Kirk at 8 games

[OldSchool]

If Cousins plays the next 4 games like these past 4 games I think Scot out to put a solid extension offer on the table after the 12th game. Something like a 8M a year for 3 years guaranteed with another 24M in performance incentives. So if Kirk peaks at average he makes some of the low end incentive money and earns average starter money while Scot improves the roster using top picks for the other positions the next couple of years. If Kirk continues to improve he can play his way into the top half of the league money and another extension.

I don't know if 8M is the right number for a annual base, maybe less maybe more, but I think something like this would be good for all concerned. If Kirk wants to stay in Washington and the Skins want to keep him I think an offer before season end might save some money by avoiding an open bidding situation. I see an lot of upside and little downside risk in extending Cousins for 3 years.

Even most critics of Cousins agree he is playing decent now and is improving. The issue for most seems to be is he going to be just average or better than average with some optimists like be me thinking he will become a lot better than average. It seems to me the worse case scenario is the Skins tie themselves to a merely average QB for 3 years. I think this risk is mitigated by the Skins devoting their high picks to other position for at least the next couple of years before drafting a QB in the first round before Cousins third year if Kirk doesn't improve enough to lock down the job for a decade. Another downside risk mitigation factor is Cousins character that the Skins know well by now. There is virtually no chance at all Cousins is going to loaf, stop working hard to improve, or get stupid and distracted with the money. The young man is very grounded and of sterling character, an actual choirboy. So even if he peaks at average he's going to be busting his butt to maximize his performance. Finally, if the Skins know they want to go with Cousins I think signing before the last 4 games could give Kirk the confidence to finish strong.

[Countertrey]

What matters is, the Redskins have won Superbowls with "average to better than average" quarterbacks. You do not need Brady, P Manning or Elway for that. Hell, the Ravens have done it with a quarterback who's job was to "not lose the game"....

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Kirk Cousins -

Here are some key stats to gauge our qb that seems fair in comparison to other qbs. Some say wins is a team thing, total passing yards could be biased depending on how much a team throws, etc. So here are some I pulled from pro football reference that can give us an idea of how Kirk is doing exactly mid season

NFL (quarterbacks with at least 70 passes).
Pass Completion Percentage: 9th
Pass Yards Per Attempt: 37th
Touchdown Passes: 19th (tied)
Interceptions Thrown: 6th (tied) most
Sack Percentage Per Pass Attempt: 2nd least
NFL QB Passer Rating: 28th
ESPNS QBR Rating: 20th

Excellent in sacks allowed one of the best, extremely poor at yards per attempt, and about middle to low of pack of everything else.

Passes completed: 6th after Rivers, Ryan, Brees, Brady, Eli and better than Flacco, Bradford, Stafford, Tannehill, Rogers, etc.

Picks: Fewer than Peyton and Luck. His 9th ranking matches his passes attempted ranking while Peyton and Luck have more picks in fewer attempts.

Total Yards: 16th

Yards Lost Due to Sacks: 3rd best

4th Quarter Comebacks: Tied for 5th

Game Winning Drives: Tied for 2nd

I'm calling him top half right now. Woulda, coulda, shoulda been 70% this past week with several long completions. He's becoming Bernie Kosar.

The one statistic that is keeping Kirk Cousins from being top half, in my opinion, is the one that isn't listed here: Wins. Yes, it's complete crap to blame the quarterback for losses that aren't his fault but quarterbacks with losing records don't get top half money. I think this post bears out what I've been saying all along. Cousins isn't going anywhere. The team can't put just anyone back there and get the same results. He has what sports reference terms "Value Above Replacement" meaning he's better than the average player a team could find to replace him. A Bernie Kosar wouldn't be bad. High accuracy, very few turnovers, never cost his team games.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

What matters is, the Redskins have won Superbowls with "average to better than average" quarterbacks. You do not need Brady, P Manning or Elway for that. Hell, the Ravens have done it with a quarterback who's job was to "not lose the game"....

