Count Brian Billick among those who Don't like that.
On GameDay First, the former Ravens head coach and current NFL Network analyst said Washington doesn't exactly have franchise quarterback material on hands with Kirk Cousins. Every game, all season
"He's a touchdown-for-interception guy, that's the definition of a backup," Billick said. "You need to make a quarterback that can make plays outside of the design of the offense ... Kirk Cousins is just a good solid guy and unfortunately for Washington, they're going to need a lot more."
Billick's point was that if coach Jay Gruden decides to live and die with Cousins instead of digging in and mending his relationship with and confidence of Robert Griffin III, it would be a reason for Washington to get rid of him if the record doesn't reflect progress.
However, Washington could very well knock off the Giants on Sunday in Landover, Maryland. In ugly weather, a budding offensive line and a heavy dose of mammoth rookie Matt Jones could move the team into a tie for first place. Cousins doesn't need to be exceptional in moments like these. He just needs to be good enough.
Billick isn't wrong. If Cousins could take over games every week, he would have been drafted right around the same time Robert Griffin III was. That being said, he has had some dominant performances in 2015 so far and Gruden is no dunce. Cousins is only 27 and has plenty of time to develop.
“He was at that time the smartest player in the league. We did everything we could to try to eliminate him from the play. We knew if we didn’t neutralize him, then we had less of a chance of winning.” - John Hannah on Chris Hanburger
Not sure why I responded to this. I can't think of many "analysts" whose opinion I care less about than Brian Billick.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You can't do epic **** with basic people." - DJax "We're on the rise, man, whether you're on the train or not." - Josh Norman
Griffin is big, still fast enough, and has a strong arm. I doubt Gruden can "merely" mend relations and, bingo, have that make Griffin an NFL QB. Griffin can probably learn, but it's not a snap-your-fingers and say-the-Hogwarts-spell sort of thing.
Maybe Griffin will learn to be a pro QB somewhere else, but not in Washington at $16 million per year.
Won't even guess what happened to Griffin under Shanahan and Grudin.
I don't see what the big deal is. Billick never managed to sign, draft, or coach more than a backup quarterback when he ran an NFL franchise for a decade. You can win with competent, but not good, QB play.
It seems to me like Kirk straddles the line between backup and legit starter at the moment. He's still got time to develop, too, and has shown that he can progress. I don't see any problems with us playing him for the foreseeable future.
Billick just repeats what he hears from the NFL people he has connections with. Its highly doubtful that any NFL front office considers Captain Pick starting QB material.
hitmandm wrote:Billick just repeats what he hears from the NFL people he has connections with. Its highly doubtful that any NFL front office considers Captain Pick starting QB material.
Haha. I could name five teams off the top of my head who would instantly trade QB positions with us, no questions asked, and I bet Kirk would be competing for a starting spot on at least another five.
Irn-Bru wrote:I don't see what the big deal is. Billick never managed to sign, draft, or coach more than a backup quarterback when he ran an NFL franchise for a decade. You can win with competent, but not good, QB play.
It seems to me like Kirk straddles the line between backup and legit starter at the moment. He's still got time to develop, too, and has shown that he can progress. I don't see any problems with us playing him for the foreseeable future.
Agreed. Cousins is good enough. Griffin is bigger, faster, has a stronger arm, but Cousins is a better QB and that's what counts, as in what wins are made from.
hitmandm wrote:Billick just repeats what he hears from the NFL people he has connections with. Its highly doubtful that any NFL front office considers Captain Pick starting QB material.
Haha. I could name five teams off the top of my head who would instantly trade QB positions with us, no questions asked, and I bet Kirk would be competing for a starting spot on at least another five.
+1 Let Kirk hit the FA market this off season...
"Sean Taylor is hands down the best athlete I've ever coached it's not even close" Gregg Williams 2005 Mini-Camp
hitmandm wrote:Billick just repeats what he hears from the NFL people he has connections with. Its highly doubtful that any NFL front office considers Captain Pick starting QB material.
Haha. I could name five teams off the top of my head who would instantly trade QB positions with us, no questions asked, and I bet Kirk would be competing for a starting spot on at least another five.
I'd wager that he'd be the starter on 10 teams, no questions.
