Chris Cooley Analyzes The Overtime Interception

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

“There are three types of people judging this play, okay, three types,” ey said. “Let’s start with morons I’m fine with. You think Ryan Grant has no chance to make the catch? Fine. [It’s] your right to your opinion. You’re a moron. You say Kirk Cousins just throws up a pick, and you really, really, truly believe that that’s just a bad football play by a quarterback? You’re a moron. I’m fine with that. You’re wrong, but I’m fine with that.

“Second person,” ey went on, and please bear in mind that radio hosts are allowed to be entertaining, so don’t get all insulted. “You have some kind of vendetta or hope that Kirk Cousins fails for whatever reason, and you’re arguing it because of that. You’re an ass.

“Or you’re three, which is realistically what happened on the play,” ey said. “Here’s what happened on the play. This is where I’m at. It is an 8-yard ‘Scout’ route or ‘Hook’ route with a pivot to the outside. So it’s not a hitch, and in the game my call was a hitch, but it’s also hard to see in the game, in the timing of how fast it was. It’s an eight-step “Out,” in which he’s pivoting coming back out of the route. Not turning right around. So Kirk didn’t miss wide, wild outside with Ryan Grant breaking inside. He’s breaking to pivot outside.

“Ryan Grant takes seven steps,” ey said. “On his sixth step he is already peeking his head back towards the quarterback, starting to look. He then takes his seventh step, planted it in the ground, out in front of his knees and chest, and he gets his leverage leaning wayyyy back at a back angle, and as he comes to come out of it, slips his feet out from underneath him.

“Now, the ideal type of route in this situation is eight-yard step, steps shoulder over toes, head down, not telegraphing that you’re going to turn around there, and hard, immediate break out of the route. That’s what your quarterback expects. That’s what your coaching staff’s coached. And that’s where Kirk throws the ball, expecting him to be.

“Now there are two things if he runs this route right. He bats it down, doesn’t catch it, but his body’s in front of the defender. Or it’s a catch. And I think it’s a catch. I don’t think the ball’s that bad. I think it’s actually a catch. If you want to criticize Kirk Cousins on this play, criticize him for throwing it hot, and taking that throw to Ryan Grant, which by the way is normally a low-risk throw that this team completes over and over and over. You’ve seen them complete these throws throughout the season so far.

“He ends up having an extra nickel DB walk to the outside edge of his left protection. He’s got two defensive lineman — an end and a D-tackle — inside of that, and on the right side he’s got another D-tackle, an end, and a linebacker who showed early but has already walked back.

“Kirk could immediately pause there and re-slide his line to the left side. He could stop and say whoa whoa whoa, check check check check, 300 instead of 200, and they make a slide, and they slide the line left. They slid the line right. Kirk knew he slid the line right, so he knew he was hot. He threw hot. He didn’t look the throw down, he didn’t stare it down. A hot throw is take ball, plant, throw. That’s not a quarterback giving away the idea that you’re throwing. … So you lose the game, in which you fought your [innards] off, and that’s just a bummer, unfortunate way to lose it.”

[riggofan]

Fine. [It’s] your right to your opinion. You’re a moron. You say Kirk Cousins just throws up a pick, and you really, really, truly believe that that’s just a bad football play by a quarterback? You’re a moron. I’m fine with that. You’re wrong, but I’m fine with that.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

So, a former Redskins receiver says the route was a come back, the ball was catchable, and the throw was a hot read, meaning the quarterback doesn't think about it first.

On a side note, any chance we could get the cool smiley BBCode changed? It's kind of obnoxious having it do that every time C00ley's name is typed.

[DEHog]

I’ll give Chris his due…he played I didn’t. That said I watched the play a few times and you’re not going to convince me that Grant would have even touched the ball, he broke inside Cousin threw it outside. Then I heard Cousins himself saying he’s not sure Grant would have made a play on the ball because he threw it so quick. It looks like Cousins never got set threw off his back foot and the ball sailed on him.