True, however those teams had a ton of talent at other positions. This roster, not so much. Scot McCloughan is going to need at least two more draft and free agency periods to turn this roster over. He was handed turnips and asked to get blood from them. About two-thirds of this roster is hot garbage. If we finish the season with more than four wins I'd call it improvement.

[riggofan]

If Cousins plays the next 4 games like these past 4 games I think Scot out to put a solid extension offer on the table after the 12th game. Something like a 8M for 3 years guaranteed with another 24M in performance incentives. So if Kirk peaks at average he makes some of the low end incentive money and earns average starter money while Scot improves the roster using top picks for the other positions the next couple of years. If Kirk continues to improve he can play his way into the top half of the league money and another extension.

I don't know if 8M is the right number for a base, maybe less maybe more, but I think something like this would be good for all concerned. If Kirk wants to stay in Washington and the Skins want to keep him I think an offer before season end might save some money by avoiding an open bidding situation. I see an lot of upside and little downside risk in extending Cousins for 3 years.

Even most critics of Cousins agree he is playing decent now and is improving. The issue for most seems to be is he going to be just average or better than average with some optimists like be me thinking he will become a lot better than average. It seems to me the worse case scenario is the Skins tie themselves to a merely average QB for 3 years. I think this risk is mitigated by the Skins devoting their high picks to other position for at least the next couple of years before drafting a first round before Cousins third year if Kirk doesn't improve enough to lock down the job for a decade. Another downside risk mitigation factor is Cousins character that the Skins know well by now. There is virtually no chance at all Cousins is going to loaf, stop working hard to improve, or get stupid and distracted with the money. The young man is very grounded and of sterling character, an actual choirboy. So even if he peaks at average he's going to be busting his butt to maximize his performance. Finally, if the Skins know they want to go with Cousins I think signing before the last 4 games could give Kirk the confidence to finish strong.

Look at that, man! Pretty logical post and you didn't bash Griffin once in there.

I agree with your logic btw.

[riggofan]

What matters is, the Redskins have won Superbowls with "average to better than average" quarterbacks. You do not need Brady, P Manning or Elway for that. Hell, the Ravens have done it with a quarterback who's job was to "not lose the game"....

True, however those teams had a ton of talent at other positions. This roster, not so much. Scot McCloughan is going to need at least two more draft and free agency periods to turn this roster over. He was handed turnips and asked to get blood from them. About two-thirds of this roster is hot garbage. If we finish the season with more than four wins I'd call it improvement.

That's kind of the point though, isn't it? I've heard it said that we're like 7 or 8 starters from really filling out the roster to be competitive. And can anyone honestly name one player on either side of the ball that other teams legitimately fear? We just don't have that type of player right now.

So yeah, this to me is one of the reasons why we really don't want to be spending high picks on a QB in the next year or two.

[OldSchool]

What matters is, the Redskins have won Superbowls with "average to better than average" quarterbacks. You do not need Brady, P Manning or Elway for that. Hell, the Ravens have done it with a quarterback who's job was to "not lose the game"....

I think that is the way Scot thinks. He believes it is a big man's game that is won and lost at the line of scrimmage for the most part.

[EA7649]

If Cousins plays the next 4 games like these past 4 games I think Scot out to put a solid extension offer on the table after the 12th game. Something like a 8M for 3 years guaranteed with another 24M in performance incentives. So if Kirk peaks at average he makes some of the low end incentive money and earns average starter money while Scot improves the roster using top picks for the other positions the next couple of years. If Kirk continues to improve he can play his way into the top half of the league money and another extension.

I don't know if 8M is the right number for a base, maybe less maybe more, but I think something like this would be good for all concerned. If Kirk wants to stay in Washington and the Skins want to keep him I think an offer before season end might save some money by avoiding an open bidding situation. I see an lot of upside and little downside risk in extending Cousins for 3 years.

