Quote: @ArizonaViking said:
Cousins was brought in as another "Game Manager". Look at the first game against the Falcons, up 28 points in the 3rd quarter Cousins didn't need to take any risks and attempted only 10 passes. Against the Packer down 21 points after the first quarter, he was put in a position he had to take risks and made boner mistakes. The fumbles, bad passes and the interceptions. He's not and will never be the "Comeback Kid".
I disagree with the first half of your premise - the Vikings had determined that they needed more than a game manager, way back before the 2016 season when we heard that Bridgewater was going to take a step forward and throw the ball much more. The 2015 playoff loss showed that we needed to be able to score points, even if our defense was stifling (and also that we could not score all our points via FG). We'll never know if Bridgewater would have progressed, but when he was hurt, we already had a decent "Game Manager" in Sean Hill, but they burned draft capital to get a QB, Sam Bradford, who was supposed to be able to carry the team with his arm when needed. Even the 2017 playoff experience showed that this team needed a passing game that could play catchup if needed - as we did (sorta, with luck) against the Saints after Zimmer's defense collapsed, and then could not keep up with the Eagles.
Cousins was signed to be a QB who can elevate this team with his passing. You can get a game manager more easily and for less money. After last season, it may be that Zimmer is back to wanting just a "game manager" - but then he better have an airtight defense that holds opponents under 14 points every game. This defense is good but way too streaky for that expectation.
I think Zimmer wants a QB that can sit back and just handoff if it's an easier opponent and all goes well - but then he wants to be able to dial up a high-octane passing game to save the day if needed. I really don't think Cousins is that guy, and I'm not sure any QB can switch into pass-heavy mode if that's not the team's normal approach. It seems like Zimmer wants Dalvin Cook to be his starting pitcher and Kirk Cousins as a relief pitcher.
Quote: @Ralphie said:
Until that INT in the 4th quarter, I had no major problems with Cousin's play yesterday. Yes he fumbled getting sacked and his head-first slide almost lost another. But the first INT is squarely on Diggs and his "sticky" hands. He also lost a fumble and had several crucial drops that regrettably get reflected in Cousin's passing stats. And the overthrow to Diggs happens to every QB, even the great Erin.
But we lost by 5 on the road in stadium world renowned for it's home cookin' after getting steamrolled by three TD's in the first quarter. Baily cost us 3 points. Diggs 1 via his childish penalty and Baily's extra long XP miss. The refs took 6 from Diggs (7 if you think Baily would have hit the XP) and got Thielen with another phantom OPI in the end zone.
But our main takeaway is Cousin's late 4th quarter boneheaded INT? Sorry, this "loaded" roster needs to step up.
I don't think Diggs even touch the ball on that INT. The defender knocked it away before it got to him.
Edit: can't get the Twitter link to work.
https://twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/statu...53826?s=20
Edit again: There it is.
Just curious if the "leopard changing his spots" mantra also applies to GM's?
I have seen the USUAL suspects being called out, HC, OC, QB, Kicker, knucklehead WR, etc . But NO mention of the leopard that put this team together, and has been in charge of personnel since June 2006.
Because after 13 seasons and 2 playoff wins, I've connected the spots/dots and see that Spielman CLEARLY can't field a TRUE championship contender. I don't have to wait until January to see that Kirk IS NOT the guy.
The Vikings can change QB's, HC's and coordinators all they want, but allowing the lone common denominator remaining from the Childress days to make these critical decisions is the height of stupidity. You know, that old saying about the definition of insanity?
If fans really want change, it's gotta start at the top. The owners aren't going anywhere, so it must be at the FO executive level.
Call me a one trick pony all you want, but so is Ricky......decent in regular season, atrocious in post season. Wash,rinse, repeat.
Quote: @ArizonaViking said:
Cousins was brought in as another "Game Manager". Look at the first game against the Falcons, up 28 points in the 3rd quarter Cousins didn't need to take any risks and attempted only 10 passes. Against the Packer down 21 points after the first quarter, he was put in a position he had to take risks and made boner mistakes. The fumbles, bad passes and the interceptions. He's not and will never be the "Comeback Kid".
Yeah, well you dont pay a game manager $84m. If he’s going to be paid as a top tier QB he needs to at least be average. He wasnt even close to average yesterday.
Quote: @Jor-El said:
I liked the acquisitions of both Bradford and Cousins, but now I think it's the wrong approach to try to get a quarterback that another team has given up. Why would our management know the health or potential of these guys better than the management of the team that's been coaching and watching them? QB is so valuable in the NFL, we should always have grave doubts if a team is willing to hand over one that has had significant experience.
This is exactly what I thought all along. The approach is wrong. With the way the salary cap is structured and how loaded this team is, why not follow the model the Eagles used. Identify one of the top talents and package the picks and get him.
We can keep trying but not many coaches are Andy Reid (who has a good idea of what a good QB is).
I know that Rick will not do this so I guess we need to get a GM who has the balls to address the qb position without tip toeing around it.
We tip toes around the O line and finally decided to pay attention to it. (The jury is still out if we truly solved it)
Maybe the Leopard comment also applies to Rick
I suppose a leopard could be a panther, in which case, it might actually be a jaguar or perhaps even a mountain lion...
so... uh... that's good for Kirk i think...
Quote: @Wetlander said:
@ FSUVike said:
Couple of things; some franchises go through protracted stretches of awful management. To say you can't get a good FA QB is ignoring how stupid the FO of teams like the Raiders, Browns, and yes, the Skins have been for the last 5+ years. Not saying KC is the guy we hoped for but to say you can't get a Franchise QB in FA is simply not true.
Also, why the f did Stefanski throw the ball on the that game - killing INT?
I've been reading articles all morning and while folks are certainly crushing Kirk for his performance Stefanski is also drawing a lot of criticism, and rightfully so. He got too cute a few times and it really coat the team.
1st and goal is always a good time to play-action pass to get an easy score if the defense is playing the run hard.
The offensive coordinator shouldn't have to protect his veteran QB by running it 3 times... And he should expect his veteran QB to throw it away if his first two reads are covered. Not force a throw that isn't there.
Its also a good way of getting a QB that needs a confidence boost a easy passing TD.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
The only correct answer is we just don't know yet. There are a lot of declarative statements being made right now that I've heard before. For years, it was said that John Elway couldn't win the big one. Until he did 14 years into his career. And then he won back to back Super Bowl.
Cousins is going to have good games and he's going to have bad games in the remainder of the season. And the balance of that will determine whether we draft a QB in the 1st round next spring. But two things I know for certain: Yesterday's game, by itself, will not determine that. And Cousins will be our QB next season.
The 60% figure is a problem and will be for anyone under center. He is probably always going to be a screw up but it could be lessened enough by better line play to maybe still contend. Whether they can get there this year is still a big question mark.
Thoughts on benching Cousins?
I don't mean this week of course, I'm wondering if he has a short leash. His Chicago game in December (which was my Christmas present to my dad... goddammit) was abysmal. Win and you're in.
We beat up a poor Atlanta team at home since. And then he lays this egg.
I'm done with him personally. But how long before the rest of the fans start clamoring for a change? How many more fuck ups does he have?
Quote: @FSUVike said:
Hmmm. National media is talking about how gassed and ready to throw in the towel the Packers Defense was so why pass it there. Meanwhile, Vikings fans can only see the horrible throw. Interesting.
Two more runs and they probably would have scored and taken more time off the clock in the process. But it was still a bad interception. One though where Zimmer should have challenged DPI.
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