[tribeofjudah]

hmmmmmmmmm.....maybe Grant messed up and went inside BUT then realized (oh sh1t)...........I'm suppose to go outside/sideline. CRAP O La...!!!

Then he shift to go outside and Opppssss, darn turf.

[SkinsJock]

you're OBVIOUSLY all morons ...

[SkinsJock]

Chris is paid to antagonize - anyone and everyone that doesn't agree with him is a moron or an ass - great guy to use to make a point

[tribeofjudah]

you're OBVIOUSLY all morons ...

personal attacks? I thought you were beyond that.............. smh

[SkinsJock]

you're OBVIOUSLY all morons ...

personal attacks? I thought you were beyond that ... smh

sorry - according to Chris ...

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Coach said it was an in and Kirk threw it out, when it must be in. Hard to say what the wr was supposed to do.. looked to me he was breaking in and the slip was due to trying to make a play on the ball thrown, out . Ultimately it was a hot pass that was doomed either way imho.
Co0ley on the film breakdown blames Grant (who is only on the squad for his superior route running btw) but brushes off that Kirk should've changed the protection to block down and pick up the free Blitzer.

I don't hate the hot throw, in or out makes no difference. In obviously gives Grant a chance, but I'd have liked to see a ball thrown out of bounds to live to fight another down. Hindsight is always 20/20, the sting is gone and I think we just got caught in a crumby play in which he threw it blind. The db was in position to make a play out the gate, however, and that coupled with the coverage adjustment he missed is the biggest knock on him for that play.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

An audible would've been best case scenario most likely, getting someone in the middle, whom the nickel would've let run free, or had to cover instead of blitzing.

Losing a game we had in the bag was rough to swallow, but I have since calmed down and give props to Kirk and co for even making it close in a hostile environment vs a top ranked team.
We needed to hit some longer passes to keep the D honest, and open up the run game. That, I feel, was ultimately what cost us

[Irn-Bru]

I haven't heard what coaches have said to the press, but C0oley's analysis seems right to me. At the time, as I watched the replay, it looked to me like Grant would have made a play on the ball (though not a catch, IMO, just an attempted one that would end in an incomplete rather than an INT).

Cousins seems to me to be making good decisions this year, including the throw that ended up being the end of the game in Atlanta. I hope he keeps at it. His INTs this year are nothing like they were in his first few seasons.

[tribeofjudah]

I'm a Cousins supporter ...........but NOT blindly.

If he starts to STINK IT UP (consistently stink), then I'd throw his as5 outta there in a swift second. But, yes.....so far so good.

This team is turning a corner (but wait, I think we've said that in previous years...........LOL)

[markshark84]

I’ll give Chris his due…he played I didn’t. That said I watched the play a few times and you’re not going to convince me that Grant would have even touched the ball, he broke inside Cousin threw it outside. Then I heard Cousins himself saying he’s not sure Grant would have made a play on the ball because he threw it so quick. It looks like Cousins never got set threw off his back foot and the ball sailed on him.

Agree. I don't think Grant could have made the play. Chris' comment about Grant's head movement, however, could have been one of the reasons the CB jumped the route though.

[markshark84]

We needed to hit some longer passes to keep the D honest, and open up the run game. That, I feel, was ultimately what cost us

Agree with this. Cousins need to get the ball downfield. I understand the whole WCO thing, but you'd think with Crowder we could have a deep threat. It would also open up the run game if we were able to show our offense is capable of stretching the field....

[SkinsJock]

I haven't heard what coaches have said to the press, but C0oley's analysis seems right to me. At the time, as I watched the replay, it looked to me like Grant would have made a play on the ball (though not a catch, IMO, just an attempted one that would end in an incomplete rather than an INT). Cousins seems to me to be making good decisions this year, including the throw that ended up being the end of the game in Atlanta. I hope he keeps at it. His INTs this year are nothing like they were in his first few seasons.