Even most critics of Cousins agree he is playing decent now and is improving. The issue for most seems to be is he going to be just average or better than average with some optimists like be me thinking he will become a lot better than average. It seems to me the worse case scenario is the Skins tie themselves to a merely average QB for 3 years. I think this risk is mitigated by the Skins devoting their high picks to other position for at least the next couple of years before drafting a first round before Cousins third year if Kirk doesn't improve enough to lock down the job for a decade. Another downside risk mitigation factor is Cousins character that the Skins know well by now. There is virtually no chance at all Cousins is going to loaf, stop working hard to improve, or get stupid and distracted with the money. The young man is very grounded and of sterling character, an actual choirboy. So even if he peaks at average he's going to be busting his butt to maximize his performance. Finally, if the Skins know they want to go with Cousins I think signing before the last 4 games could give Kirk the confidence to finish strong.

Look at that, man! Pretty logical post and you didn't bash Griffin once in there.

I agree with your logic btw.

I wouldn't be against 8 million a year with a team option. I just wonder if that 8m would be enough. Because I wouldn't want to pay more than that!

[DarthMonk]

If Cousins plays the next 4 games like these past 4 games I think Scot out to put a solid extension offer on the table after the 12th game. Something like a 8M for 3 years guaranteed with another 24M in performance incentives. So if Kirk peaks at average he makes some of the low end incentive money and earns average starter money while Scot improves the roster using top picks for the other positions the next couple of years. If Kirk continues to improve he can play his way into the top half of the league money and another extension.

I don't know if 8M is the right number for a base, maybe less maybe more, but I think something like this would be good for all concerned. If Kirk wants to stay in Washington and the Skins want to keep him I think an offer before season end might save some money by avoiding an open bidding situation. I see an lot of upside and little downside risk in extending Cousins for 3 years.

Even most critics of Cousins agree he is playing decent now and is improving. The issue for most seems to be is he going to be just average or better than average with some optimists like be me thinking he will become a lot better than average. It seems to me the worse case scenario is the Skins tie themselves to a merely average QB for 3 years. I think this risk is mitigated by the Skins devoting their high picks to other position for at least the next couple of years before drafting a first round before Cousins third year if Kirk doesn't improve enough to lock down the job for a decade. Another downside risk mitigation factor is Cousins character that the Skins know well by now. There is virtually no chance at all Cousins is going to loaf, stop working hard to improve, or get stupid and distracted with the money. The young man is very grounded and of sterling character, an actual choirboy. So even if he peaks at average he's going to be busting his butt to maximize his performance. Finally, if the Skins know they want to go with Cousins I think signing before the last 4 games could give Kirk the confidence to finish strong.Griffin lacks processing speed.

Look at that, man! Pretty logical post and you didn't bash Griffin once in there.

I agree with your logic btw.

Look very very carefully at the end of OS's post !!

[SkinsJock]

hopefully Cousins is salivating at the opportunity to go against the Saints defense - in the last 2 games, Eli went 30/41 for 350 yards and Marcus went 28/39 for 371 yards - both of these games were at home for the Saints defense

I'm sure that Cousins can do a lot better than that at FedEx field and with the weapons he has

good test this Sunday for the first game of the second half

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

What matters is, the Redskins have won Superbowls with "average to better than average" quarterbacks. You do not need Brady, P Manning or Elway for that. Hell, the Ravens have done it with a quarterback who's job was to "not lose the game"....

True, however those teams had a ton of talent at other positions. This roster, not so much. Scot McCloughan is going to need at least two more draft and free agency periods to turn this roster over. He was handed turnips and asked to get blood from them. About two-thirds of this roster is hot garbage. If we finish the season with more than four wins I'd call it improvement.

That's kind of the point though, isn't it? I've heard it said that we're like 7 or 8 starters from really filling out the roster to be competitive. And can anyone honestly name one player on either side of the ball that other teams legitimately fear? We just don't have that type of player right now.

So yeah, this to me is one of the reasons why we really don't want to be spending high picks on a QB in the next year or two.

Kirk Cousins isn't going anywhere. They can't replace him with better talent. He's not going to be guaranteed a starting job anywhere else. You heard it here first.

[SkinsJock]

Kirk Cousins isn't going anywhere. They can't replace him with better talent. He's not going to be guaranteed a starting job anywhere else.

