest completion percentage and the seventh-best total QBR, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The only quarterback better in both categories was Drew Brees.
There are many reasons to look past his 26-30-1 regular-season career record and the fact that he has only started one playoff game to see why the Vikings view Cousins as their next franchise quarterback.
Play-action: Zimmer could hardly contain himself from reverting into full scouting mode when he introduced Cousins on March 15. In describing his new quarterback, the Vikings' coach harped on his biggest strength.
“He’s always been a very, very tough guy to play against -- very accurate, excellent in play-actions, terrific in the boots,” Zimmer said.
Cousins has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s best play-action passers, a concept coach Jay Gruden dialed up on 20 percent of the Redskins’ plays in 2017. In fact, Cousins' passer rating jumped up by 31.3 points when using play-action versus when the Redskins didn’t use it, going from 7.1 yards per attempt and an 87.4 QB rating without play-action to 9.4 yards per attempt and a 118.7 QB rating with it.
According to Pro Football Focus research, the Vikings ranked second in play-action pass attempts in 2017. Minnesota’s running backs accounted for 1,957 rushing yards last year and ranked second in the NFL in team rushing attempts. Considering Dalvin Cook’s pending return and how well Cousins does operating a ball fake, DeFilippo could choose to be aggressive when calling play-action passes.
Deep ball: Arm strength, accuracy and decision-making.
Over the past three seasons, Cousins has been one of the best QBs at throwing the ball deep (15 yards or more), ranking third in completion percentage (48.9), fifth in yards per attempt (13.7) and third in passing touchdowns (30) among 37 quarterbacks with 100 such attempts.
And he hasn’t done it by zeroing in on a single receiver. Since 2015, Cousins is one of four quarterbacks to have thrown at least five touchdowns to eight different receivers.
He was at his best when he had DeSean Jackson (17.9 yards per catch) and Pierre Garcon (13.2 YPC) as weapons in 2016, a season in which both receivers notched over 1,000 yards. Cousins' deep-ball production dipped in 2017 due to injuries to his receiving corps. He posted a 106.4 passer rating on 66 deep passes last year.
Cousins should see steady production with a deep passing game given the receivers he’ll have to work with. According to PFF research, Adam Thielen ranked first in deep-ball wide receiver rating in 2016 and Stefon Diggs third in that category last season.
Over the past three seasons, Cousins has been one of the best QBs at throwing the ball deep (15 yards or more), ranking third in completion percentage (48.9), fifth in yards per attempt (13.7) and third in passing touchdowns (30) among 37 quarterbacks with 100 such attempts.
And he hasn’t done it by zeroing in on a single receiver. Since 2015, Cousins is one of four quarterbacks to have thrown at least five touchdowns to eight different receivers.
He was at his best when he had DeSean Jackson (17.9 yards per catch) and Pierre Garcon (13.2 YPC) as weapons in 2016, a season in which both receivers notched over 1,000 yards. Cousins' deep-ball production dipped in 2017 due to injuries to his receiving corps. He posted a 106.4 passer rating on 66 deep passes last year.
Cousins should see steady production with a deep passing game given the receivers he’ll have to work with. According to PFF research, Adam Thielen ranked first in deep-ball wide receiver rating in 2016 and Stefon Diggs third in that category last season.
Fumbles have been an issue for Cousins at a concerning rate. He fumbled 31 times (11 lost) over the past three seasons, including a career-high 13 in 2017. Luckily, weather won’t be a factor in at least eight home games each year from now on.
There’s a long way to go, and while the Vikings have begun building around Cousins' strengths, they’ll also look to find ways to mitigate his flaws.
“One of the biggest areas he can improve upon is being more efficient in the red zone,” Bowen said. “He has to make those tight-window throws. Those disappear so quickly.”
There’s a long way to go, and while the Vikings have begun building around Cousins' strengths, they’ll also look to find ways to mitigate his flaws.
“One of the biggest areas he can improve upon is being more efficient in the red zone,” Bowen said. “He has to make those tight-window throws. Those disappear so quickly.”
Rest at the link: www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/26141/what-will-the-vikings-offense-look-like-with-kirk-cousins-at-qb