I'll agree with that FFA - I'm hopeful for him - there's been some good signs but he just doesn't have that 'look' about him ...

I wonder if he's allowed much freedom in play calling and if that is hampering him a bit - at times he looks really good and then, not so good

we shall see - he's going to get an opportunity to get a big paycheck - that would be good for everyone

hopefully, he plays great this Sunday in that fun Stadium in NJ

[tribeofjudah]

Can't wait for Crowder to really UP his game and for Djax to be our stud downfield again.

[riggofan]

Ryan Grant blames himself for Kirk Cousins’s game-ending pick-six against Atlanta
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/foo ... t-atlanta/

"“I slipped, he said. “It was supposed to be on my outside shoulder. I slipped, threw the play off, and that’s how the game ended.”"

Way to, Mr. Interception Machine.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Ryan Grant blames himself for Kirk Cousins’s game-ending pick-six against Atlanta
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/foo ... t-atlanta/

"“I slipped, he said. “It was supposed to be on my outside shoulder. I slipped, threw the play off, and that’s how the game ended.”"

Way to, Mr. Interception Machine.

Well, there goes the interception machine narrative. Right?

[HEROHAMO]

Ryan Grant blames himself for Kirk Cousins’s game-ending pick-six against Atlanta
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/foo ... t-atlanta/

"“I slipped, he said. “It was supposed to be on my outside shoulder. I slipped, threw the play off, and that’s how the game ended.”"

Way to, Mr. Interception Machine.

Well, there goes the interception machine narrative. Right?

How so? He still leads the league in interceptions per games played.

[HEROHAMO]

Ryan Grant blames himself for Kirk Cousins’s game-ending pick-six against Atlanta
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/foo ... t-atlanta/

"“I slipped, he said. “It was supposed to be on my outside shoulder. I slipped, threw the play off, and that’s how the game ended.”"

Way to, Mr. Interception Machine.

Good for you. I dont know what kind of solice you get from this?

It does not change the fact that we lost a game that could have been won. An interception is an interception.

It happened while Kirk was under center. You cant change the fact he threw an interception again. It happens quite often in fact. So whats your argument for him throwing interceptions on a regular basis?

You argued one interception. Whoopty freaking doo. What about the other numerous times he throws picks?

[HEROHAMO]

For the record I support Kirk just needs to keep improving.

What I will say is this. I like how Kirk did not throw his WR under the bus if in fact it was the WRs fault.

Good thing Kirk is not like you Kirk Fan boys. He actually isnt making any excuses for his interceptions. He looks to take responsibility for his mistakes. Which shows maturity and leadership.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Good thing Kirk is not like you Kirk Fan boys.

Kirk fan boys? Are we supposed to apologize for liking a quarterback who gives us a chance to win nearly every game? If RGIII gave us that chance he'd still be quarterbacking the team and Kirk would still be looking for free agency.

[SkinsJock]

We don't know about Griffin because he's not on the field ...

we do know what the results are with Captain Kirk, a lot of it's good - but, the results are 2-3 with 2 games we could have won and 1 game we were lucky to win ... why do the Captain Kirk 'kiss off' fans have to keep justifying what we've got against what is not possible to know

none of the RGIII fans want to make out like Griffin could be doing better - we're just frustrated that we could be doing better with Captain Kirk, who is clearly our best QB, but sadly we're not

Captain Kirk is doing as well as he can but it's not like something to get excited about - maybe the media is not seeing his potential either

maybe this is his week to show us all that he's in that John Elway & Brett Favre level of QB that B&GF is thinking he might be

[SkinsJock]

Good thing Kirk is not like you Kirk Fan boys.

Kirk fan boys? Are we supposed to apologize for liking a quarterback who gives us a chance to win nearly every game? If RGIII gave us that chance he'd still be quarterbacking the team and Kirk would still be looking for free agency.

I'm still liking the FACT that the hopeless Robert Griffin III is still on this roster and not playing - I have a lot of faith in Scot ...