I am going to endorse this message

[mastdark81]

I'm still willing to let the season play out before I declare Kirk "average", or am willing to let him walk.

If we let him walk, I do not in any, way, shape, or form want Colt McCoy as this teams starter. Even if it's only for a year.

I don't know man. Its not my ideal scenario either, but if Cousins gets too expensive, Colt is a realistic one year stop gap. Hate to say it. Inexpensive guy who already knows the system. Draft a QB next spring and sit him behind Colt for a year. I'd rather see the team do that than get tied into a ridiculous contract with like Jay Cutler or something.

I'm still not sure about this $15m number people are throwing around. Teams structure these contracts different ways. I would think if the season ended today, Cousins could be offered more along the lines of Nick Foles' Ram contract. His total guaranteed money is $14m, but its spread out over a couple years. $4m cap number in 2015, $9m in 2016, $13m voidable cap number in 2017. If they wanted to keep him in 2017 they would restructure, extend, etc;

I think if you look at a $15m number that way, those are reasonable numbers to pay for a middle of the road QB. Whether or not Cousins is one of those guys is obviously debatable.

Aside from the snarkiness, I basically agree with SkinsJock that Cousins has this next stretch of games to make his case one way or the other. That was sort of the whole point of starting him this season.

[mastdark81]

How is he playing on a bad team? You cannot say he doesn't have the WRS...

Not a bad team????? 4 wins last year 3 the year before that is the definition of a bad football team. An OL that can't run block, a weak pass defense and as the injuries have mounted a suspect rush defense. That said they are better in 2015 then in 2013 and 2014 when they were putrid. Much of the improvement is the result of Gruden's decision to play Cousins and his marked improvement this season. Cousins can run a WCO very effectively and has helped his team control the ball and keep his defense fresh which is a big reason they have stayed in games and led tying or winning drives in 3 games.

I certainly will say our receiving corps is weak. We haven't had a deep threat all year with Jackson hurt. Garcon wouldn't start for many teams. He can't track deep balls, can't be counted on to fight for 50/50 balls or get a lot separation. He's best on short or medium routes and has mediocre hands, some tough catches when he's going to get hit but too many drops. And what about Grant and Roberts? Forgetaboutit. Crowder is a positive addition out of the slot so he's a welcome addition. I agree Reed is good when he is in the line up but sadly he's out as much as in unfortunately. So on balance I think it's in the bottom third of the league, the receiver corps of every team we play looks better than the Skins.

For one I meant to say this isn't a bad offensive team if you look at it on paper, yet we are 28th in the league in OFFENSE!! This is the guy that was suppose to be the best option. He is not what yall thought he was. The media have poured that agenda out all year and yall fed into it and made Kirk yall fav player lol. Kirk has a 28th rank passer rating and some fools are on this board talking about giving him 15 mil lmao. The main reason we are a bad team is the QB. You know how many teams in the league are putrid on Defense but offense holds ground enough?

Can he turn it around? Yes and I hope so...but at the midseason point he is not the long term solution considering he's 27 and have no past record of success.

Lets say every one is taken that Scott wants in the draft. I would go with Colt at league minimum rather than sign Kirk for 6+ million per year that we could use to sign other position needs. Colt if worse is just a smidgen worse than Kirk Cousins...that's if he is. If we draft a guy and Scott see a guy we like then I would go with one of these vets (who at this point are better than Kirk):

Ryan Fitzpatrick
Chase Daniel

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

For one I meant to say this isn't a bad offensive team if you look at it on paper, yet we are 28th in the league in OFFENSE!! This is the guy that was suppose to be the best option. He is not what yall thought he was. The media have poured that agenda out all year more with the strain of not wanting RG3 back out there. Kirk has a 28th rank passer rating and some fools are on this board talking about giving him 15 mil lmao. The main reason we are a bad team is the QB. You know how many teams in the league are putrid on Defense but offense holds ground enough?

Can he turn it around? Yes and I hope so...but at the midseason point he is not the long term solution considering he's 27 and have no past record of success.

