Kirk Cousins: A Career of Ineptitude

Ya I mean they were very good and still better than us outside of the QB spot (they had the better trenches on both sides even if we had better skill players). If Kirk was much better than Jimmy G though we could have won, I wish I could remember the thread but Sage Rosenfels on twitter broke down like 5 examples of what I am talking about and a couple others. The offense kept giving them shorter fields to work with via not moving the ball and the int (TDs on drives of 53, 48 yards for example). Despite how he played it was 14-10 at halftime too before the pick. I think a top QB makes a lot of those plays if they aren't playing scared and as you point out if you make it close you have a shot because of Jimmy G. I think Kirk wins on that 49er team IF one of his scared performances doesn't hurt them but if he played like he did Monday in the SB they still lose, he isn't that big of an upgrade on Jimmy G (especially in big games). Who knows but given what I have seen on the breakdowns and watching what happened as plays developed I think Kirk was arguably the biggest issue that day (not the only one, just the most impactful). 

I really don't know what it is other than that it mostly happens in big games/moments that he plays scared. It's not every one though obviously just enough where everyone notices and expects some of these from him each year. He also often has an insane game you wonder why can't we just always get this confident version. Ya I wanted everything new too but I don't think the new regime necessarily pushed for Cousins as much as he was maybe pushed on them. I am going to give them a break on not rebuilding and just judge them on what happens given where we are at in that sense. 

I still think we can win 10-11 games and one in the playoffs because as you note the NFC is pretty weak and open. I legitimately think Philly has a shot to be one of the very top teams so losing away to them isn't some killer for the season, especially since we already beat the biggest threat in the division most likely. Beating Lions this week puts us right back on track in terms of winning the division. From the point of evaluating KOC it will be if he can reach that type of goal moreso than a SB type team being fair to put on him or this regime. I don't think we should keep making coaches (especially one like him in his first season) into scapegoats if it's kinda just a one and done in playoffs year (even with weaker NFC). 

Its really amazing to me how year 1 had me buying into the better QB play=super bowl on the table to year 5 and the upside discussed is, "maybe we squeak into the playoffs but don't even make the super bowl." Amazing that this organization signed on for 3 years of this and decided 3 more years of it was the right call. Lets get ready to squeeeeeeeeeeak! Squeak Vikings, lets Squeak! 

I think its def fair to say he gets tense. Once he threw that pick that JJ messed up with he was done. But does that game change if Irv catches that ball? What about if Jj runs the correct route? What really pist me off with Kirk that game was the two zero blitzes in a row and Kirk lobbing it into the endzone twice finally getting picked. That cant happen in a year 10 Kirk. Im not giving Kirk a pass at all he played bad overall his worst game in prolly 2 years, but the team overall was terrible as well. I dont think hes gonna turn into Brady with Kevin, but I could see him never having another game like this the rest of the year, nor the rest of the supporting cast

It's all on KOC now. He handed Kirk the reigns and treated him like an elite QB. Put him in a position where it seemed a fairly heavy component of the decision making and burden of success was on Kirk.

Now KOC is going to be tasked with not only calling the plays but doing so in a fashion where he has to read the room. When does he put him in force/aggressive/panic mode and when does he need to keep that pressure off of him.

Technically yes Kirk will be here 99% next year, but in general I do believe it is a 1 year trial. They wont keep doubling down is my point like the old regime. Realistically they didnt even really go "all in" this year. Zadarius is making peanuts for his play (so far). They didnt sign any other big free agents to big deals. The books will clear in 2023 I believe we will have a lot of cap space. The key is hitting the draft picks. Like they have said all along about it being a competitive rebuild. Harry and Thielen wont be here when the time comes to make that transition. The key is the draft, you have to start hitting on these guys. It really doesnt matter when you take that new QB in the draft, Id rather that be when the rest of the team is ready to go for it all. 2024 will likely be that time anyway. If you started it over last year a lot of you would be crying becaue that likely means JJ is gone. 

Same here.