Passer rating? So, you're saying Cam Newton is a worse quarterback than Kirk Cousins? Isn't his team undefeated? Peyton Manning is a worse quarterback than Kirk Cousins? Doesn't his team have only one loss?

When a team can't run or stop the run and is always playing from behind the quarterback is going to look worse than he is. Cousins hasn't looked bad. The rest of the team has.

[OldSchool]

Kirk Cousins isn't going anywhere. They can't replace him with better talent. He's not going to be guaranteed a starting job anywhere else. You heard it here first.

First, you say they can't replace him with better talent. I would agree if the timeline is next season. It is unlikely the Skins would do better in the FA market or in the draft the first year. The chances of besting him improves long term but the chances still are not that good. First year starters that look average running a true NFL offense are improving are hard to find. Maybe they could find a draftee that might work out better but the failure rate is very high as longtime Redskins fans are painfully aware. With more college teams running option spread attacks it has gotten even harder to identify the college quarterback with the spatial intelligence to stand in the pocket and run an NFL offense.
The odds of drafting a QB better than Cousins over the longer term are better than the short term they still aren't good. Cousins looks average now what is he going be like after 50 starts instead of only 16. My guess is a lot better because he is already over the big hurdles now he is fine tuning his mechanics, improving his reads, improving his judgement, increasing his comfort level, ball handling and a host of other things as well but from a strong position of competence. Finding a better than average NFL quarterback in the draft is like drawing an inside straight, possible but not likely. It is a lot more likely that an average and improving QB after 16 starts becomes a top 10 QB in the league than picking one in the draft.

You say no one is going to offer Cousins a guaranteed starter’s job, I hope the Redskins don't wait and find out because I'm not confident the Skins get the home field advantage. I'm sure Kirk likes Jay Gruden, McAvoy and SM because they all stuck their necks out for him and I expect Cousins likes his teammates but how does he feel about the organization and the owner? I don't know and what if Gruden was gone? I expect Gruden to remain but if there is a head coaching change that could impact things as well. I don’t think fans should assume Cousins is the Skins for the taking.

I think if Cousins becomes a free agent multiple teams will have discussions with his agent and what concerns me is the organization could be a much stronger one. Things appear much better to me with SM making smart pricks, an upgraded set of assistants and Gruden is finally allowed to choose his starter but I have no idea how things look to Kirk.

I think several teams would prefer to sign a young promising and somewhat proven starter than take a chance in the draft. What worries me is that one of the suitors might be a much stronger and stable franchise. The opportunity that is too good for any rational mind to turn down would be if Payton Manning retired. Maybe he decides at the end of the year that his neck has taken all the abuse it can so he hangs it up.
I think any FA QB would love to step into that job with that strong franchise and roster. I think Kirk would be at or near the top of their list because the roster is strong enough to win now so Denver would probably opt for a talented free agent if one as . Put someone on the field that you know can play in the NFL and you hope would play better with a strong team around him. What it Kyle Shanahan gets a HC position, I think his franchise would go all in for Kirk.

Bottom line if Cousins continues to perform in the second half of the season and goes FA I believe the Skins will have to fight off multiple suitors and matching the best offer might not cut it.

[mastdark81]

For one I meant to say this isn't a bad offensive team if you look at it on paper, yet we are 28th in the league in OFFENSE!! This is the guy that was suppose to be the best option. He is not what yall thought he was. The media have poured that agenda out all year more with the strain of not wanting RG3 back out there. Kirk has a 28th rank passer rating and some fools are on this board talking about giving him 15 mil lmao. The main reason we are a bad team is the QB. You know how many teams in the league are putrid on Defense but offense holds ground enough?

Can he turn it around? Yes and I hope so...but at the midseason point he is not the long term solution considering he's 27 and have no past record of success.

Passer rating? So, you're saying Cam Newton is a worse quarterback than Kirk Cousins? Isn't his team undefeated? Peyton Manning is a worse quarterback than Kirk Cousins? Doesn't his team have only one loss?

When a team can't run or stop the run and is always playing from behind the quarterback is going to look worse than he is. Cousins hasn't looked bad. The rest of the team has.

Yes Passer Rating. There are always a few exceptions that are low in rating but The difference with Cam and Peyton are they have PAST records of success and when it counts they put up TD's and win games for their team on a consistent basis and they TRY to win games.

Kirk did a hell of a job against Tampa Bay and carried the team on his back the second half. Outside of that game he has played scared all year. Kirk is 37th in the league in yard per pass, essentially extremely dinking and dunking all year. This is the same reason he has a good pass completion percentage and great sack rate. Part of the reason we have played from behind in the games that we have been are his turnovers. No coincidence we are undefeated in games he has 0 interceptions and lose every game he does throw one.

Kirk hasn't looked bad, never said that but he hasn't been good either or competent enough to warrant a multi year deal. To the average fan it seems like he's doing fine because he is completing passes but when you don't take shots down field with consistency you cannot win games. Only Tom Brady can have 12+ play drives with consistency and be successful that is the only QB in the league. You cannot win like that. Redskins are 29th in points per game. QB has a lot to do with that. Our running lanes are gone and the QB has a lot to do with that as well. Defenses do not fear Kirk Cousins arm and his ability to make plays.

Desean Jackson came back and he still throws just 1 pass down the field.

Bottomline, this guy LIKE RG3 head is screwed up. We have a situation where he is playing to not lose his job instead of winning games. Every one in the organization is not on the same page, and frankly Kirk needs a fresh start as well where he can BE him. Look at the other games around the league people...our QB is just going through the motions. Maybe it is Rg3's presence but whatever it is, he doesn't have the mental fortitude to hang in there.

Talent wise our offense should be good or at least middle of the pack.

Sad thing is I know he is better than that but scared to let loose.

[SkinsJock]

Kirk Cousins is not and has not looked like a really good QB except to maybe his family and friends - the guy's not a bad QB by any means - he just doesn't seem to be really comfortable out there - it seems like he's tentative and doesn't want to let everyone down

someone needs to wake him up and tell him it's your time to shine - let's get it going here

[StorminMormon86]

Kirk Cousins is not and has not looked like a really good QB except to maybe his family and friends - the guy's not a bad QB by any means - he just doesn't seem to be really comfortable out there - it seems like he's tentative and doesn't want to let everyone down

someone needs to wake him up and tell him it's your time to shine - let's get it going here

Yeah, the play calling, deemed repeatedly by Gruden to be conservative, has nothing to do with Cousins playing tentative.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Did it occur to anyone that maybe Kirk Cousins is throwing three and five step drops because Gruden doesn't trust the line enough to pass protect on seven step drops? Maybe those short routes are by design, not because Cousins is "weak-armed" or "playing scared" or whatever other nonsense people are coming up with. Cousins has two rookies protecting his front side and a stiff playing center. If he stands in the pocket for any length of time we're going to be watching Colt McCoy the rest of the season. Nobody wants to see that. Not Gruden, not Cousins, not the fans.

I think Gruden knows exactly what he's doing, which is keeping his quarterback healthy. The team was never going to be competitive this season in any case and Kirk Cousins is the quarterback of the immediate future. He's starting next season unless he gets killed this season, which is obviously what Gruden is trying to prevent by keeping him throwing short passes. The complete lack of a running game isn't helping. Ten carries or thirty, if you're averaging under 4.0 yards per carry you're sucking ass and making your quarterback's life more difficult.

From some of the comments one has to wonder if some people are actually watching the games.

[riggofan]

Did it occur to anyone that maybe Kirk Cousins is throwing three and five step drops because Gruden doesn't trust the line enough to pass protect on seven step drops? Maybe those short routes are by design, not because Cousins is "weak-armed" or "playing scared" or whatever other nonsense people are coming up with.

Your suggestion contains too much common sense to be true.

My question is which WR should he have been looking for downfield on these plays? The sure handed Andre Roberts? Maybe undrafted free agent Rashad Ross? lol.

The game plan from Gruden has to play to our strengths which in the first half of the season have been Jordan Reed and Pierre Garcon. Who both thrive in the shorter passing game.

[StorminMormon86]

I think Mike Jones did a Q&A for the Post where he said Jackson was open 1 time all day (besides the completions he had), and that it seemed to him like he wasn't playing 100%. So there's that.

[mastdark81]

Did it occur to anyone that maybe Kirk Cousins is throwing three and five step drops because Gruden doesn't trust the line enough to pass protect on seven step drops? Maybe those short routes are by design, not because Cousins is "weak-armed" or "playing scared" or whatever other nonsense people are coming up with. Cousins has two rookies protecting his front side and a stiff playing center. If he stands in the pocket for any length of time we're going to be watching Colt McCoy the rest of the season. Nobody wants to see that. Not Gruden, not Cousins, not the fans.

I think Gruden knows exactly what he's doing, which is keeping his quarterback healthy. The team was never going to be competitive this season in any case and Kirk Cousins is the quarterback of the immediate future. He's starting next season unless he gets killed this season, which is obviously what Gruden is trying to prevent by keeping him throwing short passes. The complete lack of a running game isn't helping. Ten carries or thirty, if you're averaging under 4.0 yards per carry you're sucking ass and making your quarterback's life more difficult.

From some of the comments one has to wonder if some people are actually watching the games.

Well for one 7 step drops are not common in the "west coast" offense. #2 Cousins doesn't have a weak arm, he can get the ball out there and make the throws when he is set (he is weak, however when doesn't step into a throw...doesn't have the natural big arm). Oooooooh now its the offensive line's fault all of sudden?

Kirk is not starting next season if he doesn't improve, being an unrestricted free agent, and there is also a good chance Jay Gruden won't be here as well. The lack of running game has to do with the oline for sure but Kirk isn't helping by not stretching the field on occasion. He's last in the league in yards per completion, yet somehow he still is top 10 in interceptions smh. So the least sacked stat doesn't matter when he's dumping it off quickly for non impact plays consistently.

Defenses are playing gap control and are steadfast on the run because they know Kirk is going to get rid of the ball in 2 seconds without looking for the big play, so they are not hurt by doing so, while stopping the run at the same time. No one is calling for him to try to pass for 600 yards but they at least should attempt a 30+ yard play each quarter.

Garcon hasn't lost a step, he has lost a QB that is going to throw him the ball consistently down the field and also in the second half of games. Desean Jackson presence should help and yes the offensive line is just average at best but until Kirk and Jay decide they will go all out we will continue to be subpar.

[markshark84]

I agree that Kirk appears to be an average QB based on stats alone.

Stats, however, only tell part of the story. One thing of mention is that we have absolutely no running game or support for Kirk from almost all other offensive players -- which was clearly evident in the Pats game. All things considered, he has played better than I anticipated this year. He has definetely earned being the permanent starter for the rest of the season...... and as far as moving past this year, it will depend on whether he decides to resign with us (and yes, it will be up to him, not the skins).

I agree we have no running game...but you also have to think about this too. If he is 37th...not 32....37th!!! in the league in pass per attempt, maybe that is one of the factors that hurt the running game. Teams know he isn't going to beat them and drop the safety in the box and play the run.

Agree 100%. I think the fact we have been living on the low to intermediate passing routes is a reason our run game has suffered --- although I think the #1 and 2 cluprits are clearly our OL (which is one of the worst in the entire NFL) and playcalling (because our OL can't provide adequate protection to give Kirk time to throw downfield).

Cousins has to get better at downfield passing, but outside of Crowder we have literally not had a single threat and Crowder isn't a #1 or #2 option. The Pats game was just a disaster so we'll see what happens against NO with Desean in there.

[SkinsJock]

well i'm very relieved to hear from the guys that know it all, that there's a perfectly good explanation for what we've seen from Cousins and he'll be fine for the rest of the season and get a big fat contract that he so clearly deserves to play for us forever behind the O line he needs and with the weapons he so clearly deserves - that settles that

THANKS - 8 games to go and we can begin the speculation on how big his salary should be to keep him here - can't wait